TYPES OF SHOTS
The first composition rule I am going to cover is going to be the different type of shot size. There are many different types of shot size and they can all indicate different things. For example, if there is a close up of a person or a specific object, the director is telling you to pay attention to that specific thing. If there is a long shot or an extra long shot, it is usually establishing the location and the shots to follow are often located within the area established by the long shot. Long shots create first impressions. Mid shots and close ups are the establishing shots, mid shots supplying you with more information while close ups supplying the detail. Shots like the Extreme close up are unusual as you do not usually experience imagery such as this in real life. It is often used to ‘shock’ the viewer and can bring objects into a new perspective.
CAMERA POSITION AND ANGLES
Another composition rule is the rule of ‘camera position and angles’. Again, the position of the camera and the angle in which someone or something is shot can affect the audience’s perception of the subject. For example, if a character is shot with the camera angle facing up it can boost their importance and emphasises their strength and power. When the camera is facing down onto the character it belittles them and makes them seem vulnerable and weak, it turns the audience against them. Examples of the manipulation of camera position and angles in news and documentary interviews is if the shot has a wide angle lens it makes the subject look insignificant. If the camera has a long lens it makes people seem equal. When the camera is positioned to make the subject square on it makes the subject look ugly while if the camera is slightly side on it makes a person look slimmer.
CAMERA MOVEMENT
The movement of the camera is another way of manipulating the audience’s perception using a composition rule. The tracking shot can follow the subject and give a more personal feel to the piece as it can show the world from a mobile perspective. Crain shots can help give an impression of the position of a person or object, and can really help bring the film alive if the Crain is moving.
LIGHTING
Another way of putting across a certain message using composition is by using the lighting. Lighting affects not only what people see of what is being filmed, but also their impressions. For example, you can help focus an audience member’s attention to one part of the scene with the help of lighting by lighting the part which you wish to be focused on brighter than its surroundings. Contrast of lighting is also important. If you want to give the film a more mysterious and edgy look it will often have low contrast in comparison to film which is light hearted which would often have a high contrast.
RULE OF THIRDS
Another Composition rule is the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is a supposed rule which suggests that an image should be divided into nine different parts by two equally distanced horizontal line ands two equally distanced vertical lines. Proponents of the technique claim that aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition than simply centering the subject would. It is used in film to make a shot look better and to help get across what is trying to be said. It encourages the audience to look at these certain points and helps the director portray their message easier. A good example is in the film seven,
COLOURS AND FORMS AND SHAPES
The director of a pop video might use all of these composition rules to put over the meaning wanted. Colours and forms and shapes connote different things to different members watching. For example, red means danger, black means death. While circles are gentle but zig zags are dangerous.
No comments:
Post a Comment