“Encounter” aka “Boyfriend” synopsis by episode (Eps. 1-16, no spoilers) with in-depth analysis of its cinematography

Jump to synopsis of Episode 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16 (Finale); How I wrote this synopsis without spoilers; Animation (artwork) for intro and outro of each episode; Photography, cameras, and films as recurring motifs; Lessons in cinematography and photography from “Encounter”

From Wikipedia: “Encounter” (literally, “Boyfriend”) is a 2018 South Korean television series starring Song Hye-kyo and Park Bo-gum. It aired on tvN from November 28, 2018 to January 24, 2019 for 16 episodes. It is one of the highest rated Korean dramas in cable television history airing on weekdays.

Internationally, the series streams via Viu TV and Viki; it was broadcast in Indonesia, Philippines, Chile, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, and will be aired in over 100 countries through Mnet Japan.

How I wrote these episode summaries with no spoilers

1. I assumed that you will be reading these summaries and watching the videos chronologically.

2. I narrated some of the main actions in each episode without revealing the plot’s twists and turns.

3. At the beginning of each summary starting with Episode 2, I placed in a table a recap of the major twists and turns of the previous episode. But because you have already watched the video of the previous episode, they aren’t spoilers anymore.

I followed this structure all throughout, except for Episode 16 (Finale) where I included spoilers. Reason — people who have not watched this drama want to know if it has a “happy ending” or a “sad ending” before they invest their time in watching it.

Episode 1: “Enchanted”

Cha Soo-hyun is the daughter of the former mayor and now congressman of Seoul. Her marriage to Woo-seok, the heir of a prominent business conglomerate, ended in divorce, but she still dutifully attends the birthday celebrations of her former mother-in-law, Chairwoman Kim.

As part of the divorce settlement, Soo-hyun became the CEO of Donghwa Hotel. Because of her expansion plans for the hotel, she travels to Havana, Cuba with her secretary and confidante Jang Mi-jin. Along the way to their hotel, Soo-hyun and Mi-jin meet an accident; their driver crashes their car into a sidewalk, nearly hits a pedestrian, and damages the vintage camera of a backpacking, Korean tourist named Kim Jin-hyeok.

After her business meeting, Soo-hyun decides to go by herself to watch the famous sunset at El Malecon Beach. But while she’s resting her sore feet after an uphill climb, her purse is snatched. She’s stranded, without any money or her cellphone. She sits on a high ledge but becomes sleepy when the pill she took before leaving her hotel begins to take effect. She falls slowly off to her side on the ledge.

Notes on Ep. 1:

1. The branding elements in the SLR (single lens reflex) camera that Jin-hyeok is using have been erased. But I think that the camera is a Nikon FM2n model because of its physical appearance and the letter “N” that appears beside the serial number at the back of the camera.

Beginning at that point of Ep. 1 when Jin-hyeok and Soo-hyun walk along the streets of Havana, you’ll notice that Jin-hyeok’s camera now has a square, chrome-like thing attached to the camera body near the lens; from that point on, the drama shows the camera with that square thing. The drama doesn’t explain why that square thing suddenly appeared on Jin-hyeok’s camera; I haven’t been able to find a Nikon model with that square thing attached to the body.)

2. On the plane bound for Cuba, Soo-hyun reads a magazine with a picture of a woman. We then see a painting of that woman on the side of a small building. Later on, we see that woman’s picture on Jin-hyeok’s phone.

That woman is Omara Portoundo; born on October 1930, she’s a Grammy-nominated Cuban singer/dancer and part of the world-famous Buena Vista Social Club.

3. When Soo-hyun fails to show up at the café, Jin-hyeok leaves a note for her on the bulletin board. As he leaves, he mentions the movie “Roman Holiday,” and the scene focuses on a black and white (sepia) picture being sold on a stand outside the café.

The woman in the picture is Audrey Hepburn, star of the 1953 romantic comedy “Roman Holiday.” The movie, directed by William Wyler, won several awards in the Oscars, including Best Actress and Best Story. Hepburn also won Best Actress awards for this movie from organizations such as BAFTA and the New York Film Critics Circle.

Episode 2: “We Sincerely Welcome You”

Ep. 1 recap: Jin-hyeok escorts Soo-hyun around El Malecon Beach; they watch the sunset, and he buys her beer, food, and sandals. They also spend some time in a salsa dance club. At the airport on his way home to Korea, Jin-hyeok finds out that Soo-hyun is the CEO of Donghwa hotel where he applied for work.

Jin-hyeok is a college graduate, with a major in hotel management. After telling his parents that he has been hired as an employee of Donghwa Hotel, he spends time with his friends Lee Dae-chan (owner of a moon snails eatery) and Jo Hye-in (an employee of Donghwa Hotel).

After the welcome ceremonies for the new employees, Jin-hyeok is assigned to the PR Department. One of his co-employees, Gu Eun-ji, becomes infatuated with his good looks.

During a visit to her parents’ home, Soo-hyun gets into an argument with her mother, who has been summoned by Chairwoman Kim.

Director Kim of the PR Department, Hye-in, Eun-ji, and other PR staffers welcome Jin-hyeok with food and drinks. Jin-hyeok becomes drunk, and as he staggers to get home, he sits on a bench in a bus stop. Soo-hyun passes by in her car and sees him.

Episode 3: “Yearning”

Ep. 2 recap: After meeting each other at the swings, Soo-Hyun and Jin-hyeok spend time together looking at the negatives of the pictures that he took in Cuba and playing with a claw machine. Chairwoman Kim wants her son Woo-seok to remarry Soo-hyun because Soo-Hyun’s father is planning to run for president of Korea. Soo-Hyun’s picture with Jin-hyeok is published all over the Internet.

Because of the scandalous news of Soo-hyun being with a younger man, Chairwoman Kim warns Soo-hyun that she will invoke the morality clause of the divorce settlement and take back Donghwa Hotel.

Soo-hyun’s mother suggest to her a plan to blame everything on Jin-hyeok; she also forces her to meet Woo-seok. During their meeting, Soo-hyun asks Woo-seok why he hasn’t gotten married again, but he refuses to answer.

Soo-Hyun goes out of town to track down the artist who was supposed to hold an exhibit of her paintings in Donghwa Hotel’s newest branch in Sokcho. When Mi-jin tells him to bring a suitcase of clothes and other things for Soo-hyun, Driver Nam decides to bring Jin-hyeok along with him.

