Camera Composition What is Camera Composition Camera composition

Camera Composition

What is Camera Composition? 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

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. TOO MUCH HEADROOM

Noseroom • 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 Shot 3. Medium Shot 4. Close Up 5. Extreme Close Up

Extreme Long Shot • 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

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)

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.

CU

Extreme Close Up • 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.

O/S

2 -Shot 2 subjects In frame

TS or 2 -shot

3 -Shot 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