Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Rule of Thirds

 The Rule of Thirds
    Recently in class, we went over how films generally follow something called the rule of thirds. This is when scenes are shot with subjects and landscapes aligning with imagery vertical and horizontal lines that lines up with the first and second third of the shot and how it can be used to strengthen the narrative.

   1-Still from film demonstrating how the media creator used "The Rule of Thirds" to suggest plot/character development. This image is a still portraying a conflict between Hit-Girl and Frank D'Amico on the vertical third lines and within intersecting points from the movie Kick-Ass (2010)


5aThis image depicts tow characters from the movie aligned along the vertical lines of the grid. Notably, the image is of one of the protagonists and the main antagonist of the film. The character on the left (Hit-Girl) is taking up a majority of the frame as she has her body and arms in the space behind and in front of her. The character on the right (Frank D'Amico) only takes up a third of the frame with his arms entering hit girls frame as well to establish that there is something that is going to happen between the two. Frank's head is also placed directly on the lower right intersection while Hit-Girl's fist and head are positioned near the upper left intersection to show how she is currently in control of the situation. Frank is the man who destroyed her father's life and was the one who got him killed. It is this shot where we can see Hit-Girl take control over the man who previously had control over her life. It signifies her trying to take control of her life again. Her growth is seen through initiating the climax of her story by showing it was her who decided to do something against Frank while he is the one who is no longer in control, which has been untrue for the rest of the film. 



2a-Places/Settings/Landscape taken without regard for the rule. The image is of a fountain in a yard with no distinct part shown to follow either the horizontal or vertical third lines.



2b-Place taken with the horizon correctly aligned with the horizontal rule line, and focal objects lined up with hot spots. The image is of the landscape on the side of a road in a neighborhood. A tree and fountain are aligned with the intersections of the horizontal and vertical lines the background lines up with the bottom horizontal line and beginning of horizon lines up with top horizontal line.

3a-One figure taken without regard for the rule. The image has the character placed directly in the center with nothing on the vertical third lines and the background not laying on a horizontal line.


3b-One figure taken with the object figure aligned with hot spots on either vertical line. The image has the character aligned with the first vertical third line with his head placed on the top left hot spot (intersection).

4a-Two figures taken without regard for the rule. The image has neither character aligned with the intersection of the vertical and horizontal lines. Landscape not directly aligned with horizontal third lines.


4b-Two figures taken with eyes and landscape aligned according to the rule and figure have neutral spacing. The image has both characters aligned with the vertical third lines. One character has their eyes in line with the top horizontal line on the top left hot spot while the other has them aligned with the bottom horizontal line on the bottom right hot spot. landscape is aligned on the bottom horizontal line. Characters are spaced evenly apart as to not intrude the others space.


4c. Two figures taken with eye and landscape alignment and vertical placement to suggest attraction. Both characters are aligned on the vertical third lines with both their eyes on the top horizontal line and the landscape aligned with the bottom horizontal line,


5b. My image portrays the narrative that there is an attraction between two figures using the Rule of Thirds. For one, my subjects are aligned with the neutral lines of the frame which is also where the horizontal and vertical lines intersect. These intersections are known as the hot spots and is where are focus mostly lies on. The characters are both leaning in towards each other to signify that something is going on between these characters. To show that the characters are on the same page, I made sure their eyes aligned with each other on the top horizontal third line. This also helps boost the idea that they have some sort of deep connection as they are maintaining deep eye contact. To show further attraction I made sure to move their arms towards the hot spot of the other character being the head and hips. These are areas that can be tied with affection and by moving a character toward those areas you can build the narrative that the character is affectionate towards the other. By having both characters do this you can see that the affection is mutual and that two figures are showing attraction for one another. 


4d-Two figures taken with eye and landscape alignment and vertical placement to indicate conflict or threat. The image has both figures still aligned with the vertical third lines. Landscape more aligned with the top horizontal line. The eyes of both characters are aligned with the top horizontal third line but placed at slightly different elevations to show the characters are not on the same page. One character is lunging forward and taking up about 2/3 of the frame while the other is moving back and taking up about 1/3 to create the feeling that the character is being backed into a tight spot to create a dramatic and threatened feel. 

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