On the beach, while taking pictures, Jin-hyeok meets Soo-hyun.

Note on Ep. 3: Sokcho is a city in Gangwon-do province, South Korea, about 99 miles away from Seoul. The city is a major tourism hub and a popular gateway to nearby Seoraksan national park. The city is known for the beach, natural hot springs and golf courses, as well as its fine fishery products. (Wikipedia)

Episode 4: “That’s Why I’m Trying to Stop”

Ep. 3 recap: Chairwoman Kim wants to get Donghwa Hotel back now that it’s making money. Jin-hyeok’s brother comes home after being discharged from the army. Concerned about Soo-hyun’s well-being after hearing the Spanish song on the radio, Jin-hyeok returns to the hotel in Sokcho. But Woo-seok is also on the way there. When Jin-hyeok asks her what’s the status of their relationship, Soo-hyun says, to his disappointment, that they’re just employee and employer.

Woo-seok sees Soo-hyun and Jin-hyeok as they come back to the hotel. Later on, his mother, Chairwoman Kim, continues to pressure him into remarrying Soo-hyun.

During Soo-hyun’s birthday celebration, Mi-jin warns her to stop going out with Jin-hyeok.

Through a subordinate, Chairwoman Kim finds out that Jin-hyeok and Hye-in are friends. The subordinate offers Hye-in a promotion in exchange for putting a message about Soo-hyun and Jin-hyeok in the hotel’s bulletin board. Later, after the news is posted in the bulletin board that Soo-hyun is harassing an employee, Director Choi meets Soo-hyun at the hotel lobby. As the employees begin to gather around them, he loudly demands that Soo-hyun explain why she has damaged the hotel’s reputation.

Episode 5: “I’m Good at Holding Back”

Ep. 4 recap: After Soo-hyun gets into a car accident, Jin-hyeok demands that he drive her home. At the stroke of midnight, he gives his birthday present (lipstick) to Soo-hyun. Mi-jin meets Jin-hyeok in Dae-chan’s moon snails eatery and warns him to stop seeing Soo-hyun. In front of Director Choi and the hotel employees, Jin-hyeok identifies himself as the man seen in the picture with Soo-hyun and the employee who Soo-hyun is supposed to be harassing.

For their first official date, Jin-hyeok brings Soo-hyun to a tea house whose owner is the wife of the man who gave the camera to Jin-hyeok’s father. Meanwhile, after finding out what happened at the hotel lobby, Chairwoman Kim warns Woo-seok that she will meet the directors of Donghwa Hotel.

Despite the problems that have arisen around them, Soo-hyun and Jin-hyeok continue to meet each other. One of the places they visit is an art gallery in Jin-hyeok’s neighborhood.

Woo-seok orders his secretary to find out everything about Jin-hyeok, while Soo-hyun’s father asks Driver Nam about the man who Soo-hyun is seeing.

Note on Ep 5: Soo-hyun and and Jin-hyeok visit a street gallery, and one of the artworks that they stop to admire is a copy of “Where, in What Form, Shall We Meet Again” by Kim Whan-ki (1913–1974), a pioneering abstract artist in Korea. The painting won the Grand Prize Competition for Korean Art sponsored by the Hankuk Daily News in 1970; its title comes from the last line of the poem “At Eventide” by Kim Gwang-Sup.

If you click the picture above, you will be able to view or download
a much bigger copy — 1516 by 2045 px — of Kim Whan-ki’s
famous painting “Where, What Form, Shall We Meet Again?”

Episode 6: “It’s Already Spring For Us”

Ep. 5 recap: Despite opposition from her mother and Mi-jin, Soo-hyun can’t hold her emotions back and agrees to enter into a “some” relationship with Jin-hyeok.

Woo-seok confronts Director Choi, his mother’s spy in Donghwa Hotel. Later, Director Choi plans to embarrass Jin-hyeok by making him take charge of inviting celebrities to the opening of Donghwa Hotel’s newest branch in Sokcho. He also plans to embarrass Soo-hyun through the reporters at the event.

Hye-in warns Jin-hyeok about Woo-seok and Chairwoman Kim; she tells him about the rumor that they’re planning to take over Donghwa Hotel.

Soo-hyun’s mother barges into her office and warns her not do anything that will interfere with her father’s political plans.

During the celebrations at the newest hotel branch, Chairwoman Kim reminds Soo-hyun’s father that it was her business conglomerate that enabled his political career. Later, at the lobby, she and Director Choi meet Jin-hyeok.

Episode 7: “Sudden Personnel Appointment”

Ep. 6 recap: Woo-seok sees how close Soo-hyun and Jin-hyeok are. On the other hand, Chairwoman Kim berates Jin-hyeok for seducing Soo-hyun. During the press conference, Soo-hyun admits to the reporters that she and Jin-hyeok are in a “some” relationship.

Soo-hyun stands firm against her mother who wants her to beg for Chairwoman Kim’s forgiveness; she says that she will live her life the way that she wants from now on. Meanwhile, Chairwoman Kim orders Director Choi to transfer Jin-hyeok away from Seoul and to later fire him; she also pushes through with her plan of uniting the political parties for the next presidential elections.

While waiting for Soo-hyun near a bus stop, Jin-hyeok meets Woo-seok, who wants to confirm what Soo-hyun said during the press conference. Later, while he and Soo-hyun are having dinner, Soo-hyun finds out that an emergency meeting of the board of directors has been scheduled.

Driver Nam goes to see Director Kim’s daughter; she has found out that her father is having an extra-marital affair.

Director Choi tells Jin-hyeok that he will be transferred to the Sokcho branch of the hotel. When Jin-hyeok protests, Director Choi warns him that Soo-hyun could lose control of Donghwa Hotel. Later on, while jogging, Jin-hyeok impulsively visits Soo-hyun at her home.

Episode 8: “Party Must Go On”

Ep. 7 recap: Soo-hyun promises the board of directors that she won’t mix her personal life with the hotel’s business. The PR team finds out that Jin-hyeok is being transferred. Hye-in takes Director Kim’s cellphone and calls Soo-hyun, who is on her way to Shanghai, China for a business meeting.

Soo-hyun warns Director Choi to choose between her or Chairwoman Kim; she also tells her mother that she will never remarry Woo-seok. But Jin-hyeok tells her that if she cancels his reassignment, she will look bad in the eyes of the Donghwa Hotel’s employees.

