Key principles of video composition How contrast is used for emphasis Techniques for creating…
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Video Composition
Key principles of video composition
How contrast is used for emphasis
Techniques for creating depth in compositions
Objectives
Composition is the purposeful arrangement of the components of a visual image. ◦ The objects can be people, buildings, trees, etc. ◦ The objects can also be lines, shapes, brightness, or
color Composition is essential to video because it
not only makes things look good, but also helps images communicate with viewers more quickly, efficiently, and powerfully
Movies are life with the boring parts cut out. You can remove those boring parts
by managing video time
About Video Composition
Composition does the following: Organizes pictorial elements so that viewers
can quickly sort them out and identify them Adds emphasis to direct attention to the
most important elements on the screen. Creates an illusion of a third dimension
Composition is such a powerful communication tool that every video
maker needs to master its fundamentals in order to create visual organization, emphasis, and depth.
About Video Composition cont.
Composition organizes the elements within an image, to help viewers decode it
(decode: recognize elements, understand it’s meaning, and identify the relationship)
Organization in Composition
Composition is needed to help viewers decode each tool. They
are unable to organize screen images as easily
as in the real world
Composition follows the key principles of simplicity, order, and balance
1. Simplicity eliminates unnecessary objects from the image, so that the viewer has fewer things to identify.
2. Order arranges objects in the image3. Balance distributes the objects in a way
that gives equal visual “weight” to each section of the image.
Simplicity, Order, Balance
Simplicity, Order, Balance
Easier to decode because the number of tools has been reduced
Easier to decode because they are lined up neatly
Arranging the large hammer so it
balances the group of smaller tools makes it
stand out in the composition
Emphasis is any technique that attracts the viewer’s attention to one part of a composition
◦ Techniques for Emphasis: Position, Relationship, Significance, and Contrast
Emphasis in Composition
Position: Typically, the upper left quadrant attracts the eye first because that is where we begin reading ◦ Other cultures may differ◦ The upper left quadrant is found to be most
attractive, followed by upper right, then lower left, and lower right is least attractive
Image 5-3
Emphasis in Composition cont.
Relationship: By placing an object in relationship to other elements, the eye can be lead to the center of interest
Image 5-4
Emphasis in Composition cont.
Significance: Placing an object at a certain point simply to attract attention. ◦ Example: Using a celebrity. The audience’s eyes
go directly to the person they recognize
Image 5-5
Emphasis in Composition cont.
Contrast: Emphasizing one element in a picture by making it look different from the other elements. ◦ Example: Adjust the size, shape, brightness,
color, and focus.
Emphasis in Composition cont.
Contrasting Size◦ The bigger something is, the more it calls
attention to itself◦ Image 5-6
◦ Simple to create size: Place the object closer to the camera.
◦ Action is staged in the foreground (toward the camera), where the actors are the
largest
Emphasis in Composition cont.
Contrasting Shape◦ A different shape among a group of similar shapes
stands out◦ Image 5-7
Emphasis in Composition cont.
Contrasting Brightness◦ Light elements attract the eye more than dark
◦ Image 5-8
◦ Lighting emphasizes important elements through careful control of brightness
Emphasis in Composition cont.
Contrasting Color◦ The viewer’s eye is attracted to elements colored
differently from the other hues of the overall image.
◦ Image 5-9
Emphasis in Composition cont.
Contrasting Focus◦ The clarity or sharpness of the image. Sharp, well-detailed elements attract
attention away from soft, out-of-focus elements.
◦ Image 5-10
◦ Videographers set the focus on the elements they want to emphasize Sometimes the focus changes in the middle of a shot, to shift
attention from one element to another.
Emphasis in Composition cont.
Depth is accomplished by composition◦ Perspective accomplishes depth by altering
Size, Overlap, Convergence, Vertical Position, Sharpness, and Color Intensity
Depth in Composition
◦ Size: The closer object looks larger.
Depth in Composition cont.
◦ Overlap: one object will mask part of another if it is in front of it. An object that overlaps another looks closer
Depth in Composition cont.
◦ Convergence: parallel lines such as railroad tracks or the edges of roads seem to gradually come together as they recede into the distance.
Depth in Composition cont.
