Composition Basics
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3Composition Basics
In visual arts, composition is the placement or arrangement of visual elements in a work. It can also be the
organization of the elements to enhance understanding of your message. How you frame a shot is an important
tool in conveying tour point of view.
Framing
How you frame your shot brings emotional and aesthetic focus to a subject. The process of framing your shot
defines what you want to show and emphasize in your story.
Framing an action shows our intention about the subject. As the director your task is to choose what to include in
the frame and what to leave out.
It is important to maintain proper head room, chin room, and look room in order to make sure the frame does not
overpower subjects or objects in the frame.
Head room: It is the space between the top of the subject’s head and the top of the frame.
Chin room: It is the space from the subject’s chin to the bottom of the frame.
Look room: It is the space left in the frame for the subject to talk or look in a particular direction.
Camera Shots
The craft of filmmaking is well over 100 years old. As a consequence, directors, camera operators and producers
have developed a nomenclature describing actions and creative choices. Shorthand that eases understanding, if
you will. A camera shot is the amount of information, the number of people and objects included in the framing.
They are used to demonstrate different aspects of setting, themes and characters.
What follows is a glossary of terms used to describe the framing and purpose of different camera shots.
Establishing Shot: This is a long shot to set up a location and the action. It gives the viewer a specific
idea of setting.
Extreme Long (Wide) Shot: It shows an exterior, situates action and contains a large amount of
landscape. Very little detail is visible in this type of shot. It is intended to give a general impression rather
than specific information. Often, with online video, long shots are ineffective since details are be lost on a
small screen or media player.
Crane Shot: As the name implies, this is a shot taken by a camera on a crane. Mostly used to view the
actors from above or to move up and away from them. The elevation of the camera defines the
relationships of characters in a story.
Long (Wide) Shot: This shot shows the entire scene area where the action is to take place.
Full Shot: It shows the entire object or human figure.
Medium Long Shot: this shot frames one or two people standing up, that is, their entire body.
Medium Shot: It refers the characters or a character from the waist up. Medium shots work well to show
body language.
Aerial shot: This type of shot is often done with a crane or with a camera attached to a special helicopter
to view large landscapes. This shot type situates the action in the broadest context.
Medium Close-Up: This shot includes a space equivalent to a person's head and their shoulders.
Close-Up: This is a shot taken from a close distance in which the scale of the object appears relatively
large and fills the entire frame to focus attention and emphasize its importance. This enables viewers to
understand the actor's emotions.
Extreme Close-Up: This shot contains one part of a character's face or other object. Think lips in “Rocky
Horror Picture Show”.
Point-of-View (POV) Shot: This is a shot that shows what a subject is looking at (represented through
the camera). The camera is positioned where the character stands. It puts the reader in the place of the
character.
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