Camera Basics

The rule of Thirds

The first rule of framing your shot is the rule of thirds. Imagine placing a naughts and crosses grid over your frame. (Many cameras actually have this setting!) You want to keep your subject in line with your vertical lines, with enough look room in the direction they are facing.

This also works with landscapes. You should aim to place your horizon on the horizontal lines on your grid. If we were to place our subjects or horizons in the centre of the frame we would have a symmetrical image. Symmetry is uncommon to our eye and looks un-natural. We should avoid it unless we want it (ahem... Wes Anderson!)

The 180 degree rule

Think of the 180 degree rule as a rule to help your audience understand where everyone is!

Place a line between your actors in your scene. this line is called the line of action.

Your camera should stay on one side of that line. you can shoot from any angle within 180 degrees.

Watch the video below for a more comprehensive explanation.

Camera Movement

There are many ways that we can move the camera to follow a subject or reveal more of a landscape. Some are simple, and others are a little more complicated.

Pan

move the camera from left to right or right to left from a fixed position (like on a tripod)

Tilt

Move the camera up or down from a fixed position (like on a tripod)

Zoom

zoom in: to move from a long shot to a close up
zoom out: to move from a close up to a long shot

Dolly

To move the camera physically inwards or outwards (either handheld or on dolly tracks

Truck

To move camera physically left or right (either handheld or on tracks)

Follow

A shot that follows a character or action in one long take. Usually assisted by a gimbal or steady cam

Zolly

A shot that zooms in while dollying out or zooms out while dollying in. Its keeps the object in focus while changing the scale and perspective of the background. A very difficult shot to achieve.