---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you shoot with a billion cameras, then…"
description: "\"If you shoot with a billion cameras, then there's no perspective. You want to use one shot at a time, so it's better to discover what that is before yo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/roger-deakins-11228_becomes_if-you-shoot-with-a-billion-cameras-then_1081549.jpg"
---

#  If you shoot with a billion cameras, then there's no…

![“If you shoot with a billion cameras, then there's no perspective. You want to use one shot at a time, so it's better to discover what that is before you shoot, rather than trying to make something in the cutting room, and then it just becomes generic.” quote by Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/roger-deakins-11228_becomes_if-you-shoot-with-a-billion-cameras-then_1081549.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/roger-deakins-11228_becomes_if-you-shoot-with-a-billion-cameras-then_1081549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/roger-deakins-11228_becomes_if-you-shoot-with-a-billion-cameras-then_1081549.jpg)

> “If you shoot with a billion cameras, then there's no perspective. You want to use one shot at a time, so it's better to discover what that is before you shoot, rather than trying to make something in the cutting room, and then it just becomes generic.”

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Overusing many viewpoints dilutes uniqueness; focus on a single perspective to preserve originality.

**In simple terms:** Too many angles make work generic; choose one.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize a clear, singular vision before shooting.

Themes

creativity focus originality

Mood

thoughtful inspired

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- film production
- photography
- advertising
- documentary making

Key Concepts

visual storytelling perspective authenticity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance depth with simplicity?
- When is multiple perspective beneficial?

A Different Perspective

A single shot may limit exploration of complex scenes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Becomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becomes/) [Before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Billion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billion/) [Billion Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billion-cameras-2747860/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Cameras Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras-perspective-2747859/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Discover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discover/) [Generic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generic/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Perspective Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective-want-1711844/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rather/) [Room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/room/) [Shoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoot/) [Shot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shot/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/)

## Related quotes

> [Having a child on the way changes your perspective. You want to do things that will make them proud of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-madison/having-a-child-on-the-way-changes-your-perspective-you-want-to-do/)

[Holly Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-madison/)

> [I'm all for awkward, frank, sometimes painful conversations about things that give everyone a better perspective on who they are in the here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tunde-adebimpe/i-m-all-for-awkward-frank-sometimes-painful-conversations-about/)

[Tunde Adebimpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tunde-adebimpe/)

> [Get inside her head. Get inside any character's head and ask what they want in this scene. And if you work from the perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-sue-deconnick/get-inside-her-head-get-inside-any-character-s-head-and-ask-what-they/)

[Kelly Sue DeConnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-sue-deconnick/)

> [You look at the big perspective, which is you want to be pushed. Your main goal is winning games and improving as a person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaren-jackson-jr/you-look-at-the-big-perspective-which-is-you-want-to-be-pushed-your/)

[Jaren Jackson, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaren-jackson-jr/)

> [At the end of the day, it's all about how you were raised and your perspective. It's all about if you want to win.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-garrett/at-the-end-of-the-day-it-s-all-about-how-you-were-raised-and-your/)

[Sean Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-garrett/)

> [As I grow up, and knowing that the people who I'm reaching are so young, it for sure changes my perspective on how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-boyce/as-i-grow-up-and-knowing-that-the-people-who-i-m-reaching-are-so/)

[Cameron Boyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-boyce/)

> [I don't want other people to decide who I am. I want to decide that for myself. I want to avoid becoming too styled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-don-t-want-other-people-to-decide-who-i-am-i-want-to-decide-that/)

[Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/)

> [“Brands have to reduce perceived risk else a generic product will do. It should have an acquired power to influence market. Finally, it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-varghese/brands-have-to-reduce-perceived-risk-else-a-generic-product-will-do/)

[Abraham Varghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-varghese/)

> [But it is my total conviction that all the trappings of good leadership are generic and widely applicable whether you are standing in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cosgrove/but-it-is-my-total-conviction-that-all-the-trappings-of-good/)

[Peter Cosgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cosgrove/)