Chairwoman Kim finds out that Woo-seok lied about his extramarital affair to give Soo-hyun the ground to divorce him.

During Donghwa Hotel’s masquerade ball on New Year’s Eve, Woo-seok plans to win back Soo-hyun’s affections. Meanwhile, Jin-hyeok is stuck in the front desk of the hotel in Sokcho.

Episode 9: “Don’t Be Afraid”

Ep. 8 recap: Driver Nam picks Jin-hyeok up from Sokcho and brings him to the masquerade ball. At the stroke of midnight, to Soo-hyun’s surprise and delight, the ball turns into the salsa bar that she and Jin-hyeok visited in Havana. Soo-hyun and Jin-hyeok kiss.

As Soo-hyun and Jin-hyeok kiss, Woo-seok sees them and leaves brokenhearted.

Another trouble erupts when a picture of Soo-hyun and Jin-hyeok on their early New Year’s Day date is published. When Soo-hyun later visits her father to apologize, he tells her about the impending fight between him and Chairwoman Kim.

Woo-seok proposes to remarry Soo-hyun, telling her that they can leave Korea to escape from Chairwoman Kim’s control.

Jin-hyeok’s mother becomes worried about him after finding out about his picture with Soo-hyun. Meanwhile, Soo-Hyun’s mother goes to Sokcho and confronts Jin-hyeok.

Soo-hyun tells Jin-hyeok that they should let things cool down between them.

Note on Ep. 9: The movie that Soo-hyun and Jin-hyeok watched on their New Year’s Day date is “Loving Vincent” (2017), the world's first fully painted feature movie; it is an experimental animated biographical drama film about the life of the painter Vincent van Gogh (Wikipedia). You might be familiar with Don Maclean’s iconic song “Vincent” aka ”Starry, starry night.”

Episode 10: “It Proves That I Was the First to Like You”

Ep. 9 recap: Soo-hyun turns down Woo-seok’s marriage proposal. After a month of separation with no communication and after developing Jin-hyeok’s picture in the darkroom, Soo-hyun decides to go to Sokcho and reunite with Jin-hyeok.

Taking to heart the advice of Mrs. Lee, the tea house owner, Soo-hyun reconciles with Jin-hyeok. They smooth things out between them and later begin video calling each other.

Soo-hyun’s mother begs Chairwoman Kim to give Soo-hyun another chance. Meanwhile, Woo-seok continues to pursue Soo-hyun.

Director Choi and Manager Lee scheme to get Soo-hyun into trouble with the owner of the Havana property; Director Choi also calls an emergency meeting of the board of directors to discuss kicking Soo-hyun out as CEO of the hotel.

Because of Director Choi’s scheme, the owner of the Havana property refuses to deal anymore with Donghwa Hotel. Remembering the man whom he talked to when he was in Havana and with his time off and benefits, Jin-hyeok decides to travel to Havana.

Episode 11: “My Heart Is Full of You”

Ep. 10 recap: Woo-seok finds out through his spy that his mother and Director Choi were behind the scheme to sabotage Donghwa Hotel’s deal in Havana. Soo-hyun also goes to Havana and reunites with Jin-hyeok on El Malecon Beach.

Because of the good PR that Jin-hyeok got when he helped the girl who lost her teddy bear, he’s transferred back to Seoul.

Woo-seok shows Director Choi the video of his meeting with Manager Lee and the manager who sent the malicious email; he promises Director Choi that he will not give Soo-Hyun the video if he helps him regain control of Donghwa Hotel.

For his mother’s birthday, Jin-hyeok uses his benefits to get his parents to stay at Donghwa Hotel for several days.

As Jin-hyeok goes home, he’s confronted by Woo-seok, who says that he’s still in love with Soo-hyun. Meanwhile, in the hotel, Soo-hyun gets a surprise visit.

Episode 12: “I Cherish You Very Much”

Ep. 11 recap: Jin-hyeok gives Soo-hyun a couple’s ring. Soo-hyun’s father gives up on his presidential ambitions, promising to support the opposition party. Woo-seok tells his assistant to buy up all the shares necessary for him to take control of Donghwa Hotel. Jin-hyeok’s father visits Soo-hyun in her office.

Jin-hyeok’s father tells Soo-hyun that he worries about her relationship with Jin-hyeok. But Soo-hyun reassures him.

Woo-seok succeeds in getting enough shares and is named as co-CEO of Donghwa Hotel. But the board of directors is split between those who have sided with him and those who remain loyal to Soo-hyun.

After visiting Soo-hyun in her office, Woo-seok goes to the PR department to gloat in Jin-hyeok’s presence about his victory. Later on, he tells Jin-hyeok that he will win Soo-hyun back.

Driver Nam finds out about the telephone calls made by the manager who sent the malicious email.

Soo-hyun’s mother pleads with her to cooperate with Chairwoman Kim even only during the electoral campaign. Soo-hyun then becomes torn over attending the memorial service for Woo-seok’s father and having dinner with Jin-hyeok and his family.

Note on Ep. 12: The painting behind Soo-hyun is based on the statue of the Little Prince and the fox that overlooks Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan, a famous tourist destination. Korea also has a tourist spot called Petite France that pays homage to the “Little Prince” novella and all things French.

Episode 13: “I Can No Longer Live Without You”

Ep. 12 recap: Soo-hyun chooses to have dinner with Jin-hyeok’s family rather than attend the memorial service.

Angered by Soo-hyun’s refusal to attend the memorial service, Chairwoman Kim orders her legal team to prepare in taking over Donghwa Hotel.

When Soo-hyun apologizes to her father about the negative effect on his political career of her refusal to attend the memorial service, he assures her that whatever happens won’t be because of her.

Through her secretary, Soo-hyun finally finds the exact model of Jin-hyeok’s camera that was damaged in Havana. Later, Jin-hyeok gets the chance to use it for the hotel’s wedding promo.

Soo-hyun confirms that it’s Manager Lee who was in contact with the manager who sent the malicious email that nearly derailed the Havana project.

Episode 14: “It’s Your First Love Too”

Ep. 13 recap: Soo-hyun enjoys her time spent with Jin-hyeok’s family. Director Choi is fired from his position, but he refuses to name the person who masterminded the scheme to derail the Havana project. Jin-hyeok’s mother pleads with Soo-hyun to end her relationship with Jin-hyeok.

