Composing the picture

Pictorial composition is about creating shots that will convey a- certain mood, direct the attention to particular features, and develop audience interest. The subject is complex, but let’s look at some practical points to watch out for.

General approaches

• Shooting flat subjects straight on avoids visual distortions (squashing, keystoning).

• Three-dimensional subjects look best when slightly angled

• Arrange subjects in related, unified.groups, rather than haphazard bunches or strung-out displays.

• Shooting-past things in the foreground (e.g. overhanging branches) creates an impression of depth, and emphasizes the illusion of space. But don’t be tempted to continually peer through foreground foliage, fences, etc., or it will look contrived.

Arranging people

• If someone is speaking directly to the camera, a straight-on (head-on) shot has maximum impact. People speaking together are best angled, and will usually be much closer together than normal. Where people are some distance apart, shoot them from a more oblique angle to avoid a large gap between them (‘cross shot’).

• In cross shots, take care that people are not accidentally masked off byothers in the foreground. Are you cutting off parts of heads?

• Line-ups are fine for inspections and chorus lines, but whenever possible, arrange people in groups at varying distances.

• Movements are most effective when made to and from the camera, or in a diagonal line from left to right Moves across the screen quickly pass out of shot; particularly if they are close.

• Don’t automatically place subjects in the-screen center. The shot may look more balanced if they are located at a point 1/3 of the screen height and/or width (‘rule of thirds’).

• When someone’s head is turned or in profile, place them slightly off-center in the frame (‘nose room’). If they are moving, increase this offset, the faster they travel.

• Look out for things appearing to grow out of peoples’ heads, to form ‘haloes’, ‘horns’, ‘wings’, ‘hats’. Scenic fines cutting across the top of the head, chin or shoulders can create very distracting effects.

Framing

• Keep important items away from the picture edges (edge cut-off).

• Adjust the headroom between people and upper frame to suit the length of shot-(greater for longer shots). Watch headroom in comparable shots.

• If a shot is too ‘tightly framed’, the screen can seem to ‘restrict’ the subject. Too much space around the subject, makes it look isolated.

• Don’t have subjects appearing to lean or rest on the frame.

Camera height

Use level shots wherever possible. Lower shots dramatize the subject. Higher shots reduce its strength and importance.

Shots to avoid

Here are various everyday compositional errors you should avoid.

1. Avoid half-heads, and body-less shots. 2. Avoid excess headroom. People should not rest on the frame. 3. Avoid excess empty space between subjects. Do not have subjects too near the sides of the shot. 4. This shot is too tightly framed, with too little space at the top and bottom. 5. Always-offset a profile or ¾-face shot, to give it ‘looking room’. 6. Avoid lines cutting a person,.or adding spurious extensions. 7. Centralize subjects unless they are balanced by scenic masses. 8. Avoid foreground sybjects masking others. 9. Avoid decapitation. 10. Don’t align subjects across the screen (vary size, distance, and position). 11. Avoid over-prominent set-dressing (props).