◦ Vertical Position: Objects that are higher in the frame look farther away
Depth in Composition cont.
◦ Sharpness: The farther away object actually are, the more indistinct they appear. Fine details are smaller and harder to distinguish, and distant objects are softened by the amount of air between them and the viewer (called atmospheric perspective)
Depth in Composition cont.
◦ Color Intensity: The farther away objects actually are, the paler it looks.
Image 5-16
Depth in Composition cont.
Once you understand composition, you gain control over your images. The frame will look better and will be more effective.
◦ Instinctively, you will begin to use the principles of simplicity, order, balance, emphasis, and contrast in your frames.
◦ Compositional Schemes will accompany these principles
Composing Video Images
Asymmetrical Balance: Visual elements are distributed less formally to give an impression of balance. ◦ It is important to distribute “weight” but not
always in a symmetrical way. ◦ Symmetrical balance is often static or dull
Compositional Schemes
Asymmetrical Balance
The church in the first frame is not very interesting. The church in the second frame looks smaller and is given emphasis by its contrasting brightness, color,
and position
Asymmetrical Balance
The composition is strongly asymmetrical with the archway and the bright sky leading the eye to the
subject. The eye is also drawn to the door as if someone may come out, due to the focus of light on
the door.
Asymmetrical Balance
The smaller, brighter subject on the right balanced by the dark mass of the column on the left.
The Rule of Thirds: tic-tac-toe grid that divides the frame into nine equal parts. ◦ The important elements should be aligned with
the LINES of the tic-tac-toe grid. ◦ It is not necessary to match all parts of the grid.
Image 5-20
Asymmetrical Balance
Image 5-21The Rule of Thirds
The most powerful way to attract the eye is through movement within the frame. This is accomplished through:◦ Emphasis◦ Leading Lines
Directing the Viewer’s Eye
Many compositions add emphasis using several techniques at once. ◦ This shows 2 compositions that lead the eye to
distinctive shapes Image 5-34
Directing the Viewer’s Eye: Emphasis
Many compositions add emphasis using several techniques at once. These use size, position, color, and shape
Image 5-35
Directing the Viewer’s Eye: Emphasis
Use images as lines to point to the important subject
Directing the Viewer’s Eye: Leading Lines
Create a third dimension by controlling depth:◦ Staging depth◦ Exploiting perspective◦ Framing the image◦ Working on the picture plane
Controlling the Third Dimension
Place subjects and camcorder to suggest depth in the frame.
◦ Image 5-38
Controlling the Third Dimension: Stage depth
The revised camera placement makes the left subject larger than the right one, the building windows diminish
in size, and the clapboard plank lines converge.
Place camcorder to suggest depth in the frame.
Controlling the Third Dimension: Stage depth
The first image suggests that the road continues for some distance because it curves around out of sight.
The second image places the large boulder in the left foreground and the subjects so far away that they
appear tiny.
Staging depth uses trick of perspective,
Controlling the Third Dimension: Exploit Perspective
Staging depth uses tricks of perspective
Controlling the Third Dimension: Exploit Perspective
To add extra depth to an image, it often helps to frame it with foreground elements◦ Most common devices are tree branches and
archways
Controlling the Third Dimension: Framing the Image
To add extra depth to an image, it often helps to frame it with foreground elements◦ An overpass or roofs
◦ Image 5-43
Controlling the Third Dimension: Framing the Image
To add extra depth to an image, it often helps to frame it with foreground elements◦ Windows
◦ Image 5-44
Controlling the Third Dimension: Framing the Image
Sometimes you may want your frame to avoid depth, instead it should look flat. ◦ Omit perspective tricks to accomplish this
◦ Image 5-45◦ Image 5-46
Controlling the Third Dimension: Working on the Picture Plane
Professional-looking camera moves should be planned so that they start and end with strong compositions◦ Panning and Tilting◦ The Moving Camera
When moving the camera, it is essential to rehearse the shot first.
Composition and Movement
Be conscious of the principles of composition
◦ Look back in your notes while storyboarding and filming to assure you are using the principles
After training yourself to use the principles, you will soon be able to plan videos naturally and instinctively
Plan, Plan, Plan…Practice Makes Perfect!