Composition

DOWN BY LAW

          In this shot, the framing device used was the rule of thirds: left, center, right.  This shot is a good example of the rule of thirds: left, center, right because if this shot was divided into three equal frames vertically, there is a subject to fill each frame.

          The emotional impact of this framing device used gives the audience a feeling of friends that stick together.  In each frame, the men are in jail leaning on the bars, but by reading their body language it seems as if they are good friends and even if they are stuck in jail, they are with each other.

          In this shot, the framing device used was symmetrical balance.  This shot is a good example of symmetrical balance because if you split the frame in half right down the middle, it is almost symmetrical.

          This framing device gives the audience a psychological impact of separation.  Each frame has it's own character and a pathway leading deep away from each other.  It seems as if one of the characters is giving the other his jacket before they go their own ways.

          The framing device used for this shot is the rule of thirds: foreground, middle ground, and background.This shot is a good example of the rule of thirds: foreground, middle ground, and background because there is a subjects in the foreground, middle ground, and background.

          This framing device gives the audience an emotional impact of reunion.  The foreground is the main focus as it seems like a long awaited reunion hug.  The middle ground and background subjects are not too concerned about the main subjects reunion as they are deeper and more distant in the frame.

MSTERY TRAIN

          The framing device used for this shot is the rule of thirds: left, center, right.  This shot is a good example of the rule of thirds: left, center, right because this shot can be divided into three equal frames vertically and contain a subject in each frame.

          This framing device gives the audience an emotional impact of trouble arising.  All three frames have characters with suspect behavior, especially in the middle frame where the character is drinking out of a liquor bottle while the character in the right frame is driving at night.  The character in the left frame is smoking a cigarette nonchalantly resting his elbow out the window.  There is just a feeling of trouble stirring up.

          This shot uses three framing devices; symmetrical balance, rule of thirds: left, center, right, and rule of thirds: top, center, bottom.  This shot is a good example of all three framing devices because this shot can be divided into three frames vertically, horizontally, and symmetrically in half.

          

          These framing devices give a psychological impact of mystery.  The two characters in the left and right frame are both staring into the middle horizon line.  This gives a feeling of wonder and mystery of what life is like out that window.  By symmetrically framing the characters' bodies facing each other, it is suggesting that they are in the same situation.   

DEAD MAN

          The framing device used in this shot is deep space composition.  This shot is a good example of deep space composition because the main focus of this shot is the two characters, but deep in the background are dozens of trees, which are the main subjects of the setting.

          This framing device gives a psychological impact of departing.  As the tress move deeper into space, the characters are going further away from their origin.  Judging by the character on the right, he must be the leader since he is closer to the camera.

          The framing device used in this shot was the rule of thirds: left, center, right.  This shot is a good example of the rule of thirds: left, center, right because once again the frame can be divided into 3 equal frames vertically and contain a subject in each frame.

          This framing device gives an emotional impact of acceptance.  The eye line of both characters lead us to the third subject, which are the wanted posters of the character on the right.  They both stare at the posters as if they just accepted that one of them is a fugitive. 

LIMITS OF CONTROL

          The framing device used in this shot is lead room.  This shot is a good example of lead room because the main focus in this shot is the character on the left staring to the empty space to the right of the frame.

          This frame device gives a psychological impact of destination.  The main focus is the character on the left, walking toward the empty right space.  As the frame will move, the new unseen setting will appear gradually.

STRANGER THAN PARADISE

          The framing device used in this shot is compositional stress.  This shot is a good example of compositional stress because the main character in this shot is on the left side of the frame, and her eye line is looking toward the left side which is leaving the negative space on the right.  Even though there is a character in the right frame, he is sleeping and has no eye line.

          This frame device gives an emotional impact of rejection.  Even though there is a character on the right of the frame, the character on the left is looking the opposite direction of the character on the right.  She is ignoring or rejecting the character on the right leaving compositional stress and negative space.