Film

Cinematic Breakdown!

What does the image composition tell you about the scene?

• Leading Lines – the human-made or natural lines lead to the focus of the image
• Symmetrical composition – two halves of the image are mirrors of each other
• Rule of Thirds – a guideline that places the subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two-thirds more open
• Frame within a Frame – The character is positioned in the main subject, so it framed by something else within the scene like a silhouette
• Dynamic Symmetry – a set of vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines that can help create rhythm, movement and unity between characters
• Lights and Shadows – Light brightens the image and shadow can bring attention to a certain part of the composition adding to the drama
• Patterns & Textures – Gives complexity to a composition
• Negative Space – minimalism emphasises the subject as well as the empty space around the subject
• Triangle composition – creates balance and harmony by arranging the characters into an overall geometric shape
• Fibonacci spiral – a balanced structure with a series of squares equal to the Fibonacci sequence, connecting the corners of the squares with a curve
• Centre Dominant Eye – focus on the dominant eye of your subject
• Golden Triangle composition – to give a scene and subject a more diagonal shape
• Tonal Contrast – the difference of tones between the elements of an image is distinct (light and colour)
• Truck shot – the camera moves along a fixed point and the motion goes from side to side
• Long shot - generally shows the full length of any featured characters
• Colour contrast – combine a bright colour with a neutral
• B-Rolls – All of the shots that don’t include the principal subjects interacting with each other or talking to the camera
• Establishing shot – signage, landmarks or other obvious signals of place and time
• Golden ratio – a ratio between two numbers that equals approximately
• Reflections – a composition of two reflections over two lines that intersect, the result is equivalent to a single rotation transformation of the original object
• Isolating the subject – removing or de-emphasising any distractions – all of the focus on the image of your subject
• High-angle shot – the camera points down on the subject from above – the subject is perhaps weak/vulnerable
• Low-angle shot – the camera is taken from below the eye line and pointing upward – the subject is dominant/intimidating
• Dolly shot – the camera pushes forward toward the subject, generally changing the composition from a wide or medium into a close-up
• Birds Eye View – an elevated view of an object from above, with a perspective as though the observer were a bird
• Centred composition – the main subject is placed smack in the middle of the image frame
• Simplification – removing complexity from an image
• Symmetrical composition + Negative space – no areas of the picture overpower the other

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Written by: Kimberley Gomersall

Category: Film