> [Everyone seems agreed that writing about sex is perilous, partly because it threatens to swamp highly individualised characters in a generic, featureless activity (much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/everyone-seems-agreed-that-writing-about-sex-is-perilous-partly/)

[Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/)

> [With the exceptional talent that is Guy Sigsworth as producer and collaborator, we have recorded a collection of original songs that sees me moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/with-the-exceptional-talent-that-is-guy-sigsworth-as-producer-and/)

[Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/)

> [I've always thought that comedy was just another dramatic expression. I try to measure the amount of truth in a work rather than just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/i-ve-always-thought-that-comedy-was-just-another-dramatic-expression/)

[Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/)

> [The love of God is not something vague or generic; the love of God has a name and a face: Jesus Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-love-of-god-is-not-something-vague-or-generic-the-love-of-god-has/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [The most fascinating powers don't mean a thing if the guy's poorly motivated or dull, and the most generic powers won't hurt a well-motivated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/the-most-fascinating-powers-don-t-mean-a-thing-if-the-guy-s-poorly/)

[Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/)

> [There are a lot of stuff on the record that I am thinking is generic but actually it is just as good as everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dickinson/there-are-a-lot-of-stuff-on-the-record-that-i-am-thinking-is-generic/)

[Bruce Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dickinson/)

## More by Roger Deakins

> [I don't really like watching 3-D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/i-don-t-really-like-watching-3-d/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [Your whole life informs your eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/your-whole-life-informs-your-eye/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [Maybe that sounds a bit pretentious, but I think life experience is always more important than technical knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/maybe-that-sounds-a-bit-pretentious-but-i-think-life-experience-is/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [I came up, I suppose, a fairly traditional way. I went to art college. I always wanted to be a stills photographer, really, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/i-came-up-i-suppose-a-fairly-traditional-way-i-went-to-art-college-i/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [I love reading different scripts and helping create different looks, different environments. Sometimes you go to meet a director over a particular script, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/i-love-reading-different-scripts-and-helping-create-different-looks/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [I don't study any films. I'll watch them, but I don't study anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/i-don-t-study-any-films-i-ll-watch-them-but-i-don-t-study-anyone-else/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [I never really considered film as a career, but I knew I didn't want to be a builder. So I went to art college,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/i-never-really-considered-film-as-a-career-but-i-knew-i-didn-t-want/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [My time in documentaries was very educating, in terms of life experience as well as the filmmaking side of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/my-time-in-documentaries-was-very-educating-in-terms-of-life/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [Someone said to me, early on in film school if you can photograph the human face you can photograph anything, because that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/someone-said-to-me-early-on-in-film-school-if-you-can-photograph-the/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [What's seemingly a simple thing can actually be the hardest to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/what-s-seemingly-a-simple-thing-can-actually-be-the-hardest-to-achieve/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [I do think observing is important in learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/i-do-think-observing-is-important-in-learning/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [I think that lens flares can work really well under certain circumstances. Personally, I am trying to get rid of them most of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/i-think-that-lens-flares-can-work-really-well-under-certain/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [Am I nostalgic for film? … I mean, it’s had a good run, hasn’t it? You know, I’m not nostalgic for a technology. I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/am-i-nostalgic-for-film-i-mean-it-s-had-a-good-run-hasn-t-it-you-know/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [The balance of the frame - the way an actor is relating to the space in the frame - is the most important factor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/the-balance-of-the-frame-the-way-an-actor-is-relating-to-the-space-in/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

[Explore all 61 Roger Deakins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

## More Becomes quotes

> [Hollywood is very much an industry town. Your life becomes caught up in all of the parties and this list and that list. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-johnson/hollywood-is-very-much-an-industry-town-your-life-becomes-caught-up/)

[Don Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-johnson/)

> [If you have more downforce, everything becomes much easier. Drivers drive better, engineers they have more room for setup, the tyres are working better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kubica/if-you-have-more-downforce-everything-becomes-much-easier-drivers/)

