Embedded Files
Rule of Thirds
Rule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds is the basic rule of composition in film production.
Imagine a 3×3 grid on top of any image.
The Rule of Thirds suggests positioning the most important elements along these lines, or at the “points of interest” where they intersect.
Doing so will add balance and interest to the photo.
When in doubt, DON'T center your subjects.
Place people along the vertical lines.
The horizon line (where earth and sky meet) can be put both in the top third to increase attention on the ground and in the bottom third to focus the attention on the sky.
BAD - Horizon Line in Middle
GOOD - Emphasizes the water
GOOD - Emphasizes the sky
SYMMETRY
SYMMETRY
Our eyes naturally find symmetry pleasing.
Artists use this technique to direct the viewer’s eye to a specific place.
Balance and symmetry in a shot can be very effective..
LEAD ROOM
LEAD ROOM
This rule of composition states that there must be space in the frame in front of the subject in the direction in which the subject is facing.
This is especially important when the subject is moving. You want to give them "room" to move into.
With actors, this is sometimes called "nose room" and is the space between the actor and the edge of the frame.
Without this empty space, framing will look unconventional and claustrophobic.
LEAD ROOM
NO LEAD ROOM
HEAD ROOM
HEAD ROOM
The amount of space between the top of the subject's head and the top of the frame.
In any "person shot" tighter than a MS, there should be very little headroom unless something is going to happen there.
TOO MUCH HEADROOM
TOO LITTLE HEADROOM
GOOD HEADROOM
THE 180 DEGREE RULE
THE 180 DEGREE RULE
When you shoot a scene with actors, imagine a line extending out between them. You can move your camera anywhere along that line, as long as you don't cross over the line to the other side.
This line of action provides the orientation the audience uses to figure out where things are, left or right, in front or in back of something else.
We understand that they are looking at each other, because they are looking in the same direction as they were in Shot #01.
Not following the rule leads to the audience becoming confused and taken out of the scene.
Report abuse