Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) directed by Tomas Alfredson
This beautifully executed shot from Tinker Tailor Solider Spy by DP Hoyte van Hoytema was filmed with a 2000mm lens. This massive telephoto lens compresses the foreground and background so they appear to be very close together. The mile long runway allows the approaching plane to act as the agent of impending doom as a critical secret is revealed in the plot. The 2000mm lens keeps the actors and the plane at relatively the same size and adds incredible tension to the scene.
I don’t know exactly which lens was used…but here’s a Nikon 2000mm f11 lens from 1970 as an example.
Nikon 2000mm f11 telephoto lens
It is 2 feet long and weights 39 pounds. This one sold for $32,777 on eBay.
2000mm lens shot from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Creating tension and dramatic moments in filmmaking can be accomplished in many different ways. Lens choice and cinematography are the tools used in this specific example. The take-away is to put some extra forethought into your own choices before you shoot…so on the day you can confidently create impactful shots, story points and dramatic moments.
Until next time…
