Composition and focus

Learn to create drama with your framing and camera movements

Happily the standard practices of filmmaking composition are not too different from those of still photography. The rule of thirds still applies, as do leading lines and the golden ratio. The only difference is that, rather than framing a single shot, you have to maintain this arrangement for the duration of a video clip. This does introduce some unique challenges, especially when you consider the need to hold focus and keep a steady shot. Having a clear plan of the shots you need is a huge advantage. While a photography shoot can suffer from overplanning – in certain cases spontaneity in changeable conditions is best – due to the complexity of producing an effective video composition over time, a storyboard of shots is arguably essential.

This forethought allows you to visualise which direction you need to move the camera, and how quickly, to keep the subject perfectly framed and in focus.

It sounds like a simple case of following the subject with the camera, but you have to consider how you will need to manipulate the camera position to maintain continuity. You won’t always be moving across a flat surface so you’ll need to practise a sequence of movements, and memorise it.

On top of this, don’t forget about dynamic framing – moving the camera for special effect. Filmmaking is all about telling a story, so you don’t want to merely frame the subject, you want to interact with them. This is a third element to videographic composition, which is missing from most still images. How you alter the distance between the camera and subject during the clip controls how the viewer feels they are interacting with what they are seeing. Meanwhile, although holding the focus on the subject is desirable in many cases, shifting the focus point is a great way to tell the viewer what they need to be looking at and when.