12.0 Rhythm & Pacing (advanced)

54. Good rhythm has pacing. Pacing surrounds us. The tempo of a walk;  the cadence of a conversation; migrating birds finding a formation; ■ the layering of a sunset. ■  Sometimes pacing is vertical. Sometimes it’s horizontal. Sometimes it spirals. Sometimes it meanders. ■  Sometimes chaos finds contrast and balance with symmetry, asymmetry or other forms of pacing. ■ Sometimes pacing is as seemingly innocent as a random counterpoint. ■ Sometimes pacing is progressive and predictable.

■ Sometimes pacing can sneak up on you while hiding in plain sight before quietly delivering a surprise. ■ Sometimes pacing can compress and recede inwardly. ■ Pacing can expand; it can recede; it can also do both at the same time! ■ Pacing can be serpentine, wandering, interrupted and resumed. ■ The pacing of an open space can replace a lot of words.

■ Pacing can be about how the eye travels around, within and throughout a frame. Does the viewer get abandoned or are they induced to continue? ■ Sometimes pacing grunts, squats and stumbles. ■ Sometimes pacing emerges boldly and gracefully. ■ Sometimes pacing is continually self-referencing. ■ Sometimes pacing fractures, interrupts, then reassembles. ■ And sometimes pacing reflects an open spirit, never conclusive, always evolving.

■ Pacing can be rollicking, frolicking, tumbling, and very much in motion – and sometimes pacing is layered from front to back to middle. ■ Sometimes pacing advances, sometimes it recedes, while sometimes displaying both qualities at the same time. ■ Pacing can complete a narrative. It can finish a statement; ■ it can set up ironies as well as  the “punch line” at the end of a joke.