Today’s Tutorial
Video Framing
Today I’m going to look at some basic video framing techniques for our camera operators.
The first rule is the rule of proper head room. What you want to do is have the camera framed (for most shots… this rule can be broken on creative shots) where the top of the head is near the top of the image. If you leave to much head room the subject appears small on screen, to little and their head extends beyond the frame making it hard for the viewer to decide how tall the subject is!
Nose Room (Or Lead Room)- This rule deals with the side of the frame the subject is looking at, or walking towards. When the look to the left you want to increase the room on the left so they don’t look boxed in by the frame and vice versa for the right side of the frame.
Rule of Thirds- For this rule you divide the screen up both vertically and horizontally into thirds. Then you place the subject on one of these lines to create more dynamic framing. Very few times to you place the subject directly in the center of the shot, especially in worship sets. Speaking parts will vary however, but you still want the subjects eye lines to be on the upper third.
Take a look at this video. Some of the key points are the fourth shot (the close up on the band leader). Notice the way he is placed on the left “third” of the screen and has the perfect amount of room above his head. I really like this close up and plan to use it often during the service on Praise and Worship. Also notice the rack focus (loss of focus) as the shot dissolves away. This is something the camera operator will do. When you hear the director say “Fade One” or something similar you will begin rolling your camera out of focus. Not on every shot but when you feel it is appropriate.
Continue to watch the various framing techniques in thsi video.