Soo-hyun becomes depressed over her conversation with Jin-hyeok’s mother, who pleaded that she wants a normal, happy life for Jin-hyeok and her family.

Having come to a decision over his political career, Soo-hyun’s father gets together with Jin-hyeok for dinner. Later, he visits the columbarium where his old friend’s ashes are stored. There, he meets Driver Nam and Director Kim.

While Soo-hyun and Jin-hyeok are at an art gallery, Woo-seok’s former girlfriend sees them.

In Dae-chan’s restaurant, a customer mocks Jin-hyeok’s relationship with Soo-hyun; Jin-hyeok’s brother gets into a fight with the customer and lands in jail.

Soo-hyun finally finds out that Woo-seok faked his extramarital affair to give her a chance to get out of his mother’s domineering ways.

Episode 15: “I’m Sorry”

Ep. 14 recap: After Soo-hyun’s father publicly announces his withdrawal from the presidential race, Chairwoman Kim vows to oust Soo-hyun as CEO of the hotel. After seeing how her relationship with Jin-hyeok has affected his brother, Soo-hyun decides to break up with Jin-hyeok.

Soo-hyun’s father announces that a corporation illegally funded his campaign and that he will be cooperating with the police investigation.

Soo-hyun breaks up with Jin-hyeok, but he pleads with her that he promised her father that he will take care of her. Later, he finds out that his mother asked Soo-hyun to break up with him.

Jin-hyeok’s father also finds out that his wife talked to Soo-hyun about ending her relationship with Jin-hyeok. He gets angry with her, but she refuses to admit that what she did was wrong.

Although Woo-seok gives her a way to take full control of Donghwa Hotel, Soo-Hyun refuses his help. She decides to leave for Havana and focus on the hotel project there.

Episode 16, Finale (with spoilers): “I’ll Wait in My Place”

Ep. 15 recap: The police issue a search and seizure order against Chairwoman Kim’s conglomerate. But Chairwoman Kim is confident that Soo-hyun’s mother will never testify against her. Jin-hyeok goes to Soo-hyun’s office to confront her.

Soo-hyun’s mother testifies against Chairwoman Kim. Later on, Soo-hyun’s father and Chairwoman Kim are charged with and convicted of corruption and of illegal campaign contributions.

Soo-hyun and Jin-hyeok are reunited, and a year later, after the Havana hotel has been completed, Jin-hyeok asks Soo-hyun if they can go to Cuba as newlyweds.

Animation (artwork) for intro and outro of each episode

“Encounter” uses animations of beautiful artwork at the start and end of each episode (1) to give a preview of the episode and also (2) to highlight certain events in the episode. These digital artworks were created by Korean artist Jamsan; you can read more about him (his techniques, career, sample works, etc.) in “Korean Illustrator: Jamsan” and in “Concept artist discusses success behind ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ storybooks” (The Korea Times).

For example, here’s the animation for the intro of Ep. 1 that previews Soo-hyun traveling to a faraway, sunny land (that is, Cuba) where she meets a man reading a book. The early part of the animation reflects the complexity of Soo-hyun’s life as a politician’s daughter and as a chaebol’s wife, which contrasts with the simplicity of the happiness that she will find.

Posted below is the outro animation of Ep. 1. The freeze frame of Jin-hyeok and Soo-hyun at the airport cross dissolves into the artwork of a man and woman meeting on a sunny island.

Posted below is Jamsan’s exquisitely beautiful artwork used in Ep. 3. In the intro animation, you will notice that the butterflies move backwards from the upper right corner to the lower left corner, with one butterfly staying on the girl’s face. In the outro animation, the butterflies move naturally from lower left to upper right, and the last image we see is the girl who’s now all alone because all the butterflies have flown away. The animation represents Soo-hyun’s past relational failures and her present fear of becoming romantically involved with Jin-jyeok.

The first picture below is from the intro animation of Ep. 7; it shows a boy’s face with one spark (or star) flitting on his face. The second picture below is a GIF of the outro animation of Ep. 7 that shows mumerous sparks (or stars) bursting from his face. This outro represents Jin-hyeok and the mature way that he handled his reassignment to Sokcho. He could have easily griped to Soo-hyun about the reassignment, but he placed Soo-hyun’s welfare first and considered her precarious situation with the board of directors and her former mother-in-law.

The animations can express some profound things as I stated above. But they can also express some simple things, such as the intro and outro of Ep. 8. As the screenshot of the intro below shows, the intro depicts a man and a woman passing each other, which indicates a break in the relationship or a failure in communication. On the other hand, the screenshot from the outro shows the man and woman reuniting and coming to an understanding.

Ep. 8 intro

Ep. 8 outro

The animations can also be highly suggestive as in Ep. 10; if you watch the kissing scene at the balcony near the end of the episode, you will then read a lot into what the outro animation depicts.

Ep. 10 intro

Ep. 10 outro

Jamsan using Painter to create his artworks

Photography, cameras, and films as recurring motifs of “Encounter”

I love photography, and when I found out from a friend on reddit that this drama uses photography, cameras, and films as recurring motifs, I decided to give it a try. When I saw Jin-hyeok (male lead character) using a manual SLR camera in Ep. 1 to take black and white pictures, I was hooked.

1. The branding elements in the SLR (single lens reflex) camera that Jin-hyeok is using have been erased. As I explained in my notes on Ep. 1, that camera is probably a Nikon FM2n model.

From 1985 up to 2009, I used a Canon AE-1 Program camera, which, along with the AE-1, is the biggest selling manual SLR camera in history. But I was also able to use the Nikon FG and Nikon F models in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The very first SLR camera I handled was the Olympus OM-1, and the camera of my dreams was the Pentax Spotmatic.

2. Ep. 1 opens with black and white images of Soo-hyun campaigning for her father, getting married, and getting divorced. Later, as Soo-hyun walks towards a small gallery, the images transition from black and white to color. This technique of transitioning from black and white to color (or blending color with black and white) has been used in various movies.

For example, the video below shows the scene from the landmark 1953 movie “The Wizard of Oz” where Dorothy (played by Judy Garland) is shown first in black and white (technically, sepia) and then in Technicolor.



