In this post I would like to discuss with you the Mise En Scene elements of one of my oldest photographs, that I took in 2018.
This shot shows a female painter, sitting on the shore and painting a canvas. We can clearly see that there is a woman meditating in front of her. At the first sight, we think that the painter is drawing a portrait of the woman with the green dress in front of her, but if we look precisely, we see a painting of the sea matching the sky. This shot presents how creativity has no rules, how artists draw their vision, how paintings are directly related to emotions, and how affectively is nature when it comes to art. Moreover, both women are meditators but in different ways.
It is always more about turning people into a vision or turning a vision into a character. That is how it all works. Through this photograph I turned some mise en scene elements into two thalassophile people, one who is painting the sea and one who finds peace in the sound of waves. What made this clear for the viewer are the following mise en scene elements:
1. The Dominant:
The dominant in this shot is the painter since she is wearing bright colors (Orange and white). Moreover, her size is the largest in the frame. In addition to that, the focus is on her.
2. Lightening:
The light in this shot is high key lightening. The shot is not so bright, but it also it does not contain shadows. It shows how both characters are not facing any negative feelings and how relaxing is the situation they are in.
3. Shot and camera proxemics:
This shot is a long shot since it fully shows the characters.it shows us how the location is related to the painter and how the women with green dress is not given attention by the painter.
4. Camera angle:
The angle in this shot is a low angle. It shows the power of an artist and how art can express emotions.
5. Color:
Each color in this shot represent a specific aspect. For instance, orange represents creativity and happiness. Another color used in this shot is white and it represents purity and success. Moreover, green symbolizes nature, and this shows us that the women with the green dress is only a part of the nature around the painter. In addition to that, we can see that the meditating women is matching with the background. We also can see the blue color in this shot. Blue represents confidence and intelligence.
6. Lens:
The lens used in this shot is a wide-angle lens since we can see depth.
7. Subsidiary contrast:
The subsidiary contrast in this shot is the woman with the green dress. She does not stand out as much as the painter because the color of her dress blends in with the background.
8. Density:
The image is not dense since the focus is only on the painter.
9. Composition:
The composition in this shot is horizontal ant it represents peacefulness.
10. Framing:
The characters have enough room to move within the frame. This reflects their freedom.
11. Form:
The form in this shot is closed form since it focuses on the painter’s word. It also includes a specific story.
12. Depth:
The focus in this shot is shallow since it is only on the painter. We can see her in her own creative world isolated from reality.
13. Character placement:
Both characters are placed on the edges of the frame because when it comes to art all people are equal.
14. Staging position:
The painter which is the main character in this shot is staged back to the camera. This shows how she is in a her world of imagination leaving everything behind her.
15. Character proxemics:
The distance between the two characters is social and it shows how they are not close to each other although they are both thalassophile.
These are only few mise en scene elements that I used to convey how these two different women have something specific in common. You might see this photograph from several point of views, but you will still feel the love of sea presented. Finally, It is all about feeling, since feeling is the leader to learning.