Is this done with masking?

[beneath_the_sky]

I know this has been asked a million times but I’ve tried this with a mask effect and can’t seem to make it look the same.

If you go to the below site and click ‘enter site’… I’m talking about the first picture that comes in with the circles that build the picture. Is this done with a mask or another way?

http://lifeaquatic.movies.go.com/main.html

Thanks.