Video Composition

Composition Universal units of composition Long Shot Medium Shot Close up

Universal units of composition

Long Shot

Medium Shot

Close up

Types of Shots EWS (Extreme Wide Shot) The view is so far from the subject that she isn't even visible. This is often used as an establishing shot. VWS (Very Wide Shot) The subject is visible (barely), but the emphasis is still on placing her in her environment. WS (Wide Shot) The subject takes up the full frame, or at least as much as possible.

EWS (Extreme Wide Shot) The view is so far from the subject that she isn't even visible. This is often used as an establishing shot.

VWS (Very Wide Shot) The subject is visible (barely), but the emphasis is still on placing her in her environment.

WS (Wide Shot) The subject takes up the full frame, or at least as much as possible.

Types of Shots MS (Mid Shot) Shows some part of the subject in more detail whilst still giving an impression of the whole subject. MCU (Medium Close Up) Half way between a MS and a CU. CU (Close Up) A certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole frame.

MS (Mid Shot) Shows some part of the subject in more detail whilst still giving an impression of the whole subject.

MCU (Medium Close Up) Half way between a MS and a CU.

CU (Close Up) A certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole frame.

Types of Shots ECU (Extreme Close Up) The ECU gets right in and shows extreme detail. CA (Cutaway) A shot of something other than the current action. Cut-In Shows some part of the subject in detail.

ECU (Extreme Close Up) The ECU gets right in and shows extreme detail.

CA (Cutaway) A shot of something other than the current action.

Cut-In Shows some part of the subject in detail.

Types of Shots Two-Shot A comfortable shot of two people, framed similarly to a mid shot. (OSS) Over-the-Shoulder Shot Looking from behind a person at the subject. Point of View Close-up Looking the perspective of the other person.

Two-Shot A comfortable shot of two people, framed similarly to a mid shot.

(OSS) Over-the-Shoulder Shot Looking from behind a person at the subject.

Point of View Close-up Looking the perspective of the other person.

Framing: Headroom Too much Too little JUST RIGHT!!!

Too much

Too little

JUST RIGHT!!!

Framing: Lead Room Giving space ahead of your moving target

Giving space ahead of your moving target

Framing: Law of Thirds Divide the screen into 3rds Horizontally Vertically Try to place main elements within the 3rds boundary lines Gives a balanced look to your shot

Divide the screen into 3rds

Horizontally

Vertically

Try to place main elements within the 3rds boundary lines

Gives a balanced look to your shot

Framing: Law of Thirds Works nicely for stand-ups Allows viewer to see the environment Gives room for gestures & props An nice overview

Works nicely for stand-ups

Allows viewer to see the environment

Gives room for gestures & props

An nice overview

Framing: Face Shots Camera set to same height as your target Need to see both eyes Interview Head and shoulders Looking slightly away from lens towards interviewer Stand-up Medium-wide shot – below waist or head-to-toe Looking directly at camera

Camera set to same height as your target

Need to see both eyes

Interview

Head and shoulders

Looking slightly away from lens towards interviewer

Stand-up

Medium-wide shot – below waist or head-to-toe

Looking directly at camera

Framing: Backgrounds Watch out for distracting backgrounds Distracts the viewer Examples: Tree braches Power lines Kids Antlers!!

Watch out for distracting backgrounds

Distracts the viewer

Examples:

Tree braches

Power lines

Kids

Antlers!!

Framing: Line of Action Shoot from one side of the action only Cannot cross line or action reverses Action Action Photographer

Shoot from one side of the action only

Cannot cross line or action reverses

Framing: Horizon Lines Try to keep the horizon line at the lower or upper third of your shot Horizon at the middle of your shot tends to divide your picture

Try to keep the horizon line at the lower or upper third of your shot

Horizon at the middle of your shot tends to divide your picture

Sequences: Telling a story by shot selection This means more than one shot… How is it done?

Telling a story by shot selection

This means more than one shot…

How is it done?

Sequences: Establish your location with a wide shot Then get a series of close-ups that was within that wide shot: Activity / Action Areas of interest

Establish your location with a wide shot

Then get a series of close-ups that was within that wide shot:

Activity / Action

Areas of interest

Close-ups: Intensifies the action Holds viewer interest Will actually listen more closely Viewer will relate better to the story

Intensifies the action

Holds viewer interest

Will actually listen more closely

Viewer will relate better to the story

Pans, Tilts, and Zooms: Camera movement MUST have a motivation Why are you moving the camera? Example: Follow something Students walking Car driving Football pass

Camera movement MUST have a motivation

Why are you moving the camera?

Example:

Follow something

Students walking

Car driving

Football pass

Pans, Tilts, and Zooms: Many shots are stills Set it, shoot it, leave it alone Editing motion Motion must end before going to next shot

Many shots are stills

Set it, shoot it, leave it alone

Editing motion

Motion must end before going to next shot

Action: Action catches the eye Zooming in usually intensifies action Object only vs. people involved with the object Courthouse vs. people walking up steps to courthouse Art vs. people admiring the art

Action catches the eye

Zooming in usually intensifies action

Object only vs. people involved with the object

Courthouse vs. people walking up steps to courthouse

Art vs. people admiring the art

Balance: Arrangement of objects within the frame Does it look heavy on one side or the other? Color balance Arrangement of light and dark that compliment each other

Arrangement of objects within the frame

Does it look heavy on one side or the other?

Color balance

Arrangement of light and dark that compliment each other

Angles: Look at object from different angles and see what looks the best Shooting up makes things look bigger Shooting down makes things look smaller Lowering the camera often will give more interesting shots

Look at object from different angles and see what looks the best

Shooting up makes things look bigger

Shooting down makes things look smaller

Lowering the camera often will give more interesting shots

Natural Framing: For an added creative dimension, compose your pictures with an interesting foreground frame Example - tree, leafy branch, window Creates depth & directs attention to the center of interest

For an added creative dimension, compose your pictures with an interesting foreground frame

Example - tree, leafy branch, window

Creates depth & directs attention to the center of interest

Getting Your Shots Plan, plan, plan! (storyboards) Shoot 5 seconds before and after you shot Allows for editing Take the same shot several times, or 2-3 times longer than you need Ensures you get enough footage

Plan, plan, plan! (storyboards)

Shoot 5 seconds before and after you shot

Allows for editing

Take the same shot several times, or 2-3 times longer than you need

Ensures you get enough footage