UNDERSTANDING COMPOSITION

LECTURE NOTES / STORYBOARD & STYLEFRAMES

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OBJECTIVES
1. To understand about the different type of shots.
2. To understand about the basic rules of compositions.
3. To understand how to create good composition.

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Design.
Two main components that help to make a great design:

1. Composition
2. Colours

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Composition
Putting elements together to tell a story/message.

1. Basic shots
2. Composition Techniques (Rules)

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Basic shots
1. Extreme Wide Shot (Establishing Shot)
2. Very Wide Shot (Establishing Shot)
3. Wide Shot (Establishing Shot)
4. Mid Shot
5. Medium Close up
6. Close up (Details)
7. Extreme Close up (Details)

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Basic shots

Extreme Wide Shot Very Wide Shot Wide Shot

Usually used as “Establishing Shot”.
To show the location of the place.
Usually used as “Establishing Shot”.
To show the location of the place,
yet close enough to show the
activities.
Can see the whole subject.
*Note: Leave enough headroom and
feet. It’ll be feel uncomfortable if
they are line up with the frame.
(negative space)

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Basic shots

Mid Shot Medium Close Up Close Up

The approximate distance of when
you’re having conversation with the
person.
* Usually about half of subject
Shows the subject more clearly Focus on part of the subject.
without getting too close
* Usually show the details of
subject (ie. textures)

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Basic shots

Extreme Close Up
Show extreme details of the subject
* Focus on the granular details
(ie. the grain patterns of wood,
bump of plastic)

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Vary your shots (contrast)

Wide Shot Medium Close Up Wide Shot

Extreme Close Up Extreme Wide Shot Medium Close Up/Close Up

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Vary your shots (contrast)

Wide Shot (mid shot) Close Up Close Up

* Terms can be used in relative to your scene

Close Up Medium Close up

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Low angle Shot

This will also make the subject looks

bigger/heroic/more powerful.

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High angle Shot

Present more informations.

This will also make the subject looks
smaller/weak/insignificant.

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Composition
1. Centralised
2. Symmetry/Asymmetry
3. Rule of Thirds
4. Golden Ratio
5. Frame within Frame
6. Negative Space
7. Rule of Space
8. Leading lines

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1. Centralised
Placing your subject in the center.

2. Symmetry/Asymmetry
Similar parts facing each other or around an axis.

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Examples

*Focal element in the center (emphasis)

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Examples

*Focal element in the center (emphasis)

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Triangle
Can consider using
Triangle to layout
your composition to
create a more
Peter Tarka Peter Tarka interesting visual.

Bulma Illustrates Thiago Barba

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Thiago Barba

Triangle
Can consider using
Triangle to layout
your composition to
create a more
Peter Tarka Peter Tarka interesting visual.

Bulma Illustrates Thiago Barba

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3. Rule of third
By dividing your composition into 3x3 equally spaced grid.
- Fill up 1/3 with one subject and 2/3 with another.
- Important elements can be placed along these lines/intersections for emphasis

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Examples

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Examples

- Sky fill up 2/3

- Land fill up 1/3

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Examples

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Examples

Surfer is placed on
the intersection to
create emphasis.

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Examples
Dad is placed on the
intersection & line to
create focus.
Balance is heavier
on the left (bigger
character and heavier
orange).
By having the kid
placed slightly away
from the third, and
placing the fridge
(with a lighter colour),
the frame feels more
balanced.

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Examples

Character is placed
on intersection to
create focus.
Balance is heavier on
the right (2 character)
The window (&
orange rectangle)
and rabbit are placed
more towards the
left, to balance the
frame.

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Examples

Focus point don’t

always need to be at
the intersection. It
can though be use as
a starting guide.
Rule of third can be
used to balance the
frame as well.
Note how contrast is
being applied here
too. (Big, medium,
small)

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Examples

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Examples

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4. Golden Ratio
Golden Ratio is a mathematical ratio. It helps to foster organic and natural-looking composition that are more
aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

~1.618

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Examples

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Examples

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Examples

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Examples

Golden Ratio Rule Of

Third
Drawing a vertical
and horizontal line
across, and making it
symmetrical.

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Examples

Golden Ratio Rule Of

Third
Drawing a vertical
and horizontal line
across, and making it
symmetrical.

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Examples

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Examples

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Examples

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5. Frame within frame
Framing your subject within a frame, helps to create depth and focus.

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Examples

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Examples

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6. Negative Space
Leave lots of empty space helps viewer to focus without much distraction.

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Examples

Note: The big, medium & small elements

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7. Rule of Space (Lead Room)
Always leave some space in the direction your subject is facing/moving towards.

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Examples

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Examples

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Examples

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Examples

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8. Leading lines
Lines that helps to draw audience towards a specific point of interest through the
use of perspective or elements.
(perspective slides)

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Examples

Perspective
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Examples

Perspective
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Examples

Perspective
Doesn’t have to be
Stevie Lewis straight.

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Examples

Perspective
Doesn’t have to be
Stevie Lewis straight.

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Examples

Mariogogh Elements/Objects

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Examples

Mariogogh Elements/Objects

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TIPS
1. Depth
Try to always add depth to your scene. It’ll make the visual more appealing and also help the viewers to focus.
- Depth of field
- Atmospheric depth
- FG, MG, BG
- Overlapping

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Depth of field

Plenty

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Depth of field

Plenty

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Depth of field

Plenty

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Depth of field

Plenty

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Atmospheric Depth

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Atmospheric Depth

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Atmospheric Depth

.
.
.

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Atmospheric Depth
2 3 1

1 2 3
2 1

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FG, MG & BG

.
.
.

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FG, MG & BG
3. BG 3. BG

1.FG 2. MG

1.FG

2. MG

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Overlapping

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Overlapping

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Summary
1. Find the best type of shots to tell the message of the frame.
2. Use the rule as a guide to kickstart your compositions.
3. When you see works that you like, break it down/analyse them.

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The more you see,
the more you learn.

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Additional Resources (Theory)
20 Composition Techniques:
https://petapixel.com/2016/09/14/20-composition-techniques-will-improve-photos/

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Additional Resources (Examples)
Ideas for Compositions (with video references):
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1sFYGiqZ6CVE8VKqLnAnS_X9C38NVu
QCnBHQ847wJ27g/edit?usp=sharing

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COMING UP NEXT WEEK!
Storyboard & Animatics!

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THANK YOU!

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