While contemporary directors have no shortage of visual tricks and effects to use when putting their movies together, one of the oldest in the book requires nothing more than a camera and a set of wheels. You may not know it by name, but the dolly zoom is an effect that keeps the subject of the shot in focus, while the camera moves in or away, creating a pretty nifty effect on the visual plane. And now you can see the best of the best of that artistry in one pretty solid supercut.
Vashi Nedomasky, courtesy of his blog Vashi Visuals, has put together the best of the best when it comes to the dolly zoom, starting with Alfred Hitchcock‘s “Vertigo,” and moving forward in time from there. Comprising of 23 shots — with context of the scenes before and after to help emphasize the effect — the eight minute video is great look at how one technique can carry different weight depending on the filmmaker, genre and characters involved. It’s definitely worth a watch so give it a spin below.