How to Frame Cinematographically

Having an eye for framing shots and getting just the right picture or just the perfect moment on film is a gift. Not everyone is born having an eye for it. However, you can train yourself to see things the way a photographer or cinematographer would. You need to have some patience, an attention to detail and a sense of style and adventure. Here's how to frame cinematographically.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard
• Razor blade
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Camera
• Movies

1. Watch some movies that have won awards for outstanding cinematography. You can find the list on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences website. As you watch the films, look at the use of lighting, both available and created, the color scheme, the angles and the closeness of each shot. Pause the movie if you see something interesting that you want to analyze further. Think about why the cinematographer chose to shoot the scene in such a way.

2. Read about film formats and aspect ratios. Film can be shot at a 4:3 aspect ratio or a 16:9 aspect ratio. Television is typically 4:3, and film is typically 16:9 (the letterbox look) as it is shown in the theaters first. However, these two can be converted by cropping back and forth. Nowadays all HDTV is 16:9 because of the aspect ratio of HD cameras. Figure out what aspect ratio you plan on using to frame your shots.

3. Get a piece of cardboard and lay it on a flat surface. With a ruler, measure out the aspect ratio you'll be filming in. For the 4:3 ratio, measure out a box that is 2.66 inches wide and 2 inches tall. You can make it bigger if you would like according to the 1.33:1 ratio. For the 16:9 ratio, measure out a rectangle that is 3.56 inches wide and 2 inches tall.

4. Cut the rectangle out with a razor blade. You should now be left with a piece of cardboard that has a rectangular hole in the center. Take your cardboard frame and bring it up to your head level. Close one eye and look through the cardboard hole. This is what you would see through the film lens.

5. Practice looking at things through your "lens." Put it on top of magazine photos and other pictures to see how you might frame something differently. Look for color balances, pushing things off center and mixing textures. Try holding the cardboard lens up to your eye and walking through an entire mock scene. Try different angles and movements. Practice, practice, practice. Have fun and good luck!