I’d always wondered why almost every shot I try to frame looks pretty rubbish, in today’s workshop I started to gain more of an understanding to why that is the case and hopefully started my journey to more visually stimulating cinematography! I don’t really think, deep down, I had really considered composition appropriately in the past, I’ve always hid behind the fact that because it is a ‘moving image’, as long as the action’s good, the storytelling is competent. Therefore, taking photographs of spaces and buildings rather than just filming them forced me to consider and analyse elements of composition like space and architecture with great detail.
Theories like ‘The Rule of Thirds’ and ‘Fibonacci’ have a distinct effect on a viewer. By making a shot pleasing to the eye, you are not only making it nice to look at but also facilitating better storytelling techniques and devices. I have to start thinking of the space and architecture defining the location of a scene as a hurdle to get around by making it look ‘nice’ but instead use it, and look for devices within the location that will help convey the story and desired themes.
Going around the city with a stills camera and this in mind made me view Plymouth in a totally different light. I came to admire Plymouth for its mismatched architecture and, quite frankly, it’s odd use of space. Each strange little angle and shape on each individual building is drenched in history and I loved the challenge of framing it in a photograph.
PCA Isobel Wilkinson - BA Film 