Artist's commentary
“I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.”
Recently, I found an article by Neven Udovicic titled, “Finding the invisible in movie posters,” which provides an analysis of a visual technique known as dynamic symmetry in movie posters. I think this is a really interesting technique and I have also been wanting to experiment more with physical character interactions, so I decided that these would prove to be an interesting combination. Whilst this is not a poster for a film, the analyses that Udovicic provides are universal.
Excluding her tail, Ellen’s body and left leg are nearly coincident to one of the main diagonals. Additionally, her right leg and foot lie along the lower reciprocal diagonal and an eye of the rectangle, respectively. This creates a powerful stance. The coincidental nature of the legs provides a stable ground for the character, and the straight line-of-action that follows the main diagonal portrays a sense of strength behind the action. Contrast this with Belle, whose behaviour is reactive. Her head, torso, and left foot lie along the left vertical third, creating a sense of stillness in the character. The only part of her body that does not conform to the left vertical is her right leg. Due to it being parallel to Ellen’s right leg, it creates a flow between the two figures as well as emphasising where Ellen directs her power towards. Other elements follow the armature as well. The kiss lies in the intersection between the horizontal median line and the left vertical third. The edge of the cumulonimbus follows the main diagonal. Combined, this contrast of stillness and motion makes for an emotionally dynamic scene.
Something I wanted to express was a quiet and still atmosphere; akin to a shot from a film by Studio Ghibli. I chose poses and a camera angle that reflect this. The camera faces the two figures head on and the perspective tends towards a point in the middle. Aside from Ellen, everything else is stationary. Again, this stillness, contrasted with her actions, lends extra weight to it. It would appear as if the world had seen their kiss and come to a stop; nothing else is more important.
Overall, I think dynamic symmetry is a fantastic tool. It greatly helped in guiding my composition, creating a more visually appealing image. In my opinion, I do not think I would have been able to elicit the same emotions or feelings. Even then, I have only just been exposed to this technique: Further research and experimentation is warranted.
On an unrelated note, New Eridu consistently experiences superb weather, great visibility, and an high ceiling, despite its proximity to large bodies of water and mountains. It is these great weather conditions, unfortunately, that greatly saddened me when I realized that I have not seen a single aeroplane in the game. My piece features a correction of this mistake. I would be most delighted if someone could recognise the airline, even more so if someone could recognise the model.
Udovicic’s Article: https://www.geminianum.com/blog/invisible-in-movie-posters