The DP

A day spent shooting on set leaves little time for play. A million tiny threads pulling at the fabric holding the day together. Any one of them with the potential to unravel the entire effort. Its a minor miracle anything is left after the needs of the day are met and the film is in the can.

The chance to shoot with a truly unique lens today represented the only opportunity to quickly have a few moments of fun. The Noctilux-M 50mm ASPH f/0.95 is the fastest camera lens in production. Surpassing the speed of the human eye by four times (the eye can see as wide as f/2.1 in the dark and f/8.3 in bright daylight). The name comes from the Latin “light of the night” since at that speed you can practically shoot in the dark. With such a shallow depth of field it has a bokeh that is very unique. A portrait lens that allows the photographer to come close (50mm) to the subject while creating a drop off that is more reminiscent of a 300mm lens. Extreme compression while still allowing an intimate distance from the subject.

My simple process today – the chance to play, just a bit, with this wonder of polished glass and finely machined steel and brass. Just holding such a densely precise element left me a little speechless. Imagining the possibilities – I don’t have to go far to see.

My subject today was right behind me. An easy arm’s length away. The DP.