Staging & Layout: Designing for the Screen II

In Composing Pictures, Donald Graham writes,

When deciding upon a picture idea we frequently become so interested in seeing it evolve graphically that we develop our first rough without taking time to explore other possibilities. We may visualize a subject… from the viewpoint most easily conceived, the most obvious, the most banal. This first rough may block further explorations, for we become so intrigued in perfecting our first idea that we close our minds to other solutions. Then as work on our first layout progresses we feel little inclined to make major changes, even less inclined to start entirely new picture structures.

To overcome inertia, certain work habits are helpful. First, instead of starting the picture with a single concept, assume that many drawings will be necessary to really exploit graphic possibilities of the assignment. A series, a great number of drawings should be generated, all pertaining to the basic idea. By making many roughs we arrive at a new way of visualizing a picture and a new way of exploring graphic potential. (1970, p. 198-199)


Put different elements of your scene on separate sheets of tracing paper. Lay them on top of each other and experiment by rotating, or repositioning them. Experiment – some compositions will be more interesting and more satisfactory interesting than others. Find a dynamic composition.



If you ever come across an affordable copy of Donald Graham's Composing Pitcures, new or used, buy it!