VIDEO - SHOT COMPOSITION TIPS
Top quality footage should be the goal of any skilled videographer. To produce a successful video, you obviously need to start with appealing and effective footage. By following some key principles when filming, you will significantly improve the quality of your project. Here are some of the common filming "mistakes" and solutions when filming:
RULE OF THIRDS
Arguably the most important compositional rule a photographer or videographer follows is the Rule of Thirds. To create attractive shot compositions, position key points of interest on or near the vertical or horizontal third lines on screen. Aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition than simply centering the subject would. Watch any professional video and you'll see how this rule is followed widely.
HEADROOM
Headroom is the space between the top of your subject's head and the top edge of the frame.
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Too much headroom makes it appear your subject is sinking or smaller than normal.
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No headroom cuts the top of your subject's head from view, making the screen feel very cramped and uncomfortable.
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To properly compose a close-up or bust shot, follow the Rule of Thirds to create a pleasing shot. Place the subject's eyes on or near the top third line.
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LEADROOM/NOSEROOM
When filming a subject moving side to side on screen or a person looking to one side, it is important to pay attention to leadroom/noseroom. This is the space you need to leave in front of your subject to help neutralize the pulling force of the screen edge.
Not enough lead room - cuts off movement and causes eyes to be drawn off screen.
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Correct lead room - leaves enough room for action and neutralizes force exerted by screen edge.
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Not enough noseroom - when filming a subject, make sure the direction they look isn't causing your eyes to move off screen.
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Proper noseroom - notice moving the subject away from the screen edge helps neutralize the pull of the screen edge. The direction a person faces can create a powerful visual vector and you want to ensure attention stays on screen.
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DISTRACTING BACKGROUNDS
When setting up your shots, pay very close attention to what's going on BEHIND your subject. A very busy background or poorly composed shot can ruin your filming. If necessary, remove or rearrange items in the background. Keep the background simple and uncluttered to ensure audience attention is focused where it should be.
FIG. 1 - Clearly a little problem here. Either this man has to seek medical attention rather quickly or the camera person simply wasn't paying attention to what was going on behind the subject.
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FIG. 2 - One way to avoid the background distracting your viewers is to work with a shallow depth of field as your main subject fills the screen. A blurry background doesn't take attention away from your main subject.
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FIG. 3 - Poor shot composition - the tree in the background almost looks like it's growing out of the girl's head and it pulls attention away from the main subject.
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FIG. 4 - With a small adjustment in camera position and shot composition, the tree no longer competes with the girl and now creates a nice frame for the shot. This is a far better shot than fig. 3.
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SHOT COMPOSITION FOR INTERVIEWS
If you're producing a video that involves an interview between a reporter and a subject, there are a few important rules you should try to follow regarding shot composition. Check out the samples below for help.
Poor Composition - person is framed/filmed too much from the side and the direction he is facing pulls attention off screen (too much profile view weakens emotional connection to subject)
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Good Composition - subject is turned to face the interviewer (off camera) and the audience can see both his eyes (creates feeling he is talking to someone)
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Notice the position of the camera person in this photo (slightly behind and to side of interviewer) - this allows for a well composed over-the-shoulder interview shot.
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Over-the-Shoulder Shot - most common interview shot technique involves camera placed behind either interviewer or interviewee and creates strong connection between subjects and allows audience to see both eyes of each subject
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When filming your subject, make sure you follow Rule of Thirds for good shot composition. You should also film using a medium or bust shot so subject fills the frame.
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Follow the 180 degree rule when filming a video. This means keeping the camera on the same side of the axis of action (see diagram) so that you don't create confusion about which way your subjects are facing.
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Interview Two-Shot - you should use this type of shot a few times during an interview to remind your audience who is participating in the interview, but don't film the entire interview this way (boring composition that doesn't engage audience)
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As in the example above, an over-the-shoulder shot generally shows both the interviewer and interviewee and you should switch between subjects (ie. show interview from similar angle when he/she is asking questions).
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