Cinematic Composition?

8 Steps to Cinematography!

1. Apply the Rule of Thirds: 

  

 - Position subjects on focal points.  

 - Place authoritative subjects in the center.  

 - For landscapes or horizons, align them with two horizontal lines. 

 

2. Depth:  

 

- Shoot from a lower angle for a more amateur feel.  

-  Use blur to add depth and eliminate distractions from the background.  

- Pull the subject away from the background to enhance depth.  

- Incorporate elements in the foreground, such as leaves or flowers.    

3.  Leading Lines:   

   

- Use leading lines to draw attention to the subject.  

- They guide both the viewer and the character’s direction.  

- If the leading lines disappear, the audience may feel lost, just as the character does.  

4. Symmetry: 

  

 - Audiences appreciate order and balance.  

 - Move the camera to achieve perfect symmetry in your shots. 

 

5. Dominant Subject: 

   

- Fill the frame with your subject and eliminate dead space.  

- The audience should clearly know where to focus.  

- Ensure the frame contains non-distracting elements surrounding the subject.  

6. Head/Leading Room : 

   

- Typically, the subject's eyes should occupy two-thirds of the frame, creating space above their head.  

- It's ideal to keep the eyes near the top line of the rule of thirds.  

- Provide the subject with two-thirds of the frame to look into or at.  

- More leading rooms should be in front of the subject than behind.  

- When moving, the leading room should remain consistent, as if the camera isn't moving.  

7.Break The Rules: 

- Break cinematic rules to communicate a specific message.  

- For instance, excessive headroom may imply a small person or weakness, while a minimal-looking room can convey fear.  

- To depict depression, position the subject away from the rule of thirds focal points to make them seem small. Conversely, center them when they exhibit courage and victory.  

8) Balance: 

Balanced photos give complete, full energy, and unbalanced make you question what is wrong here?

By following these steps, you can enhance your cinematography skills and effectively convey your intended messages through your visuals.