How To Frame A Shot Cinematography

Framing is one of the most important parts of cinematographic photography. It can be done in many different ways, but there are some types that work better than others. For example, when it comes to still life photos or close up shots, using a wide frame is not only effective, but also fun!

Framing for emphasis is an excellent way to use it. A common method is to use a broad shot first, then narrow down as your subject gets closer. This creates an interesting contrast because you start with a tight box, then open up as the object becomes wider.

In filmmaking, camera angles are very carefully considered. Certain ones are simply not possible due to limitations such as height or space. When this happens, our filmmaker will often cut to another angle or do away with that angle completely so that something else can take its place.

This article will go into more detail about each type of framing and how to use them in filming.

Find the perfect location

The second part of cinematographer framing a shot is choosing your location! This will depend on the scene you are filming as well as the story you want to tell.

For example, if your movie is about two people who have just met, then taking place in a public space or outside setting can work really well. If your movie is about someone trying to win back their love, then they could be walking away with no one else around, so a empty beach, train station, or even across the street would all work.

If your movie is more intimate, then staying closer to each other is better than having a longer distance between them. A bedroom, bathroom, or any confined area works best here.

Your DP will also choose different camera angles depending on whether you want it to feel natural or deliberate. For instance, when shooting a romantic kiss, a tighter close up is needed because that intensity needs more emphasis. Or, for action scenes, a wider angle helps convey speed and fluidity.

Your director or writer will play footage and shots for you so you do not need to look too hard for what type of frame is wanted.

Make sure your lighting is right

After you get the basics of lighting, the next thing to do is test out your light sources!

Once again, we will start with something simple. Take any empty space or area of the frame that looks good and just use natural light as your main source of illumination.

Now, add another element in the frame- anything other than the background wall or nothing beyond the cutoff line. This can be a person, an object, or even some type of decoration.

Your second source of light then becomes deciding how to use this new element in the frame. You can have it going across the whole width of the frame, up close against the edge, or anywhere in between.

This way, the element creates more depth for the shot while also adding variety to the image. And since there are so many possibilities, it seems almost impossible to choose!

General tips: when trying to achieve a certain look, like using bright lights to create intensity or creating soft shadows, know what effect you want first before investing in the equipment needed to produce it.

Use the correct focal length

A good starting point when it comes to framing shots is knowing your focal length. What is focal length? It’s like the width of the lens in terms of how much content you can include in the frame.

A short focal length creates a close-up or intimate setting, while a long one features more distance between the camera and subject. This effect is called shooting “far out.”

The appropriate focal length depends on the context of the photograph. If you want to create an appealing eye-level view, then use a shorter focal length (think: smartphone). Or if you would like to show off some scenery, go for longer!

When choosing your focal length, think about what kind of impact you desire from the photo. Is there a story to be told? Are you creating art that calls for a longer exposure time?

Having too wide of a field of vision may cause the picture to look blurry because nothing stands out clearly. On the other hand, a very narrow angle may not give viewers enough sense of space. Try experimenting with different lengths until you find one that fits your needs.

Another important factor concerning focal length is whether you want the image to feel natural or stylized. Natural photos are typically closer vantage points - this way, people appear larger and heavier in the frame, giving a feeling of intimacy. Stylized photographs, however, will feature wider angles to make the subjects look thinner.

Find the right composition

A good frame or “composition” as it is called in photography, consists of an interesting vertical (or horizontal) shape within the frame that your viewer can easily focus on. This emphasis creates flow into the next element of the story.

In filmmaking, this is known as leading lines. When you find a strong vertical line in the frame, start working with it!

Your camera may have automatic modes such as shutter speed, aperture, or both. Use these for general starting points, then add onto them by adjusting each parameter independently.

For instance, if the shutter was set at 1 second but there are not very many natural light sources, you can increase the exposure time by using faster film or digital recording equipment. The same goes for lowering the f-stop number, which reduces the amount of light coming through the lens. By doing so, you can get longer exposures without having to use higher intensity light sources!

After getting some nice long exposures, you can combine multiple exposures together into one fluid moving image. This is typically done via a tripod and computer software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. More advanced users bake in their own settings and composites in photoshop or another editing program.

Application tips: when shooting video, be aware of your overall composition and how what you include in the frame affects it. For example, if your frame includes people, make sure they are not walking away from the other elements of the shot.

Think about how to get your subject into the frame

A way to make your footage more interesting is by incorporating different framing techniques. These include leading with the nose-on, back-to-back focus, half circle, and vertical or horizontal panning.

With a leading close up shot, your camera starts at one position and then moves farther away from your subject while keeping them in view. This creates an exciting effect because you are not sure if they will be left out of the frame!

Using a back-to-back focus allows for some great diagonals. When taking this type of photo, line up both subjects so that there is an emphasis on their legs instead of their faces.

A half circle photograph takes place within a square frame, but only part of each person is shown. The trick is to have enough space around the outside to show all the angles, like having empty spaces beyond the frame.

For a vertical panorama, start off holding the camera vertically and move it closer to the ground as it zooms out. Then rotate the camera horizontally to create the wider angle.

Use the rule of thirds

The second major element in how to frame a shot is using the rule of thirds. This theory was first discussed in A Graphic Guide To Creating Your Own Style, which suggests dividing your picture into three equal parts along an imaginary grid.

The rule of thirds was then adapted for use as a camera framing technique. According to one source, this applies when taking candid photos or filming creative shots such as establishing poses, creating action scenes, and/or introducing new angles. By breaking up the image with the lines created by the rule of thirds, it helps create more interest and focus on part of the photo.

Think about how to edit your video

After you get the basics down, it’s time to think about how to edit your video. There are two main types of editing: cut-up edits and narrative edits.

A cut up edit is when everything in the movie is completely separate. For example, if there was a scene where someone said something funny, then a long silence, then they repeated what they said before with more emphasis, then another short break, then them saying something else, all happening within one minute of length. This would be a cut up edit because it seems like one thing happens, then another, and both feel natural and consistent.

The other type of editing is narratively edited videos. These are longer than one minute and they have a plot. A good number of people use this style of editing for YouTube movies.

Use the proper shutter speed

A shutter is the device that opens up the lens of your camera to let light in. The length you use for the shutter typically depends on the lighting source and the length of time you want to capture an image.

When shooting stills, a very short exposure time can create a blurry photo due to movement of the hands or feet or other body movements. When shooting videos however, moving limbs will not affect the quality of the shot unless the limb is completely staying still while the shutter is open.

By using longer exposures, more of the frame is covered by light, creating sharper images. Too long of an exposure though and the picture will be totally white because there’s not enough light!

The best way to find your ideal exposure is by experimenting. Try holding one hand steady and changing the shutter speed until you get the effect you desire. Once you have found the right balance, you can then increase the intensity of the light or decrease it to achieve the same result.