Film composition

Master cinematographers approach every frame as an opportunity to convey the feel of the scene. And one of the things that really helps them to achieve it is composition—the way elements (actors, scenery, props, etc) are placed on screen in respect to each other and within the frame itself has a huge impact on our viewing experience.

Composition can make or break a photograph. This is why it's important to understand it and know how to effectively and creatively use it. In essence,

There are no rules of composition in art. But are there in filmmaking?

Have you ever been overwhelmed at the possibility of every camera angle, framing, and shot type available as a filmmaker? Us too. So we provided a cheat sheet with definitions for you!

A still from the Stanley Kubrick film "Barry Lyndon" (1975) Fibonacci Composition - Also known as the Golden Mean, Phi, or Divine Proportion, this law was made famous by Leonardo Fibonacci around 1200 A.D. He noticed that there was an absolute ratio that appears often throughout nature, a sort of design that is universally efficient in living things and pleasing to the human eye.

Composition Golden Ratio Alfonso Cuaron drama film ‘Roma’. Cinematography composition using The Golden Ratio for the film ‘Roma’ by Alfonso Cuarón based on the trailer.

2020. 1. 9 - I want to share with my readers the tutorial we use in an online class and an exemplary student work.

Enjoy The Art of Composition in a selection of 140 Iconic Shots. Your frame is your canvas, and composition is the art of arranging objects in a frame.