Having done a substantial amount of these long takes, I think I’m properly adjusting to filming in portrait and beginning to really see its potential. In line with my investigation, I think this shot represents the strange relationship between spaces and their inner activity pretty clearly.

When I watch this footage, I notice three main planes of activity: what happens through the front windscreen, the back windscreen via the rearview mirror and the reflection directly above this. Each of these areas show different points in time and space, however unlike most of the areas focused on in my previous footage, they are linked. They are only linked because of the duration of the long take – it allows enough time for the activity in these areas to connect with each other. For instance, the family that can be seen through the back windscreen at the beginning of the footage eventually reappear in the front windscreen.

I was lucky enough to capture a diverse range of subjects in this shot: there are children, adults, vehicles, advertising, all appearing at different points in the shot. In this sense, I think I captured the essence and reality of the location pretty well. It is also interesting to note that the space that I am in, i.e: my car, is static whereas everything of interest in the shot is in motion, giving the activity a muted and tranquil sort of feel. I am a removed observer, whereas most of the subjects in the shot are actively interacting with other subjects – eg: the children interacting with the mannequins, or people looking out for traffic as they cross the road. I am also particularly drawn to the two planes of activity in the rear-view mirror as they are slightly out of sync, disconnecting them from each other.

I think that this footage exemplifies the potential of the portrait shot in its composition. The focal points are vertically layered and influence the others, creating one fluid structure of activity that passes up and down the frame. If I were to do it again I would emphasise this aspect of the shot and possibly concentrate more on composing the frame in such a way that a very clear, distinct motion occurs across the frame.

Rearview Mirror from Timothy Palstra on Vimeo.