The Grand Budapest Hotel

I wouldn't normally write about a film in my photography learning blog, BUT, this film is relevant.  The Grand Budapest Hotel, a zany comedy and shaggy dog story directed by Wes Anderson, is situated in the present and the past.  The sequences relating to the past are shot in square format using very central composition (which my previous tutor tried to wean me off) and clear elements of design (as learnt on TAOP).  I really like this format and composition (and may not be weaned off! - although I accept it's not always appropriate).  Anderson uses strong shapes and almost symmetrical composition in a number of shots, but balances this with one detail on one side of the frame to break the symmetry.  Other features I noted are:

• Saturated colours
• Strong neutral tones
• Use of contrasting colours / accents
• Saturated ice cream pastels
• Scenes with frames within frames or views within frames within frames
• Portraits either single (central) or if two people - facing each other looking in or receding diagonal perspective - or if three people - side by side - four/five people - grouped like flower petals shot from above - all very centrally arranged
• Although square - shot in wide-angle so distorted perspectives looking down or up
• Direction of travel through a frame was across the centre or from the middle to back (or vice-versa) or in a circle around the frame
• Central composition also included central from a perspective point of view
• Scenes with interesting light / silhouettes / limited pallette / vignetting in dark scenes

The sequences in this film were beautifully put together, using real filming rather than CGI, and the whole ensemble seems more like a collection of photography stills rather than a motion picture.

Watch the trailer!

References:

• Andersen, W. (2013) The Grand Budapest Hotel (film), 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Websites:

• Wikipedia (2014) Wes Anderson available from   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wes_Andersonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wes_Anderson [accessed 13 July 2014
• Wikipedia (2014) The Grand Budapest Hotel available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grand_Budapest_Hotel [accessed 13 July 2014]
• You Tube (2013) The Grand Budapest Hotel trailer available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bTbW70umbQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bTbW70umbQ [accessed 13 July 2014]

Own work referenced

• Adcock, A (2012-13) The Art of Photography Blog [available online] http://jointheaa-taop.blogspot.co.uk/ [accessed 13 July 2014]