Further Research

The Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is something that we have considered a lot when filming our video. I have done research on the rule of thirds to ensure that I fully understand it so that I can apply it when filming. It is important that I understand the rule of thirds as I am the camera woman and I am filming the majority of the video. This is because my other group members Frankie and Karina wanted to put their contribution into acting. We are all going to edit the video. 

The rule of thirds is based upon guidelines that apply when creating visual images such as films. The grid is composed of nine equally sized squares. The most important of the images should be placed along the vertical and horizontal lines or in their intersections as they would become the main focus of the shot. Aligning an object or a subject with these points creates more tension, energy and interest when compared to simply placing them in the center of the shot. It is very easy to assume that the object or subject in the center of a shot is the main focus for the audience, however research has proven that this is not the case.

The image to the left shows the key points as to where a person would focus their eyes upon the most. This is demonstrated in the image above whereby the sunlight is on the two horizontal lines. When filming a moving subject, the same pattern is often followed, with the majority of the extra room being in front of the person (the way they are moving). When photographing a still subject who is not facing the camera, the extra room should be in front of the subject with the vertical line running through the centre of their perceived mass.

Overall, the use of the rule of thirds makes a shot or a still image appear more interesting rather just simply using a central facing point.