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Master cinematographers approach every frame as an opportunity to convey the feel of the scene. And one of the things that really helps them to achieve it is composition—the way elements (actors, scenery, props, etc) are placed on screen in respect to each other and within the frame itself has a huge impact on our viewing experience.

To show the brilliance behind a frame's layout, Raymond Thi of Composition Cam analyzes visually stunning films, adding simple, bold lines to demonstrate triangles, quadrants, and other geometric shapes that please our eyes.

As you will see, some pictures use the grid method to create balanced frames while others focus on a central character instead. Many of these films feature relatively simple compositions too, proving that a few elements can make a lasting impact. If you know how to use them.

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Film director and cinematographer (a combo that makes her a rare breed), Elena Rossini, appreciates Thi's work, putting the spotlight on frame composition. "Whenever people discuss the work of great directors, they often fail to mention the art of cinematography," she told Bored Panda. "But for me, it is truly essential and is what separates good from masterful directors. After all, film is a visual art."

Rossini's favorite filmmakers are also those who put a lot of effort into composition. "Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, and Céline Sciamma [are probably at the top of this list]. 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire' was a masterpiece in my opinion, with every shot carefully composed as if it were a painting.

For her, the most successful compositions are those that help the storytelling, creating a sense of awe and wonder (Sciamma, Kubrick) or make you relate to a character (Anderson).

#2

The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Space Odyssey

The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Space Odyssey

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#3

The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)

The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)

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Mary Rose Kent
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jodie Foster was on the Graham Norton show and she talked about how she and Anthony Hopkins never talked to each other until the shoot was done because they were both so afraid of the other.

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"My favorite composition technique is the one-point perspective," Rossini said. "It's Stanley Kubrick's signature shot (I talked about it in my blog), where all the lines in the composition harmoniously converge to a point in the distance. It is no coincidence that Kubrick's shots are so beautifully crafted, as he started working as a photographer and then made the transition to cinema."

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Since the filmmaker also admires Wes Anderson, Rossini loves his high-angle POV shots "as they put you in the shoes of the characters, creating an added sense of intimacy."

If you would like to try these composition techniques for yourself, Thi has created an app that applies these lines to your iOS device.

#4

Stranger Things

Stranger Things

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Sori
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are taught in art school, compositions like these are many to keep the viewers eyes interested and moving to see all the details.

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#5

Star Wars: Episode Iv - A New Hope (1977)

Star Wars: Episode Iv - A New Hope (1977)

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RaroaRaroa
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3 years ago

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Oh look! Someone drew lines along the perfectly natural lines of the perspective in this shot. No, I don't get what the big deal is here.

#6

From 'Sherlock'

From 'Sherlock'

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Marlowe Fitzpatrik
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, on the 8th pic (second from below), the focal point is the picture on the wall, not the ground.

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#7

The Simpsons

The Simpsons

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#10

Isle Of Dogs

Isle Of Dogs

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m not a huge animation fan, but I liked this so much, that I was quite interested in a second viewing.

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#12

Yojimbo (1961)

Yojimbo (1961)

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grey galah
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this reminds me so much of the Renaissance grid for perspective

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#13

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)⠀

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)⠀

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#17

The Grand Budapest Hotel" (2014)⠀⠀

The Grand Budapest Hotel" (2014)⠀⠀

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#18

Reservoir Dogs (1992)⠀

Reservoir Dogs (1992)⠀

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#19

The King's Speech (2010)⠀

The King's Speech (2010)⠀

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#20

Birdman (2014)

Birdman (2014)

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#21

Rule Of Thirds In Star Wars (Original Trilogy)

Rule Of Thirds In Star Wars (Original Trilogy)

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#23

Drive

Drive

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even with Carrie Mulligan in it it lost my attention in no time.

#24

The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)

The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)

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Easily Excitable Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen this movie a dozen times, and I never realized how perfectly framed that shot is before! I need to keep my eyes open for this.

#25

Game Of Thrones (TV Series)

Game Of Thrones (TV Series)

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#26

Black Swan (2010)

Black Swan (2010)

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#27

A Clockwork Orange (1971)⠀

A Clockwork Orange (1971)⠀

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Marlowe Fitzpatrik
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Um... Am I missing things? Maybe I just don't understand this thing because it's pretty obvious to me that the group is the center of perspective??? !!!

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#28

Full Metal Jacket

Full Metal Jacket

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Luther von Wolfen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm learning from all this that there are about five things that filmmakers do over and over and over.

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#29

The Neon Demon

The Neon Demon

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#30

Okja (2017)⠀

Okja (2017)⠀

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Note: this post originally had 118 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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