Chapter 3: Composing the frame

Frame balance is archived by the rule of thirds, this is a grid that acts like a guide to balance the frame. There a six areas in a frame which are left, middle, right, top, middle and bottom, also there are the three depths foreground, middle ground and background. Usually if there is something in one section then in the opposite section there will be something to balance it out. The top horizontal line of the grid can be used to place a characters eyes on which pleases the eyes of the viewer because gives enough room for the head to fit in at the top of the frame. Strict symmetry in a frame can be used to convey a sense of order, control or elegance. Although it is called the rule of thirds it is still broken my film makers to creat a thing called compositional stress to portray chaos. When a character is looking at something then the frame counters that putting the character at the far end of the frame and leaving a space called eye room. Same with when a character is walking on screen they are giving lead room on the side of the screen he/she is walking. Negative space is used to tell the viewer that the frame is not balanced yet and that something well happen to balance it. When depth is added to a frame it can be used to portray the power of a thing or character compared to others in the shot, if a man in a suit is at the foreground means he has more power than the dog in the background.