{"id":46552,"date":"2017-04-11T20:10:06","date_gmt":"2017-04-12T03:10:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=46552"},"modified":"2017-04-18T19:24:30","modified_gmt":"2017-04-19T02:24:30","slug":"composition-lessons-kendrick-lamar-humble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/11\/composition-lessons-kendrick-lamar-humble\/","title":{"rendered":"Cinematography and Composition Lessons in ‘HUMBLE.’ by Kendrick Lamar"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"-blue-red-circle-humble<\/p>\n

Super-inspired by Kendrick Lamar’s new music video for his new song: “HUMBLE”:<\/p>\n

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1. Diagonal light beam<\/h2>\n

Good composition: diagonal light beam– very minimalist:<\/p>\n

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With ‘Gaussian Blur’ applied in photoshop, you can see the composition more clearly:<\/p>\n

\"gaussian-blur-humble<\/p>\n

Strong diagonals:<\/p>\n

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The triangular figure of Kendrick Lamar in a Pope outfit:<\/p>\n

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The entire bright lines outlined:<\/p>\n

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The light beam as a solid color:<\/p>\n

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Now Kendrick as a triangle-shape:<\/p>\n

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Now super-minimalist:<\/p>\n

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2. Depth\/layers<\/h2>\n

In the next scene, you see ‘King Kendrick’ with his legs crossed, finger on his forehead– with the light beam on him.<\/p>\n

Between these two photos, you see how the camera pans out, which integrates more depth into the frame:<\/p>\n

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Note in the next shot, the two other ladies added (one on the far left, and one on the far right):<\/p>\n

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Outlined in red:<\/p>\n

\"1\"1<\/p>\n

With Gaussian Blur applied, you can better see the composition:<\/p>\n

\"1<\/p>\n

See all the circles:<\/p>\n

\"circles.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Now see the in-between (hidden) circles:<\/p>\n

\"circles2.jpg\"<\/p>\n

The next scene, see the side-diagonal composition:<\/p>\n

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Diagonal lines in red:<\/p>\n

\"humble<\/p>\n

I also love the silhouette of this woman’s face:<\/p>\n

\"humble<\/p>\n

With Gaussian Blur applied in photoshop — you can better see the outline of her face:<\/p>\n

\"humble<\/p>\n

Outline of her silhouette in red:<\/p>\n

\"humble<\/p>\n

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3. Head tilt<\/h2>\n

Note the tilt of Kendrick’s head, how his right eye is looking straight at you, and positioned higher than his left eye. This tilted head<\/a> creates a dynamic look:<\/p>\n

\"humble<\/p>\n

Look at the position of his eyes in red:<\/p>\n

\"humble<\/p>\n

The entire music video has a religious, Renaissance-feel.<\/p>\n

You can see the engaging elements of a head-tilt in these famous Renaissance paintings:<\/p>\n

John the Baptist Tilt Head<\/h3>\n

Note the tilt of his head:<\/p>\n

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Madonna con Bambino by Carlo Crivelli<\/h3>\n

\"Carlo_Crivelli_-_Madonna_con_Bambino.jpg\"<\/p>\n

\"tilt<\/p>\n

The full composition of John the Baptist<\/a> by Leonardo da Vinci.<\/p>\n

Venus head tilt<\/h3>\n

\"venus<\/p>\n

In this famous painting of Venus by Sandro Botticelli, note how Venus’ head is tilted:<\/p>\n

\"tilted<\/p>\n

Very good composition.<\/p>\n

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4. Spot the not<\/h2>\n

Another ‘spot the not’ composition<\/a>:<\/p>\n

In a sea of anonymous faces, you only see Kendrick’s face:<\/p>\n

\"humble<\/p>\n

Kendrick is the only real guy out there:<\/p>\n

\"1.jpg\"<\/p>\n

With heavy Gaussian Blur, you can see the outlines of all the heads– the brown heads against a black background. A good use of ‘figure to ground<\/a>‘:<\/p>\n

\"2.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Some of their heads outlined in red:<\/p>\n

\"3.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Moral lesson: How do you stand out, when you’re forced to fit in? Or even though you’re like everyone else, how do you be unique, lift up your head, and say what is really on your mind?<\/p>\n

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5. Heads on fire<\/h2>\n

Visually, probably the coolest scene:<\/p>\n

\"humble<\/p>\n

Interesting, you see Kendrick’s shirt says ‘Dreamer.’<\/p>\n

The interesting thing about the scene is many.<\/p>\n

First of all, the guys behind kendrick (other black guys with black shirts on fire) — they have ropes tied around their face, anonymous. Perhaps a testament to lynching that happened to blacks in the past.<\/p>\n

Think about this KKK Lynching scene from Joey Badass’ “Land of the Free” music video<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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Anyways, you can see how Kendrick is the only one wearing a white sweater, while all the other guys are wearing black. This helps him ‘pop’ or stand out\/\/or create ‘contrast’ or ‘figure to ground<\/a>‘ against all the guys in the background:<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

As the camera pans out, you can see the depth in the photo: Kendrick and the guys with the ropes on their heads in the foreground, and the other guys on the stage in the background:<\/p>\n

The guys in the background illustrated in blue; note the good spacing<\/a> between them:<\/p>\n

\"-blue-red-circle-humble<\/p>\n

And when you pan out, you see all the guys hanging on top of the frame:<\/p>\n

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Their hands are also crossed, in their front, like they are ‘humble.’<\/p>\n

See the guys in the foreground in red:<\/p>\n

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See the guys in the background in blue:<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

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6. I’m so fuckin’ sick and tired of the photoshop<\/h2>\n

Side-by side commentary about reality vs false reality:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I’m so fuckin’ sick and tired of the Photoshop
\nShow me somethin’ natural like afro on Richard Pryor
\nShow me somethin’ natural like ass with some stretch marks – Kendrick Lamar<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

My favorite moment, when the woman crosses over from ‘false reality’ to ‘real reality’ — that split is genius:<\/p>\n

\"kendrick<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n