[Robert Kubica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kubica/)

> [I think being on a TV show is amazing but also, people get kind of used to seeing you a certain way and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/i-think-being-on-a-tv-show-is-amazing-but-also-people-get-kind-of/)

[Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/)

> [For someone who works in theatre, the rehearsal is where you discover everything. It is where magic happens, where the script enters you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-fazal/for-someone-who-works-in-theatre-the-rehearsal-is-where-you-discover/)

[Ali Fazal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-fazal/)

> [We spend millions of dollars to remove pain from our lives. It's why so many people get hooked on painkillers. The body becomes addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/we-spend-millions-of-dollars-to-remove-pain-from-our-lives-it-s-why/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [As artists, we can't help but infuse our art with our own experience, so your experience becomes informative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-morrison/as-artists-we-can-t-help-but-infuse-our-art-with-our-own-experience/)

[Rachel Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-morrison/)

> [As politics is disconnected from its ethical and material moorings, it becomes easier to punish and imprison young people than to educate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/as-politics-is-disconnected-from-its-ethical-and-material-moorings-it/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [It becomes dangerous for somebody who doesn't want their boss to know their sexual preference to use online networks to push for laws supporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/it-becomes-dangerous-for-somebody-who-doesn-t-want-their-boss-to-know/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [When you try to become a good cook, in the beginning, most likely the dish is not going to be good. But you keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jannik-sinner/when-you-try-to-become-a-good-cook-in-the-beginning-most-likely-the/)

[Jannik Sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jannik-sinner/)

> [It's interesting how sleepwalking in a certain way becomes an accumulation of your outside stimuli that's actually there and what's happening in your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/it-s-interesting-how-sleepwalking-in-a-certain-way-becomes-an/)

[Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/)

> [What actor do you really take seriously who becomes a singer? It's kind of ridiculous. I can't think of anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/what-actor-do-you-really-take-seriously-who-becomes-a-singer-it-s/)

[Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/)

> [You don't really write a hit song - you write a great song, and then, if the public decides it's a hit, they take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-bettencourt/you-don-t-really-write-a-hit-song-you-write-a-great-song-and-then-if/)

[Nuno Bettencourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-bettencourt/)

> [When an accident or a crime happens, there's a period of time before the yellow tape goes up, before the official response becomes formalized.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gilroy/when-an-accident-or-a-crime-happens-there-s-a-period-of-time-before/)

[Dan Gilroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gilroy/)

> [Our society is so obsessed with working out to be skinny, and none of that has a purpose. I love that my daughter sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-price/our-society-is-so-obsessed-with-working-out-to-be-skinny-and-none-of/)

[Megyn Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-price/)

> [It's easier for me to act in Spanish, but as soon as I get the lines in English and I know them by heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-la-reguera/it-s-easier-for-me-to-act-in-spanish-but-as-soon-as-i-get-the-lines/)

[Ana de la Reguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-la-reguera/)

[Browse all 1,096 Becomes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becomes/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you shoot with a billion cameras, then there's no perspective. You want to use one shot at a time, so it's better to discover what that is before you shoot, rather than trying to make something in the cutting room, and then it just becomes generic.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Roger Deakins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/if-you-shoot-with-a-billion-cameras-then-there-s-no-perspective-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Becomes"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/if-you-shoot-with-a-billion-cameras-then-there-s-no-perspective-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/roger-deakins-11228_becomes_if-you-shoot-with-a-billion-cameras-then_1081549.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/roger-deakins-11228_becomes_if-you-shoot-with-a-billion-cameras-then_1081549.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/roger-deakins-11228_becomes_if-you-shoot-with-a-billion-cameras-then_1081549.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you shoot with a billion cameras, then there's no perspective. You want to use one shot at a time, so…” — Roger Deakins",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Roger Deakins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you shoot with a billion...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/if-you-shoot-with-a-billion-cameras-then-there-s-no-perspective-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/if-you-shoot-with-a-billion-cameras-then-there-s-no-perspective-you/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
