R27 - Camera Composition Rules

For two 50 minute lessons, a fellow teacher came in and taught the class how to use the Canon EOS 100D DSLR camera to help with our filming. He gave a variety of tips and help on how to correct the setting, the use of the tripod, etc. 



The Three Main Aesthetic Rules
Firstly, he spoke about the positioning of a person within the shot. These are the three main aesthetic rules. They are:

1. Rule of thirds: a rule stating that an image can be split into 9 equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines. The intersected points can align the features of the image. This helps add to the effect of the photo.

2. Lead room: The space in front/in the direction of a moving/stationary object. For example a car requires a lead room. When there is extra space at the front of the car, the person can see that there is some place to go. 

3. Head room: Refers specifically to the distance between the top of the subject's head and the top of the frame. The amount of the frame filled by the subject should always have room for the head. However this varies as the camera can zoom in and out, but should continuously keep the subject as the centre of interest. 

White Balance 

He also taught us the importance of white balance when taking a picture or video. In order to change the white balance, he showed us on the camera how to change the setting and gave us examples on what colours would counteract the colour in the frame. This can be seen in this video:

Depth of Field
The depth of field helps signify what and who and what is most important in the frame as it emphasises on the subject more. He showed the difference between a smaller depth of field compared to a greater depth of field and gave us an example using our own hand. 

Rule of 180 & 30 degree
The rule of 180 is where the cameras are positioned and that it cannot pass 180 degrees. If this does occur, then it will give the impression that the characters have switched sides.
In interviews, 30 degree angles are generally used when the subject is in the frame. This positioning allows the audience to see their perspective without actually have them talking to them. Similarly, between two shots, it is recommended  to move the camera at 30 degrees. Otherwise the viewer will have the impression that the image jumps. 

Breaking the Rule of 180 & 30
However some famous directors defy this rule and use whatever angle they want. For example in the next clip, Stanley Kubrick, director of The Shining (1990) breaks the rule of 180. 



 Likewise, Quenton Tarantino also does this in many of his films such as Pulp Fiction (1994), where the film's structure is constantly swapped and changed. The information is given in an unusual order so that we, the audience, are left to piece the film together ourselves.