International photographer (Jan-Dec 1934)

April, 1934 T he INT E RNATIONAI. PHOTOGRAPH E Ninett THE NEWSREEL WORLD a Newsreels and Composition IHESE pages have carried many subjects that pertained to our newsreels and the men who make them. Now we are adding a new subject that should be considered by every newsman who wishes to advance composition. Having studied under some of the world's foremost painters and camera artists I now feel that I have gained enough knowledge to enable me to aid my readers. If in this first article on this subject I can interest you just enough to think composition the effort has been worth it. All too often a news scene merely is a record of an event or subject. Especially is this true in regard to close-ups of people talking. All newsmen center the person in the middle of the picture and that is the composition (if the finder is not off). Why must every soul facing a camera be in the center? If, for example, our perfect President speaks, and he faces left in so doing, better composition is obtained by leaving greater space IN THE AREA HE IS FACING. Should the speaker be seated splendid composition can be gotten by following the flowing lines leading from shoulder to feet by allowing more room for these lines in the direction they take. That is, if the head is in the right hand area of our screen these lines flow left to the floor. Using lights more in the manner outlined in our last article you will approach studio quality in your news efforts. These little tips take no more time and are worth the thought. Study such paintings as Whistler's "Mother" and you will get the idea. Once I covered Niagara Falls in winter garb. By giving great thought and study to composition I not only reecived praise, but extra money for the time and effort involved, so you see, it pays. The next time you are covering a major disaster, think of composition. Visit your local art galleries where you will find many examples of how great artists accentuate stark tragedy and the drama of such events. Take for example a scene of devastation caused by a train wreck, flood, earthquake, fire or storm. We see a lot of fast blurry pans that are worse than those amateurs make. How much better a scene with a wide angle lens adding a thought to composition. Put a poor woman on a chair in the lower left hand corner surrounded by her children and the wreck of her home and fill the rest of the screen with the long shot of the widespread damage. If possible give the entire scene a somber touch with a 23A red filter allowing no extra exposure for its use. This will give almost a night effect, a scene that should add an artistic touch to what would otherwise be just a news shot. Bear in mind, that the eye naturally starts from the lower left hand corner of your picture and travels up to the upper right hand corner. Place your primary subject somewhere to the right of the center of this line and the secondary to the left of it. This simple rule used in this manner, or reversed, will aid you in using better artistic judgment, and is known as dynamic svmmetrv. Now let us look at the bathing beauties and fashion stories. We see pretty girls posing before our camera violating every rule of grace, line, curve and symmetry. To anyone with half an eye for beauty the picture is always lacking in something. You may have the palm trees, the netting right, but your girls always look angular. The secret of posing women in standing position was taught me by Mr. Lewis M. Physioc, an artist if ever there was one. He explains that the girls always flex the knee nearest the camera instead of hiding the flex behind the front leg, giving flowing lines to your subject instead of angular. The more nearly a girl forms a flowing elongated figure "S" the more beautiful her figure becomes. This simple thought impressed on your minds should help us to bear up under the strain of a long line of such stereotype stories. In closing, let me thank you all for your kind letters and believe me, I'll answer them all as soon as time permits. RAY FERNSTROM. SWEDEN SHOWS EM A method of recording sound for use of motion picture companies on location, which makes use of regular radio network facilities was put into operation on January 22 at Uppsala, Sweden. This method, which was developed by Brill, an engineer in the Swedish film industry, does away with the need of sound trucks or other portable recording equipment. Considerable savings are expected to be made. Although regular radio equipment is used the sound does not go out over the air but is carried over commercial wires direct to the studio at Rosunda, near Stockholm, where the actual recording is done. Fred Westerberq Has performed a notable service to the Motion Picture and Allied Industries in the publication of THE ClNEMATOGRAPHER'S Book of Tables Price $ J^ INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER 1605 Cahuenga Ave. • Holly wood, Calif. Please mention The International Photographer when corresponding with advertisers.