CS180 Proj0 · Becoming Friends with Your Camera

Part 1 · Selfie: Wrong vs. Right

Close portrait comparison: stand close vs. step back and zoom in. Keep the face roughly the same size; compare distortion.

Close-up selfie (wide, distorted) — **Close-up (Wrong Way)** · Wide angle exaggerates facial features (big nose, edge stretch).

Back up + zoom (more natural proportions) — **Back up + Zoom (Right Way)** · Longer focal length reduces perspective distortion.

With greater camera-subject distance, rays are more parallel at the sensor.

Part 2 · Architectural Perspective Compression

Shoot a long street/path scene. First: from afar with zoom (looks flattened). Second: walk forward, no zoom (stronger depth).

Zoomed-in distant view (compressed perspective) — **Zoomed from Distance** · Background and foreground appear closer (compression).

Walked closer with wide view (strong depth cues) — **Walked Forward, No Zoom** · Converging lines & size change amplify depth.

Why “compression”? -- Changing the vantage point alters relative sizes of near/far objects projected onto the sensor. Zoom then selects a narrower FoV.

Part 3 · The Dolly Zoom

Move the camera backward while zooming in to keep the subject size constant; background stretches or collapses.