Cinematography-Theory-And-Practice

Figure 3.5. Lighting, perspective,choice of lens, and camera positioncombine to give this Gregg Tolandshot tremendous depth and threedimensionalityin The Long VoyageHome.Balancesition.Every element in a visual composition has a visual weight.These may be organized into a balanced or unbalanced composition.The visual weight of an object is primarily determined by its size butis also affected by its position in the frame, its color, movement, andthe subject matter itself.Visual TensionThe interplay of balanced and unbalanced elements and their placementin the frame can create visual tension, which is important inany composition that seeks to avoid boring complacency.Rhythm-very subtle way as in Figures 3.4, a frame from Killer’s Kiss.ProportionClassical Greek philosophy expressed the idea that mathematics wasthe controlling force of the universe and that it was expressed invisual forces in the Golden Mean. The Golden Mean is just one wayof looking at proportion and size relationships in general.ContrastWe know a thing by its opposite. Contrast is a function of the light/dark value, the color and texture of the objects in the frame and thelighting. It is an important visual component in defining depth, spatialrelationships, and of course carries considerable emotional andstorytelling weight as well.cinematography40