Composing the picture

Pictorial composition is about creating shots that will convey a- certain mood, direct the attention to particular features, and develop audience interest. The subject is complex, but let’s look at some practical points to watch out for.

General approaches

• Shooting flat subjects straight on avoids visual distortions (squashing, keystoning).

• Three-dimensional subjects look best when slightly angled

• Arrange subjects in related, unified.groups, rather than haphazard bunches or strung-out displays.

• Shooting-past things in the foreground (e.g. overhanging branches) creates an impression of depth, and emphasizes the illusion of space. But don’t be tempted to continually peer through foreground foliage, fences, etc., ...

Get Effective TV Production, 3rd Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.