Instructor: Kathy Cennamo
The Art of Shooting Video
Everyone has a favorite shot from a favorite movie. A scene that transcends the basic elements of film and visualizes the theme and action so perfectly that it becomes a valued memory. These moments are not accidental, but the result of the purposeful integration of all the visuals elements that are seen on the screen.
The shot
All video is made up of shots. A shot is a single, continuous image taken by the camera. It can be as short as one-thirtieth of a second (the length of a single video frame) or as long as the length of the entire program. Most of the time, you assemble a number of different shots into a sequence to show the viewer the action from the best possible angle, distance and viewpoint. It is your job to develop shots in such a way that you emphasize the elements in your video which require audience attention, while conveying the proper meaning.
Sequence of shots
In order to do this you need to consider two different, but very related functions. The "frame" is the picture you see in the viewfinder on a monitor. Composition refers to the layout of everything within the frame: What your subject is, where it is in the frame, which way it's facing, the background, the foreground, everything. Anytime you point your camera, you are "framing" a picture. When you frame a shot, you adjust the camera position and zoom lens until your shot has a good composition. Rather than simply pointing the camera at the subject, you need to compose a shot.
The decisions you make regarding framing and composition combine to create each shot of your video, and ultimately determine whether your video is successful or not. Knowledge of a basic array of choices available to the videographer will allow you to make choices, with your video camera, that will result in a more effective and a more professional looking video. Only the essential elements of how to improve your video composition will be covered. These include:
To begin the lesson make a selection from the buttons on the menu at the top of the page. If this is your first visit then you should start at part 1. After you examine the elements of framing and composition, review the Conclusion section for advice on planning your shoot.
