Instructional Video Production

Instructional Video Production 4(1+3)

Lesson 02: Visual Grammar

Harmony and Contrast

Good composition always attempts to present an image without any visual ambiguity. This means that an image should be harmonious without creating disturbance in the mind of the viewer (unless that itself is the intention!). However, images that are continuously simple tend to tire the viewer. The viewer's attention is likely to drift. Contrast comes in handy to keep the viewer's attention intact. This is why good films always have a variety of images shot from different angles and sizes. While harmony tends to balance out conflicting masses, contrast stresses differ­ences between and among elements within a frame. As mentioned earlier, a viewer needs changing stimuli to retain interest in the stream of images.