Stanley Kubrick : One Point Perspective

[ricktas]

Though this is done with video, it certainly makes you consider composition and especially how what you have just looked at can influence the way you look at the next image. The images used in the video work amazing well to force us, the viewer, look at the images in the way that Kubrick wanted us to. Something we should all consider as photographers... what do I want the viewer to look at?


http://youtu.be/flq0t4jrqJQ

[ameerat42]

Very interesting. It seems to be waist level perspective.

[Jakbob]

Interesting. And very effective.

[dunnart]

Continuous use of the one technique produces a "style" for the photographer. Mastering a techniques and understanding its "rules" also allows one to break the rules in effective ways.

[Nick Cliff]

Interesting, my immediate reaction was to think of Michelangelo's The Last Supper painting.

[bcys1961]

It's true that since I have taken up photography , I notice much more good composition and use of colour , framing , depth , leading lines , visual balance etc.etc. in film as well . You can watch excellent shows like Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones as much for the visual elements as for the storyline.

[Mark L]

Something we should all consider as photographers... what do I want the viewer to look at?



To a degree, that's dependent on the viewer you're taking photographs for.
Almost all the scenes in the video made me look at the center of screen. Does cinematography rules translate to the still photography?
:ps:

[MattNQ]

To a degree, that's dependent on the viewer you're taking photographs for.
Almost all the scenes in the video made me look at the center of screen. Does cinematography rules translate to the still photography?
:ps:

Yes, definitely....But still photography is perhaps more challenging as we are telling the story in just one frame, not thousands of frames ....
But of course, over-use will take away the impact. A whole portfolio of still images composed like these would perhaps become a little much? :D
In the movies it is less obvious - I didn't realize Kubrick used it so much until it is all strung together like that.

A central single point perspective works well in stills - I've used it a fair bit in 2014 - some samples below

http://mattlarsen.smugmug.com/MonochromeMagic/Infrared/i-ZJrXw74/0/S/P3020382mod4-S.jpg

http://mattlarsen.smugmug.com/MonochromeMagic/Infrared/i-ZXwXTjF/0/S/P1010283_editmod4-S.jpg

[Dug]

In the same theme he is a video showing the style of another favorite of mine, Wes Anderson.
This time the approach is symmetry.
The result looks contrived, but adds a wonderful whimsy to his films.

http://digg.com/video/wes-anderson-is-obsessed-with-symmetry

[ricktas]

To a degree, that's dependent on the viewer you're taking photographs for.
Almost all the scenes in the video made me look at the center of screen. Does cinematography rules translate to the still photography?
:ps:

Remember that you the photographer are one of those viewers. So it could be just for you. The whole idea of the video is to make people think about how composition can pay a huge part in your photos, and how a photo could look out of place, if you had 10 photos all with the same composition rules and just one of those had entirely differing composition rules. Whilst that one may well be a great photo, but as part of a set/series, it may seem out of balance.

[Dug]

Centre point has been around in photography for yonks, and often very commercially successful for its striking look.

Don't know how many of these are originals or some of the many imitations.
http://www.snoron.com/view-house_on_water-wide.html

http://vi.sualize.us/weekend_inspiration_muha_maldives_beautiful_beach_travel_picture_94RU.html

Not to diminish its effectiveness but Peter Lik has made a few bob from it http://www.lik.com/thework/oceans-beaches-harbours/solace.html

The classic doing this one http://ih3.redbubble.net/image.8937352.8124/flat,550x550,075,f.jpg

You can probably think of others.