Photography Composition & Motion Pictures
Photographic Composition.
Photographic composition plays a major role in the viewer`s interaction with the photograph. The main elements of the composition are the balance, the color and the symmetry. Achieving a visual balance using the right elements and tools is the ultimate goal. After all, the eyes are our judges that have the final call. Visual weights and directions are crucial; they are the main factors in every photograph. Utilizing a mixture of symmetrical and asymmetrical elements along with highlighting important parts with contrast for example, will prevent the viewer form losing focus and make sure that he will pass over all the elements in the photograph. Let`s take a closer look at the next photograph.
This “Migrant Mother” photograph was taken during the great depression era by Dorothea Lange in 1936. Regardless the story behind it, our photographer wanted to deliver a message; which is the kind of sorrow and despair that people witnessed during those times. As you can see the photograph is visually balanced symmetrically with the two kids lying on both sides of their mother. Moreover, the photographer wanted to guide the viewer to the character`s facial expressions, by using the contrast tool. Starting all bright from the bottom and going darker upwards towards the mother`s face. Some mystery is added to by concealing the kid`s facial expression, since most viewers find symmetrically balanced photos are kind of boring.
Motion Pictures.
Motion pictures are becoming a very trendy medium nowadays for delivering information. Let`s take documentary trailers for example a 2 minutes video can deliver a certain message way faster and more accurate than still photographs. A narrator in a documentary trailer will ensure more interaction with the viewer and will ensure the delivery of the message. This message can be a restaurant review, a short abstract about history or any other subject you can possibly think about. Voice & music makes more senses active for the viewer; so you definitely get his attention. As any other communication medium (including still photographs) it can be abused in delivering misleading facts to the viewer. Yet, since motion pictures are way stronger than most of the other mediums, viewers are really advised to filter the kind of information that they receive and check its credibility first.
References:
Alex Santoso. “13 Photographs That Changed the World. “ Neatorama. 2 January 2007.
Web. 22 March 2016. http://www.neatorama.com/2007/01/02/13-photographs-that-changed-the-world/
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/genres/documentary/