For more information, please read:

Clip joint: films that use both black & white and colour (The Guardian)

Films In Both Color and Black and White

How to Use Selective Color in a Black-and-White Video with Premiere Pro

Alfonso Cuarón’s Black-and-White ‘Roma’ Was a Cinematic Master Stroke

3. The picture below from Ep. 1 shows Jin-hyeok and Soo-hyun in a split screen. But the images are placed in frames that look like a 35 mm film strip, minus the perforations at the top and bottom portions.

Here’s another example of a split screen that uses frames in the form of a film strip without the perforations.

In Ep. 5, however, we can see an image of Soo-hyun and and Jin-hyeok in the tea house; they’re framed inside a 35 mm film frame, and if you look closely, you will see the perforations at the left and right sides, not at the top or bottom. As the camera slowly zooms in on Soo-hyun and and Jin-hyeok, the perforations slowly become discernible.

4. At the start of Ep. 2, we see Jin-hyeok inside the darkroom, printing his pictures and inspecting his negatives by eye and by the use of a loupe (magnifier). This scene reminds me so much of the late 1980s and early 1990s when I developed black and white films and printed pictures in my high school’s makeshift darkroom.

In the pictures below, the negative image cross dissolves into the positive image of the library that Jin-hyeok visits regularly.

In the pictures below, the 35 mm film strip (with a loupe in the middle) cross dissolves into the image of the bus that Jin-hyeok is riding on his way home.

5. Posted below are three pictures composed of two images each — the first image is out of focus, while the second image is in focus. Why did the cinematographer shoot the scene starting with an out of focus image? I think that this device was part of the concept for the whole drama (that is, using photography, cameras, and films as recurring motifs). Remember that Jin-hyeok uses a manual focus SLR camera; you have to focus the lens in order to get a clear and sharp image.

6. In Ep. 9, we can see this out of focus shot of Soo-hyun’s reflection as she tells Jin-hyeok that they should cool things off between them. It’s a brilliant shot because the out of focus image reinforces the sadness and emotional confusion that Soo-hyun experiences at that moment.

7. In Ep. 8, when Jin-hyeok asked Soo-hyun to take his picture, he was outside the restaurant, with a glass window between them.

Notice that the images of Soo-hyun are hazy because the cinematographer shot her from behind the glass window, that is, from Jin-hyeok's point of view. (Same thing with Jin-hyeok’s images; they're hazy because the cinematographer shot him from behind the glass window, that is, from Soo-hyun’s point of view.)

But the cinematographer also shot Soo-hyun from inside the restaurant, making her image sharp and clear.
So, why didn’t the cinematographer shot Soo-hyun this way? Or, the production crew could have easily removed the glass window, allowing the cinematographer to avoid the hazy images of Soo-hyun or of Jin-hyeok. (A polarizing filter would have also probably removed the haziness.)

Answer: because the hazy images visually reflect and reinforce the strain in their relationship as Jin-hyeok prepares to move to his new work assignment in Sokcho, which is around 3 hours drive away from Seoul.

Lessons in in cinematography and photography from “Encounter”

A. Song Hye-kyo (female lead star of “Encounter”) has a standard clause in her contract that she can only be filmed with an Alexa camera, which is the top of the line camera for cinematographers. For example, the Alexa 65 camera model was used as “the primary system on over 70% of the top 100 grossing films since 2016.” Some movies that have been shot with an Alexa 65 are “Skyfall,” “Sicario,” “Blade Runner 2049,” “Roma,” and “Parasite.” If I remember correctly, Song Hye-kyo’s dramas have been shot with the Alexa Plus camera model.

B. Proper way of handling a manual SLR camera: In Ep. 8, Jin-hyeok gives Soo-hyun the manual SLR camera that he used in Cuba. (As I said earlier, the camera is a Nikon FM2n model.)

(a) Soo-hyun is not holding the manual SLR camera properly; with a short lens, the camera base should be on her open left palm.
With the camera base resting on her open left palm, she can (1) focus the lens with her left hand’s thumb and pointing finger, and (2) take her right hand off the camera and the camera will still be safe on her left hand.

With the way she’s holding the camera, she has to move her left hand from the side of the camera, focus the lens, and then move her hand back to its previous position. In Ep. 11 (at around the 48:27 mark), this is exactly what she does. This is not an efficient way of handling a manual SLR camera. (With a longer lens, however, the left hand supports the lens, not the camera body.)

C. Lesson in cinematography from Ep. 1 (cross cutting):

Cross cutting is taking two or more scenes and cutting between them as they progress; it is used to establish actions taking place at the same time, whether in the same place or not. In this example, Soo-hyun and Jin-hyeok are in their separate hotels, remembering the happy moments they spent together.

For more information about cross cutting, surt to “Film Editing Techniques: Cross-Cutting 101” (Film Editing Pro)

D. Lesson in cinematography (walk and talk):

The characters move from one point to another, with the camera following them. In this example from Ep. 1 (38:54 up to 40:40 marks), Soo-hyun and Jin-hyeok walk along the streets of Havana, and as they move forward, the camera moves backward to keep them in focus and in frame.

The “walk and talk” was popularized by Aaron Sorkin, director of “Sports Night” and “West Wing.” The “walk and talk” may seem simple to do, but it needs a lot of rehearsals for the actors and cinematographer to synchonize their movements. For more information, please read “The Walk and Talk: Crafting Exposition That Won’t Bore Your Audience” (Premium Beat).

E. Lesson in cinematography from Ep. 1 (rack focus): One element is in focus while the other element is out of focus. As the element in focus becomes out of focus, the element that is out of focus becomes in focus. Thus, in the GIF below, Jin-hyeok’s feet are in focus but then becomes out of focus as Soo-hyun’s shoes become in focus.

F. Lesson in cinematography (rack focus): The green grass in the foreground is in focus, while Soo-hyun (in the background wearing a red dress) is out of focus. The green grass then becomes out of focus, and Soo-hyun becomes in focus.

G. Lesson in cinematography and editing (eyeline match and the 180-degree rule):

In a scene where two actors are talking, if a character (“A”) is on the left side of the frame (or in the middle) and looking to the right towards the person (“B”) he/she’s talking to, then the next shot should have “B” on the right side of the frame (or in the middle) and looking to the left. Otherwise, it would result in a mismatch in eyeline and tend to confuse the viewers.

From “Film 101: What Are Eyelines? How to Use Eyeline Match to Tell a Story and Drive a Narrative”: Eyeline match also refers to an editing technique that ensures continuity of the characters’ gazes. It gives the illusion that the two characters are looking at each other. In a scene with multiple shots of different characters interacting, it must be clear who is looking at whom.

