For some reason the Lumieres' cameramen did some movies of the Brooklyn Bridge that defined laws of movement and composition at the dawn of cinema. Why the Brooklyn Bridge? It was less than ten years old at the time and considered a modern marvel, but the Lumieres shot a lot of other bridge scenes. The Brooklyn Bridge scenes stand out particularly -- perhaps it is civic pride on my part, so be forewarned.
Notice how the cameraman uses the flow of traffic to define a rectangle within the frame for the focus of activity -- people walking from left to right on the bridge, people walking from the middle of the frame down the stairs to the ground, then to the left.... and finally the street traffic on the left of the frame moving towards the top of the frame.
The Lumieres understood, as did few of their contemporary film makers, the rules of composition from their work in still photography. Their genius lay in using motion to define composition further.
Notice how the cameraman uses the flow of traffic to define a rectangle within the frame for the focus of activity -- people walking from left to right on the bridge, people walking from the middle of the frame down the stairs to the ground, then to the left.... and finally the street traffic on the left of the frame moving towards the top of the frame.
The Lumieres understood, as did few of their contemporary film makers, the rules of composition from their work in still photography. Their genius lay in using motion to define composition further.
