Camera Composition

What is Camera Composition?

Camera composition: refers to how you frame your subject and anything else that is in the frame.

Camera composition: refers to how you frame your subject and anything else that is in the frame.

Play – Video Basics

Rule of Thirds• A major “rule” of

composition is that the subject should be placed slightly to the right or to the left of the center

• This is known as the rule of thirds.

• This rule can be broken when necessary

• A major “rule” of composition is that the subject should be placed slightly to the right or to the left of the center

• This is known as the rule of thirds.

• This rule can be broken when necessary

Headroom

• Space between the top of a person’s head to the upper screen edge.• Avoid leaving too much headroom.• Avoid cutting off the top of the head.

• Space between the top of a person’s head to the upper screen edge.• Avoid leaving too much headroom.• Avoid cutting off the top of the head.

Noseroom• Space between the front of a person’s face to the edge of the screen.• This is also known as the leadroom.

• Space between the front of a person’s face to the edge of the screen.• This is also known as the leadroom.

5 Basic Shots

1.Extreme Long Shot

2.Long Shot3.Medium Shot4.Close Up5. Extreme Close

Up

1.Extreme Long Shot

2.Long Shot3.Medium Shot4.Close Up5. Extreme Close

Up

Extreme Long Shot

• Object seen from great distance.•The largest shot the camera can get • Includes a lot of the surroundings

• Object seen from great distance.•The largest shot the camera can get • Includes a lot of the surroundings

Extreme Long Shot

ELS

Long Shot• Subject framed from head to toe only

• Subject framed from head to toe only

LS

Medium Shot• Subject framed from the waist up• Appropriate when the subject is speaking without too much emotion • Works well when the intent is to deliver information (commonly used by television news reporters)

• Subject framed from the waist up• Appropriate when the subject is speaking without too much emotion • Works well when the intent is to deliver information (commonly used by television news reporters)

MS

Close Up•Object or any part of it seen at close range.• Head and shoulders should be included, if not it can appear like a floating head• A close-up of a person emphasizes their emotional state.• A close-up exaggerates facial expressions which convey emotion. •The viewer is drawn into the subject's personal space and shares their feelings.

•Object or any part of it seen at close range.• Head and shoulders should be included, if not it can appear like a floating head• A close-up of a person emphasizes their emotional state.• A close-up exaggerates facial expressions which convey emotion. •The viewer is drawn into the subject's personal space and shares their feelings.

CU

Extreme Close Up

• Object framed very tightly• very magnified •Only a specific part of a person or object can be seen

• Object framed very tightly• very magnified •Only a specific part of a person or object can be seen

ECU

Over the Shoulder Shot

•Camera looks over the shoulder of one subject to see the other subject• Helps to establish the position of each person, and get the feel of looking at one person from the other's point of view.

•Camera looks over the shoulder of one subject to see the other subject• Helps to establish the position of each person, and get the feel of looking at one person from the other's point of view.

O/S

2-Shot

2 subjectsIn frame

2 subjectsIn frame

TS or2-shot

3-Shot

3 subjects in frame

3 subjects in frame

Identify the

Following Shots

Camera Movement• Movement is what videos are all about. • Whenever possible, find a way to integrate movement within the frame.

Movement -- Pan

• A pan is a left to right, or a right to left, horizontal movement of the camera on its own axis.

The purpose of the pan movement

• Follow moving subjects

• Shift an audience's attention from subject to subject

• Simply display a Panoramic landscape.

Pan Tip

• Try and Pan slowly

• Keep the camera still for a few seconds at the beginning and end of a pan (helps with editing)

Movement -- Tilt

• A tilt is an up or down vertical movement of the camera on its own axis.• Tilts are great for capturing vertical action.

Movement -- Zoom

• Zoom is the most overused shot in film and video.

• Use sparingly

Movement -- Dolly• Physically moving the camera & tripod toward or away from the set or subject

• Dolly In – To push the camera toward the subject

• Dolly Out – to push the camera away from the subject

Movement -- Truck• Truck – moving the camera and its to the left or right in a parallel movement to the subject.

• Truck Right – To move to the camera operators right

• Truck Left – To move to the camera operators left