Thinking About Texture

       Thinking About Texture 

         

Source: Creating Powerful Images in Film

 After searching the internet for inspiration about the look of my film, I came across this video on DLSR guide. The short video discusses giving tone to the film through location rather than characters, using natural lighting to softly bounce off a window.

 Simon Cade (Presenter of DSLR Guide) also discusses the importance of light over the quality of the camera. Matching colours, such as the vase matching the blue tint of the plaid curtains, connects the shot and makes the blue and brown contrast well, whereas lighting, such as a window on a cloudy morning, allows for soft light to bounce onto the subject or prop in shot. 

 I used this inspiration when filming with my actress. I had an issue with my original location and had to think on the spot as to how to create another interesting shot. I spotted the circular textures on the banister and remembered back to the video. I set up the shot near the stairwell and filmed my actress in a 'natural state'. 

 Looking back, I wish I could have filled the frame with the circular texture more and removed the grey pole, as I feel I could have focused on the pattern and texture more while still having my actress in the frame.

What I love the most about this shot is the mixing of primary colours (blue and yellow) with the darkness of the shirts, because it allows the stairs to stand out within the frame and give depth of field as I pull focus onto the subject.

 I also took the advice from Cade and used the window light to bounce onto the subject, allowing a soft rim of light to outline her from the grey floor. 

 Although the other characters walking through the frame was not intended, I allowed the people to walk through as I felt it would create a natural environment for Stephanie since she is in a school corridor. This shot also show the divides between Stephanie and her fellow classmates, conveying to the audience her isolation off the pitch as well as on.

 I took into consideration the levels of the character, having her sit down to loose her power within the frame. On the contrary, Stephanie is reading a book compared to her fellow counterparts, allowing the spectator to see she is trying to learn how to score even when she is not on the pitch.