COMPOSITION
start
COMPOSITION
Great composition = great picture
Great composition +great sequence = great motion picture
+ info
RULE OF THIRDS
HEADROOM & NOSE ROOM (or lead room)
HEADROOM
NOSEROOM
The negative space should match the direction of the person's gaze (if he's looking to left, the space should be on the left side of his face)
BACKGROUND
Try to fill the background with "purposeful clutter," e.g., items that relate to the story and/or setting and fill the space in a pleasing way
BACKGROUND
A blank or "infinite" background will also work, but it's hard to pull off without pro lighting
BACKGROUND
This is bad
BACKGROUND
This is better, but still bad
BACKGROUND
This is bad (do NOT shoot in a dorm room!)
BACKGROUND
This is good. The background is relevant to the story (she owns the store) and the clutter fills the space well. It's not perfect, but it's good for 121.
DEPTH OF FIELD
Shallow depth of field creates intimacy, immediacy and emotion. That's why it's used in wedding photography and scenes that focus on character.
DEPTH OF FIELD
Deep depth of field shows the entire scene in focus. It's the better choice when you need to see the environment and context and/or when all of the details in the shot are important to the story.
ANGLES
High angle shots make the subject look vulnerable and create a sense of fear/danger.
ANGLES
Low angle shots make the audience feel vulnerable. The subject in the frame has the power.
180 DEGREE RULE
Once the axis of action has been established, e.g., you're shooting the action from the person's right side, don't cross the axis!
COMP
SHOT TYPES
EXTREME WIDE SHOT (EWS)
Often used to establish a scene
WIDE SHOT (WS)
Shows the subject from head to toe
MEDIUM SHOT (MS)
Shows the subject from the waist up
MEDIUM CLOSE UP (MCU)
Shows the subject from the chest up
CLOSE UP (CU)
The face fills the frame
EXTREME CLOSE UP (ECU)
The face fills the frame
782 - Composition
Dick Onzin
Created on June 25, 2026
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Transcript
COMPOSITION
start
COMPOSITION
Great composition = great picture
Great composition +great sequence = great motion picture
+ info
RULE OF THIRDS
HEADROOM & NOSE ROOM (or lead room)
HEADROOM
NOSEROOM
The negative space should match the direction of the person's gaze (if he's looking to left, the space should be on the left side of his face)
BACKGROUND
Try to fill the background with "purposeful clutter," e.g., items that relate to the story and/or setting and fill the space in a pleasing way
BACKGROUND
A blank or "infinite" background will also work, but it's hard to pull off without pro lighting
BACKGROUND
This is bad
BACKGROUND
This is better, but still bad
BACKGROUND
This is bad (do NOT shoot in a dorm room!)
BACKGROUND
This is good. The background is relevant to the story (she owns the store) and the clutter fills the space well. It's not perfect, but it's good for 121.
DEPTH OF FIELD
Shallow depth of field creates intimacy, immediacy and emotion. That's why it's used in wedding photography and scenes that focus on character.
DEPTH OF FIELD
Deep depth of field shows the entire scene in focus. It's the better choice when you need to see the environment and context and/or when all of the details in the shot are important to the story.
ANGLES
High angle shots make the subject look vulnerable and create a sense of fear/danger.
ANGLES
Low angle shots make the audience feel vulnerable. The subject in the frame has the power.
180 DEGREE RULE
Once the axis of action has been established, e.g., you're shooting the action from the person's right side, don't cross the axis!
COMP
SHOT TYPES
EXTREME WIDE SHOT (EWS)
Often used to establish a scene
WIDE SHOT (WS)
Shows the subject from head to toe
MEDIUM SHOT (MS)
Shows the subject from the waist up
MEDIUM CLOSE UP (MCU)
Shows the subject from the chest up
CLOSE UP (CU)
The face fills the frame
EXTREME CLOSE UP (ECU)
The face fills the frame