Example of eyeline match from Ep. 10:

Soo-Hyun is on the right side of the frame (or almost in the center) looking to the left, from our perspective. Thus, in the next shot, Jin-hyeok is on the left side of the frame (or almost in the center) and looking to the right, from our perspective.

Example of error in eyeline match from Ep. 12:

Soo-hyun is looking to the right; based on eyeline match, we would expect Jin-hyeok to be on the right side of the frame, looking left towards Soo-hyun.

Instead, as you can see in the picture below, Jin-hyeok is in the center of the frame and looking to the right. Either the cinematographer disregarded the 180-degree rule when the scene was being shot, or the editor messed up.

H. Lessons in photography

Out of focus highlights, Bokeh (aesthetic quality
of blurred areas of a photograph)

Background blur

Balance and symmetry, natural frame

Conveying depth through overlapping elements

Background blur, natural frame

Converging lines

High key lighting, shallow depth of field

Balance and symmetry, background blur

Line of direction, partial frame

Foreground blur, natural frame

Red is a dominating color

Bokeh (aesthetic quality of blurred areas of a photograph)

Foreground blur, compressed perspective

Lens flare

Balance and symmetry

High angle shot, diagonal lines

Rule of Odds

Low angle shot, Dutch angle

Converging lines, Dutch angle

Out of focus highlights, Bokeh (aesthetic quality
of blurred areas of a photograph)

Background blur

Shooting against the light, lens flares

Lines of direction

Natural frame

Red and yellow are dominant colors

Arabesque

Reflection, natural frame

Red (warm color), blue (cool color)

Shallow depth of field

Low angle shot

High angle shot

Golden hour (sunset)

Silhouette

Establishing shot

Reflection

Simple, uncluttered background

Reflection

Reflection

Reflection, balance and symmetry

I. Symmetry and balance

“The K2” synopsis by episode, Eps. 1-16 (no spoilers)

Jump to synopsis of Episode 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16 (Finale); How I wrote these episode summaries with no spoilers: Lessons in photography from “The K2”

“The K2” is a 2016 South Korean television series starring Ji Chang-wook and Im Yoon-ah. It premiered on tvN every Friday and Saturday from September 23 to November 12, 2016 for 16 episodes.

The drama received favorable reviews, topping cable channel viewership ratings throughout its 8-week broadcast. It was praised by viewers for good performances. It has been broadcast in Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, China, Thailand, Israel, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Greece. (Wikipedia)

How I wrote these episode summaries with no spoilers

1. I assumed that you will be reading these summaries and watching the videos chronologically.

2. I narrated some of the main actions in each episode without revealing the plot’s twists and turns.

3. At the beginning of each summary starting with Episode 2, I placed in a table a recap of the major twists and turns of the previous episode. But because you have already watched the video of the previous episode, they aren’t spoilers anymore.

Episode 1

A young woman named Anna escapes from a convent in Madrid, Spain where she has been kept since she was a young girl. As she tries to elude the men chasing her, she reaches the subway where she meets Kim Je-ha.

Six months later ... Je-ha works for an outdoor advertising company. One night, his boss orders him to fix the giant banner of Congressman Jang Se-joon that hangs outside a building that’s guarded by JSS, a private security firm. He gets past the strict security when an old cleaning woman helps him.

Congressman Jang Se-joon, a presidential candidate, meets his paramour in a private room in the building; meanwhile, his wife Choi Yoo-jin is being interviewed on TV.

As Je-ha is working on securing the giant banner, masked men attack the building.The men work their way up to the room where Congressman Jang Se-joon and his paramour are, and a vicious fight takes place between them and the building’s security team. Seeing one of the masked men about to attack the old cleaning woman, Je-ha tries to help her by crashing through the tempered glass windows.

Episode 2

Ep. 1 recap: Anna is Congressman Jang Se-joon’s daughter. After witnessing her mother’s death when she was a child, she has been kept in a convent in Madrid, Spain. Je-ha is a former member of the South Korean Special Forces; Chief Joo, the man who trained him, is now a JSS officer.

In Madrid, as she’s transfixed in the middle of the road, Anna remembers how she was questioned by the authorities about her mother’s death and how she was brought out of Korea.

In Korea, Yoo-jin berates the CEO of JSS for allowing Je-ha to escape. But Chief Joo defends JSS, saying that Je-ha is a highly skilled and experienced mercenary.

After the fashion designer posts Anna’s picture on social media, Secretary Kim advises Yoo-jin that Anna must be killed. But fearing how Se-joon would react, Yoo-jin orders that Anna be brought back to Korea.

Je-ha has found refuge with an elderly couple in a farm. But JSS has found out his location, and while he’s out on an errand, a JSS man hostages the elderly farm couple and pours a flammable liquid on them.

Episode 3

Ep. 2 recap: Je-ha sneaks into Yoo-jin’s mansion and warns her to stay away from and not hurt the elderly farm couple. After escaping from the JSS men, Je-ha goes back to the mansion. As he holds a gun to Yoo-jin’s temple, Anna shouts at him to kill Yoo-jin.

With Yoo-jin as a hostage, Je-ha escapes from the mansion in a car. While Secretary Kim and the JSS men pursue them, two men on a motorcycle also pursue them and take control of the car through a remote control device. The car crashes, and Je-ha stumbles out of the wreckage.

In the hospital, Je-ha remembers how, as a mercenary, he met and fell in love with Nania in Iraq; he proposed to her, and they planned to live in Korea. Later on, he meets Chief Joo who tries to convince him to join JSS as a bodyguard so that they can both get the revenge they want.

Se-joon has found out that his daughter has returned to Korea and is in Yoo-jin’s mansion. Later on, after visiting Yoo-jin in the hospital, he announces before all the reporters that he is stopping all of his election campaign activities because of his disgust for politically motivated violence.

Episode 4

Ep. 3 recap: Yoo-jin secretly keeps her shares in JB Group through her half-brother, Sung-won. Se-joon manipulates the crowd with his feigned disgust of politically motivated violence, and they proclaim that they will change Korean politics. After recognizing Congressman Park Kwan-soo, Je-ha takes a gun away from a security escort, shoots the other escorts, and then aims it at Congressman Park.

