12 years ago I learnt the 3 point lighting setup from my high school photo teacher but never understood *why* I needed to create depth in a photo. I think after over a decade of photography addiction I finally understand: To tell a story, art should aspire beyond the limitations of its medium. A flat image lacks depth. Given three dimensional lighting and the resulting illusion of depth, a trick is played on the brain that puts the viewer in a receptive state, allowing them to fully absorb the character, and then the story. The testing of the medium’s limitation is what puts us in some kind of reverse uncanny valley, where we become extra familiar to what we see. Taking this further… how do I apply it to film? The limitations of film are… Money? Ahahahahahahahahahahahah Joking aside, film is still a 2D medium (despite the 3D movies coming and going). So creating depth is still important in filmmaking, but you have more than lighting to aid you. You’ve got movement! Sound too! As even the reverb in your sound design can aid the depth of the shot by creating a sense of space. Obsessed with depth! ___ Here is the self-portrait I did 12 years ago. Young AJ was a little too creative 😂 ![[AmairJMimic.jpeg]] And a portrait I shot a couple weeks ago of a friend. (Fucking love the Fuji 33mm 1.4) ![[98384ACB-6882-4C3E-8D30-2182831201AC.jpeg]] What I love about the recent portrait is the depth and simplicity. [[_SITE/Photography|Photography]] --- [[2025-09-06]] Reflecting on this the next day... I think if the depth of a scene is crafted well in a film, then it evokes further senses that aren't there... let me explain... Watching certain films by Dennis Villeneuve evokes a sense of *smell* for me during keys scenes. Particularly Sicario, Prisoners, and Blade Runner 2049. Also Alfonso Cuarón's Children of Men! I think it's the effective direction, the use of sound, the cinematography, everything comes together to create a strong sense of space, which tricks me into the sensation of *smell*. Maybe this is nonsense, but I think it's a noble goal for a filmmaker nonetheless. To craft a scene so well that a person mentally steps into the world of the film and the brain creates sensations that don't have a direct cause. I hope my next film will be a smelly one. :) --- Building on that further, it's interesting to consider that the goal of direction as creating this sense of space. I wonder if the act of directing actors is separate from this. The goal there for a director should be to create strong characters for the audience to *want* to step into the crafted space. Hrm.