Framing

Basics

  • Aspect Ratio: numbers indicating the relationship between height and width of a frame.
  • Focus: sharpness of objects in a picture/frame
  • Foreground/Midground/Background: refers to relation of objects to the camera.
  • Frame: the borders of a projected image within a single shot. Measured in terms of aspect ratio.
  • Head Room: area in the frame above a subject’s head. Distance will depend on the shot type, but generally avoid cutting off the top of the subject’s head or placing it in the middle of the frame.
  • Shot: the subject matter included in the frame. Usually determined by how much of the human subject is in view.​
  • Leading Space: open space in the frame into which the subject will move. Based on the rule of thirds, leading space should be placed in whatever direction the subject is facing.
  • Mise en Scene: placing on stage, coming from theater, it refers to the arrangement of all elements within a frame, including people, objects, and space layout. Elements of mise en scene: dominant, lighting, camera proximity, angle, color value, lens, density, composition, form, framing, depth, character placement, staging positions, character proxemics.

Types of Shots

  • Extreme long/Establishing Shot: shows the setting/scenery. Used often when nature is a character: westerns, epics, historical films
     
  • Long Shot: corresponds roughly to the distance between stage and audience in a theater.
     
  • Full Shot: includes the full human body (head-to-toe)
     
  • Medium Shot: contains the figure from the waist up
     
  • Close-up: focuses on a small object, giving the subject symbolic importance
     
  • Extreme Close-up: containsonly part of the head (just eyes or mouth), uncomfortably close, builds tension.

Camera Angles

  • Bird’s Eye View: directly overhead, typically the most disorienting because it’s unfamiliar
     
  • High Angle: shot from a crane or high platform, gives a sense of spectator omnipotence/overview of scene. Movement slows, individual subjects are less important.
     
  • Eye-Level: mimics how a person would view the scene, some filmmakers prefer only eye-level as they don’t comment on the subjects
     
  • Low Angle: heighten the importance/power of a subject. Movement quickens.
     
  • Oblique Angle: POV or tilted camera, suggests tension or impending movement.
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