Visual Effects Society Handbook

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ACQUISITION/SHOOTING

TRIANGULATION AS A METHOD OF RECORDING CAMERA DATA

Stuart Robertson

Photorealistic visual effects require all elements within an image to share common image and lighting characteristics and, most importantly, a common perspective. Since the photographic perspective is entirely dependent on the spatial relationship between the camera and the subject being photographed, it is essential that this relationship be recorded and applied systematically to the photography or computer generation of each element that goes into the finished composite. When shooting the image that establishes the perspective for the shot (usually the background plate), the visual effects crew has the responsibility for recording the camera position ...