Video Production Tips - #1 Composing Shots

Most people can tell a good photograph from a bad one, but who really knows why. What makes a photograph or video interesting? An important element of every photograph or video is composition.

Take a look at these examples:

The image on the left is plain and boring.










The image on the right has something interesting about it.

But what makes the photographer choose that particular angle?







The answer is somewhat scientific.
Naturally our minds like balance.
In order to balance an image you need to be familiar with the rule of thirds.
The Rule of Thirds is basically dividing the image into three columns and three rows.


Rule of Thirds Example:

The goal here is to move the camera to make the dominant objects fall on or around the intersecting points.





Notice that the image to the left is not really balanced

While the image to the right is much more symmetrical according to the grid. The dominant objects fall on the intersecting points.


When filming people, always try to keep the eyes of the subject on the top line. This rule applies to closeups and wide shots.

Homework:
Watch TV and notice that in almost every shot the persons eyes will fall on that top line.

Try this tip out and watch your videos become more interesting. These images were taken using and iPhone 3GS.
Stay tuned as this is the first of many tips.

- Chimera Productions