What is composition?
Image composition is the visual arrangement of all the different elements within your scene. By improving your visual composition you’ll be able to create images that attract and hold attention for longer. You’ll also be able to subtly manipulate your viewers into looking where you want them to and interpreting a scene in a certain way.
Videography and photography both share the same common visual language. This visual language is something that most of us have learned over the course of our lifetimes. Most of the time, we understand this language in a sub-conscious manner. This language is so common and pervasive that we’re able to understand it the same way we instantly recognise spoken or written words.
The good news is that, because you already understand this language, implementing it is an easy step to make. Simply being aware of a few simple rules can put you well on your way to creating more impactful images.
Three easy tips
The above video will show you three easy tips to improve the image composition in your videos. By implementing these techniques, you’ll have a good starting point every time you look through your lens.
1. Rule of thirds
The rule of thirds tells us to divide the image into thirds both horizontally and vertically. Drawing these imaginary lines will show us the best place to put dominant visual elements in the frame. The intersecting points of these lines are the best places to put key elements, such as a face.
Summarised, the rule of thirds basically tells us not to put the main part of our scene in the very centre all the time.
2. Leading room
Leading room is the portion of the frame in front of a person or moving object. Also known as eye room, looking room and nose, it gives context to the scene by showing where the person is looking or travelling. Failure to give enough leading room can make a person look trapped or boxed in, and this in turn can make a viewer feel uncomfortable.
Following the rule of thirds usually gives us a good idea of how much leading room we need for a person or object.
3. Shoot from different heights
One of the most common mistakes people make when composing their images is shooting by default at eye level. Because we see everything from this height during the course of our day, these images can seem very mundane. Images taken from higher or lower angles tend to stick out because they offer a fresh, new perspective.
Taking videos from a lower angle can make people or products seem taller and more important. This trick is an essential visual language tool for use in marketing videos. You can use lower angles to literally make people look up to your brand.
Rules are meant to be broken
Of course, all of these rules can be broken in the right circumstances. However understanding these guidelines, and the effect they have on your viewer, will allow you to make more informed choices. With these three tips though, you’ll have a great starting point to composing any scene within your frame.