Je-ha stops himself from attacking Congressman Park. Later on, after remembering how Congressman Park was responsible for Nania’s death in Iraq, he rigs a remote-controlled bomb and installs it in Congressman Park’s favorite barbershop.

Je-ha escapes from Congressman Park’s men with the help of Yoo-jin and Chief Joo. Later, he accepts their offer to join JSS, but, in the headquarters, he runs into the agents whom he previously beat up.

Chief Joo takes Je-ha to his first assignment — to stand guard over Anna who has been moved by Yoo-jin to a secluded house. Meanwhile, a JSS technical expert finds the chip that enabled the motorcycle-riding men to take control of Yoo-jin’s car.

Episode 5

Ep. 4 recap: Je-ha fails to detonate the bomb that could have killed Congressman Park.

Je-ha continues to monitor Congressman Park’s movements.

When her aunt dies, Yoo-jin anticipates that her aunt’s shares will help her take over the JB Group. At the wake, the security men refuse to allow her JSS escorts to enter.

During the meeting at the wake where her aunt’s last will is read, Yoo-jin is surprised when Sung-won (her half-brother) and his father-in-law offer to buy all her shares at double the book price. They say that the purchase price will be enough to fund Se-joon’s ambition to become the next president of Korea.

Sensing that Yoo-jin is in trouble, Je-ha tries to get into the secure meeting room, but he’s met in the hallway by the security men.

Episode 6

Ep. 5 recap: Sung-won and his father-in-law threaten to kick Yoo-jin out of the board of directors of the scholarship foundation that holds Yoo-jin’s shares in JB Group. Je-ha turns on the fire alarm and manages to get Yoo-jin out of the meeting room. While continuing to watch over Anna in the safehouse, Je-ha is called to report to the JSS headquarters and report to “Cloud Nine,” a top-secret project.

In the secret sublevel of the JSS headquarters, Yoo-jin, Secretary Kim, CEO Gook, and Chief Joo plan how to retaliate against the board members of the scholarship foundation’s board of directors who want to kick Yoo-jin out.

After the meeting, Yoo-jin entices Je-ha to tell her his story by saying that she will soon go after Congressman Park. She also allows Je-ha to use the JSS supercomputer in the Cloud Nine office.

Anna escapes from the safehouse and later goes back to her childhood home. Through a photo in a neighborhood studio, she traces her mother’s friend in a sanatorium. There, she’s warned by her mother’s friend that Yoo-jin will kill her. But the JSS agents have already tracked her down and are on the way to the sanatorium.

Episode 7

Ep. 6 recap: Congressman Park framed Je-ha for killing Nania in Iraq. Anna shows herself to her father and to Yoo-jin during the church service. In the park, Je-ha assures Anna that her father sent him. During their conversation, Anna loses consciousness.

Despite Je-ha’s protest, Chief Joo calls off the ambulance and orders him to rush Anna to the JSS headquarters. At the infirmary, the JSS doctor treats Anna’s allergic reaction. Later, while keeping vigil at the infirmary, Je-ha learns from Master Song about Anna’s family background and her strained relationship with Yoo-jin.

Yoo-jin meets with the President’s chief of staff, offering him a deal that will benefit Se-joon’s presidential ambitions.

During Se-joon’s campaign rally, Je-ha alerts the JSS team leader about some suspicious men in the audience, but the team leader disregards his warning. Later, police officers arrive, intending to arrest Se-joon on charges of sexual harassment. While Chief Joo and the JSS agents confront the police officers, Je-ha helps Se-joon to escape.

Episode 8

Ep. 7 recap: Yoo-jin mocks Anna’s belief that her father Se-joon loves her. The make-up artist and one of the JSS agents tried to frame Se-joon for sexual assault. But Je-ha breaks up their plan. Je-ha forces Se-joon to see Anna at the infirmary. But Anna comes to believe Yoo-jin’s words when Se-joon tells her to forget about her mother’s death.

Se-joon is investigated by the police for sexual assault. Meanwhile, the prosecutor’s office continues to investigate the major financial companies, including JB Group and the company of Sung-won’s father-in-law.

Congressman Park learns about how he’s being abandoned by his political allies.

Je-ha takes Anna back to the safehouse, but a guy who has seen the “Barcelona Angel” photo by the European fashion designer catches a glimpse of Anna in the car. He follows the car and takes a photo of Anna; later, he uploads the photo to the Internet and publishes the address of the safehouse.

Reporters, photographers, and fans of Anna’s mother besiege the safehouse. Upon learning about it, Yoo-jin orders CEO Gook and his team to kill Anna.

Episode 9

Ep. 8 recap: Je-ha takes out the JSS snipers and agents. Yoo-jin arrives at the safehouse where she’s stunned by the swarm of reporters and photographers. When Anna tells everyone who her father is, the frenzied photographers begin taking her pictures, using their camera flash. Anna collapses, and Yoo-jin pretends to care for her in a motherly way. Yoo-jin tells Secretary Kim that she isn’t fooled by Je-ha’s reason for acting the way that he did with Anna. Meanwhile, Congressman Park finds out about Je-ha’s background as a mercenary in Iraq.

Anna begins the day in a sunny mood, being sociable with the safehouse staff and later on, meeting with her fans. Meanwhile, at the JSS headquarters, Je-ha and Yoo-jin argue over how to bring down Congressman Park.

On an impulsive visit to the JSS headquarters to flaunt her new found freedom, Anna meets Master Song and the other JSS staff. Sung-won arrives later on and threatens Yoo-jin that he will reveal to everyone who Anna really is.

Sung-won takes Anna to meet a psychiatrist in a hospital. While Anna and the psychiatrist talk in the office, Sung-won takes Je-ha aside and tries to convince him to abandon Yoo-jin and switch to his side. Unknown to Je-ha, Sung-won’s men have kidnapped Anna.

Yoo-jin finds out that Sung-won and Anna have disappeared. She mobilizes all the JSS agents to look for them, but when CEO Gook tries to get help, the police commissioner turns him down. Je-ha tracks down Sung-won’s car, but it’s empty.

Episode 10

Ep. 9 recap: Sung-won takes Anna and the safehouse staff to an isolated beach house. Later, through Je-ha, he tells Yoo-jin that he’s keeping Anna as his insurance against her plans to take over JB Group. Congressman Park tries to make a deal with Sung-won’s father-in-law about taking over JB Group. At the beach house, the emotional bond between Je-ha and Anna begins to grow.

