Using the Camera CHAPTER 7 in rapidly so that the camera seems to swoop into a scene, particularly if it is on a jib arm arcing over the action, can produce dynamic results. But if you use a similar zooming action at the wrong time, your audience will probably get frustrated. to test this effect, try dollying in toward a person while zooming out at a corre- sponding speed and keeping the person the same size in the frame throughout. the result is bizarre, but it demonstrates the extent to which the lens angle and camera distance can affect a shot. 145 7.8 FOCUSING focus is an incredibly effective tool for directing the audience's attention. the eye is always attracted to the part of the image that is in focus. this means that a knowledge of focus, depth of field, and lenses is essential if the camera operator and director want to use the camera creatively as a tool for storytelling. there are a number of techniques that camera operators use to capture the action in focus.