Composition is where objects are placed or arranged in a shot. The rule of thirds uses an imaginery grid on top of an image. The points of interest occur where the lines cross. The golden mean is used when composing a shot. You imagine a diagonal line over the shot and put points of interest along the line. Framing means what you choose to include in the shot and what you leave out. What you leave out can be important, it might exclude objects or people to create tension.
Shot types:
Extreme Long Shot (ELS): This is used to pan in on a location, you cannot generaly see the character, it gives an idea of where and when a shot is based. It shows the surroundings, establishing the shot. It can also be used in shots where there is alot of action spread out over an area.
Long Shot (LS): The subject takes up almost all of the frame. This is used to show a character in their environment.
Mid Shot (MS): The mid shot shows some parts of the subject in more detail whilst still showing enough for the subject to feel that they are seeing the whole thing. Good for showing body language and surroundings.
Medium Close Up (MCU): The medium close up is halfway between a mid shot and a close up. It shows the face more clearly without the audience feeling uncomfortably close.
Close Up (CU): A certain feature or part of the subject takes up mose of the frame. I close up of a person usually means a close up of their face. It is useful for showing detail. A close up of a person shows their emotions well. The viewer is drawn into the subjects personal space.
Extreme Close Up (ECU): The ECU gets right in and shows extreme detail. You would normally need a specific reason to get this close.It is too close to show general reactions to emotion except in very dramatic scenes. Can show important deatail on an object.
Cut Away (CA): A cutaway is a shot that's usually of something other than the current action. It could be a different subject. A cutaway is used as a "buffer" between shots (to help the editing process) or to add interest/information.
Two Shot: Good for establishing a relationship between subjects. A two shot can involve movement or action. It is a good way to follow the interaction between two people without getting distracted by their surroundings.
Over The Shoulder Shot: This shot is framed from behind a person who is looking at the subject. The person facing the subject should usually occupy about 1/3 of the frame. This shot helps to establish the position of each person, and get the feel of looking at one person from the other's point of view. It's common to cut between these shots during a conversation, alternating the view between the different speakers.
Noddy Shot: Common in interviews, this is a shot of the person listening and reacting to the subject. Used in an interview to keep it flowing when there are gaps in the film.
Point of View Shot: This shot shows a view from the subjects perspective. It is usually edited in such a way that it is obvious whose POV it is.
Low Angle Shot: The shot is taken from below the subject, looking up at it. This gives the subject a sense of size, power and authority. Puts the viewer in a inferior position.
High Angle Shot: Shot is taken from above the subject, looking down at it. Gives the subject a sense of helplessness, lack of power and inferiority. Puts the viewer in a position of power and authority.
Pan: The camera moves from right to left, or vice versa, following a subject. Gives a sense of moving with the action or speed.
Tracking Shot: Camera moves on a dolly to follow the subject. Gives a sense of speed and moving with the action.
Tilt: Camera pans vertically- up and down. Can give a sense of size and height.
Canted/ Dutch Angle Shot: Camera position is not straight towards the subject. Can give a sense of chaos, insanity or things being out of the ordinary.
Zoom in/out: Camera focuses zooming in or out on a key detail. Can highlight signicant objects to audience.
Steadicam/ Handheld: The camera moves around with the action. Gives the viewer a sense of realism- of bieng a part of the film. Can create tension/excitement when used in a chase/suspense scene.
Crane Shot: A camera takes a high angle shot looking down on the subject. Crane can track, pan and tilt. Gives a sense of size and scale; of how the subject fits into the setting.
Aerial Shot: The camera is positioned in a plane or helicopter to get an ELS high angled shot. Gives a sense of location/scle/size.
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