Sung-won gives Anna the case files on her mother’s death. Meanwhile, in a TV show interview, the host pressures Yoo-jin about her true relationship with Anna and her mother.

Angered by the results of the interview, Secretary Kim sends a team of assassins to kill Anna.

To Yoo-jin and Se-joon’s surprise, the prosecutor’s office refuses to release Se-joon as it prepares to investigate him over a new case. Yoo-jin tries to call the President’s chief of staff, but Congressman Park has already made a deal with the chief of staff.

Episode 11

Ep. 10 recap: Anna makes a surprise appearance in the TV show interview and appeals to the public for any information about her mother’s death. Je-ha foils the assassination attempt against Anna; later, he accepts Yoo-jin’s plan to kill Congressman Park that night. But Secretary Kim tells the JSS agents to kill Je-ha no matter what happens in their mission against Congressman Park.

JSS snipers surround Congressman Park’s safehouse. As a firefight ensues, Congressman Park runs to his panic room.

After being released, Se-joon confronts Yoo-jin about her threats against Anna’s life. On the other hand, Sung-won continues to gain Anna’s trust by arranging a fashion show tribute to her mother.

Episode 12

Ep. 11 recap: Je-ha fails to kill Congressman Park because of his PTSD. Later, after compromising with Yoo-jin about Se-joon’s membership in his party, Congressman Park offers Je-ha money and a chance to work for him.

In the presence of numerous reporters, Sung-won takes Anna to her mother’s grave site. Later, acting on a tip, he takes Anna to meet a convicted burglar who tells her who really killed her mother.

Anna begins to become dependent on the pills that Sung-won provides to her. Later on, after a reporter has published a story of Anna actually being Yoo-jin’s daughter, Sung-won takes Anna to meet the police commissioner.

Yoo-jin faints and is hospitalized; while there, she’s visited by Master Song who pleads that she stop threatening Anna. Later, she gives Je-ha complete access to the JSS super computer in the Cloud Nine office.

From the hospital, Yoo-jin goes to the police headquarters to submit to an investigation on the death of Anna’s mother.

Episode 13

Ep. 12 recap: The convicted burglar tells Anna that the person who killed her mother was Yoo-ji. Sung-won pays off a reporter to publish the story of Anna being Yoo-jin’s daughter. At the police station, Yoo-jin stuns everyone by saying that Se-joon is Anna’s biological father.

During a press conference, Se-joon reveals that Anna’s mother tried to blackmail him into leaving politics to go and live in the USA with her and Anna.

After the convicted burglar refuses to categorically state that Yoo-jin killed Anna’s mother, the police commissioner orders that Yoo-jin be released.

At the grave site, Anna meets Yoo-jin, who offers to adopt her and later leave JSS and JB Group to her. Meanwhile, Je-ha,and Se-joon come to an understanding about Anna’s welfare and exposing Congressman Park’s large scale corruption.

Through the JSS supercomputer, Je-ha,and Yoo-jin learn about the President’s son who worked as a volunteer doctor in Iraq. Je-ha and the JSS agents rush to the hospital to monitor the doctor’s movements, but Congressman Park’s men are already there.

Episode 14

Ep. 13 recap: The convicted burglar turns out to be an actor who was paid to discredit Sung-won and Anna. Despite Yoo-jin’s offers, Anna vows to continue searching for the truth about her mother’s death. Congressman Park warns the doctor about the USB drive that holds the evidence against him. On the other hand, Sung-won and his father-in-law hold a secret meeting about what to do if the USB drive turns up in the wrong hands. Je-ha finds out where the doctor is hiding the USB drive.

Congressman Park’s men chase after Seok-han, the President’s son. Je-ha intervenes, but in the process, he gets shot.

Je-ha is rushed to the Cloud Nine office in the JSS headquarters. Later, Yoo-jin pretends that she has gotten hold of the USB drive and gets the allies of Sung-won’s father-in-law to switch their allegiance to her.

But Sung-won relentlessly pursues the advantage, asking Congressman Park and someone inside JSS to join his side. With the police commissioner’s help, the police enter the JSS headquarters and ransack its computer servers.

Episode 15

Ep. 14 recap: Je-ha gets the USB drive from the President’s son and hides it. The police fail to access the Cloud Nine supercomputer. After Yoo-jin promises to protect Je-ha, Anna agrees to leave Korea and start a new life abroad. CEO Gook switches his loyalty and leads Sung-won and Congressman Park’s men to the Cloud Nine sublevel.

Yoo-jin orders the JSS supercomputer to lock the access to the conference room, but Sung-won and his men prepare a bomb to set off in two hours’ time if she doesn’t surrender.

Je-ha leaves Cloud Nine to retrieve the USB drive. Meanwhile, as Anna prepares to leave Korea, Secretary Kim finds out what’s happening in the JSS headquarters; she orders all available agents to rush to the headquarters.

After being forced by Se-joon and Chief Joo to give the USB drive to them, Je-ha sets off to kill Congressman Park in his safe house. But unknown to him, Congressman Park has taken Anna as a hostage.

Episode 16 (Finale)

Ep. 15 recap: When Yoo-jin threatens his grandchildren, CEO Gook kills himself. Je-ha fails to kill Congressman Park, but Master Song manages to rescue Anna. After Congressman Park threatens to kill Anna, Se-joon agrees to meet him in the JSS headquarters. Time left before the bomb explodes — 38 minutes.

With time running out, Secretary Kim and the JSS agents reclaim the lobby. But Anna has also entered the building and is being hunted by Congressman Park’s men.

Se-joon enters the conference room but tells Yoo-jin that he cannot give her the USB drive because he needs it to protect Anna.

With Anna as a hostage, Sung-won forces Yoo-jin to let him into the conference room. He shoots Yoo-jin in the leg before Se-joon gives up the USB drive. After finding out that he cannot defuse the bomb, he escapes from the Cloud Nine sublevel.

Se-joon drags the bomb into the conference room. As Je-ha and Anna brace themselves inside the free falling elevator, the bomb explodes.

Lessons in photography from “The K2”

Bokeh (aesthetic quality of the blurred areas of a photograph)

Low angle shot

High angle shot

Sidelighting, lead room

Foreground and background blur

Sinister diagonal (Dynamic symmetry)

Shallow depth of field

High angle shot

Converging lines, vanishng point

Balance and symmetry

Low angle shot

Background blur