Where is our eye attracted first? Why?

The dominant contrast can be created by any number of techniques. The size of an object may draw our attention to it. In black and white movies, the dominant contrast is generally achieved through a juxtaposition of lights and darks. In color films, the dominant is often achieved by having one color stand out from the others. Placing one object in sharper focus than the rest of the shot can also create a dominant.

 

Ghost World (2001)

The dominant in this shot from the film Ghost World is the character of Enid, played by Thora Birch. The dominant is created by:

1. Size. She's one of the two largest objects in the shot.
2. Focus. She's one of the two objects in focus.
3. Lighting. Unlike Seymour (Steve Buscemi), who's also large and in focus, Enid is highlighted by a shaft of light.
4. Color. Enid wears a bright blue top while the rest of the shot is composed of variations of brown.

Return to Mise en Scene Table of Contents