Zeitlupe

Action films frequently use "Zeitlupe" (literally, time magnifying glass) for dramatic effect. The punch, kick or gunshot are viewed in slow motion - a cinematic technique that's been around for a century. Magnifying glasses, however, are generally known for making things bigger, not slower. But what gets bigger in the process is the rate at which each frame is captured compared to the speed at which it is played back. Of course, it's also our sensibility for detail - the drop of sweat on the Hollywood star's forehead, for example - which is magnified. 

Author: Kate Bowen
Editor: Sarah Steffen