Composition and framing

Composition and farming refer to the way elements of a scene are arranged in a camera frame. It is important because it refers to the arrangement of visual elements to convey an intended message. I'm going to outline some ways to frame subjects and look at some compositional rules. 

 The Single shot is where one subject is captured in the frame. They can be set and framed in any way the director desires as long as only one subject is featured. 

The Two shot is a camera shot where two characters are featured in the frame. They are very useful when allowing performances to play out in a single take.

 

The Three shot is a shot with 3 characters in frame. They are very important in adventure style films and any film with a group of subjects. This is because it's very time consuming to shoot 3 single shots to show every character, this is also disorientating and too fast paced.  

You can have any amount of characters in a scene and name them following this pattern however as the numbers get larger they are usually referred to as Crowd shots. This framing type usually features wider shot sizes to show all the characters in one frame. 

Over-the-shoulder shot (OTS) shows your subject from behind the shoulder of another character. As it emulates perspective it is common in conversation scenes. They are used to provide scene orientation and connect the characters emotionally.When using this framing it is important to obey the 180 degree rule.

Similarly the Over-the-Hip shot (OTH) also shows a subject from behind another. However the with the OTH the camera is placed with a character's hip in the foreground and the focus subject in "the plane of acceptable focus." This can often be used to suggest a power imbalance if subjects are at different elevations.

The Point of view shot (POV) shows the perspective of one of the characters or an inanimate object. Most POVs are from the perspective of a character however there is nothing stopping you from showing the perspective of anything else. POV shots show us exactly what the character sees which helps us understand what is generating the character's reaction.

An Insert shot has many functions and is a key shot in directing the audiences attention. When we see a character look at something, the subsequent insert shot would show us what they see. They are also used to show audiences small and minute details that would go un-noticed otherwise, supporting dramatic irony.

COMPOSITION 

In mathematics the Golden Ratio is 1.618. It describes predictable patterns found in everything. The ratio is derived from the Fibonacci sequence, named after it's Italian founder. Nature uses this ratio to maintain balance. 

The Rule of Thirds is a compositional guideline which applies to the process of composing images, videos and artwork. It proposes that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts with two equidistant vertical lines and two horizontal lines. It is thought that aligning subjects on these points and lines creates more tension, energy and interest in a frame. 

Looking Room is the amount of space between the subject and the edge of the frame they are facing. You should have more space in front of the subject than behind. When this rule is broken a frame can look disorientating and the  subject may look off balance. 

Head Room is the space between the top of a subject's head and the top of the frame. Too much head room gives a sinking feeling to your subject and too little head room will annoy the viewer and create a very unappealing shot. 

Another common compositional technique is Leading Lines. A leading line paves an easy path for the eye to follow through the different elements of an image. Having strong leading lines adds structure to a frame and makes an image much more aesthetically pleasing. Different types of leading lines can be used to have different effects on how an image makes the viewer feel, for example, jagged leading lines add tension and unease. Here are some examples of leading lines from photographs I have taken. 

Something is Symmetrical when it is the same on both sides of a dividing line (mirror line.) It is a powerful tool that lets you automatically create a sense of harmony and add balance. Some people use asymmetry (not symmetrical) to create a dynamic and stimulating image however viewers typically find symmetry more aesthetically appealing. 

Frame within a frame composition occurs when you use a visual element in the image to frame the primary subject. This has the same purpose and effect of the leading line composition type, helping to direct the viewers attention.