Composition Articles

• Background
• Depth of Field
• Foreground
• Head Room
• Nose Room
• Rule of Thirds

• Fun and Entertaining Vacation Videos
  June, 2011
  by Jennifer O'Rourke
  Vacation videos don't have to bore your viewers - you just need to understand how to edit while you're shooting on location.
• Selling Your Green Screen Shots to Your Audience
  March, 2011
  by Mike Sullivan
  Yes, the tools to create green screen composites have changed and, yes, it is cheaper and easier to produce green screen FX shots, but that doesn't mean it is…
• Teaching Video
  February, 2011
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Video is one of the most predominant story-telling mediums today. It only stands to reason that children will want to learn how to record and produce video…
• Sony NEX-VG10 Camcorder with Interchangeable Lens Reviewed
  November, 2010
  by Mark Holder
  If you're looking for near-prosumer performance on a sub-prosumer budget then you'll want to have a serious look at the Sony NEX-VG10.
• The Hypnotic Effect of Depth of Field
  October, 2010
  by Michael Reff
  So you have questions, problems. Do not fear. First, you must gaze...deep..., deeper into my lens. Things are getting blurry, you are having trouble focusing&he…
• The 180 Degree Rule
  September, 2010
  by Kyle Cassidy
  In video production, every time you break the rules, you take the viewer outside of the viewing experience to puzzle over what just happened instead of simply…
• Making Your Video Look More Like Film
  July, 2010
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Remember the TV ad raving about a brand of audio tape challanging us to guess whether it was live or tape? Now you go to the movies and wonder, "Is it film or…
• Protecting Kids' Identities
  January, 2010
  by Jennifer O'Rourke
  There's no problem videotaping your own children or those that you personally know, but what if you have a need to shoot children on a playground or in a…
• Making The Best Video Possible From A Cell Phone Video Recorder
  January, 2010
  by Marshal M. Rosenthal
  Since cell phone video recorders shoot at fairly low resolutions, it's important to try and remove potential problems before they can occur.
• Don't be Square about Framing
  October, 2009
  by Michael Reff
  For an image to be exciting, it has to move! Right? Things need to be constantly changing and adjusting. Pictures flying in and out, angles adjusting and…
• Seeing the Rule of Thirds
  March, 2009
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Some photographers and videographers have a Natural Eye that composes shots and scenes all around them, even when they aren't holding a camera. You know you…
• The Divine Proportion Balancing the Golden Rule
  July, 2008
  by James Williams
  Nature created it; visual artists follow it. Using aesthetically-pleasing framing creatively draws your viewer into your shot composition.
• The Rules of the Grid
  January, 2008
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Knowing the technical workings of your camera is half the battle of shooting a good video. Understanding good composition can really give your work some pizazz.
• The Difference Between Depth of Field and Depth of Focus
  August, 2007
  by the Editors
  Readers' letters
• Getting Started: Visual Composition
  August, 1996
  by Jim Stinson
  You don't have to be George Gershwin to be a great composer. Just carefully arrange your video scenes, and you'll achieve visual harmony.
• All About Lenses
  December, 1994
  by Jim Stinson
  There's more to a camcorder lens than meets the eye. Learn how the camcorder lens is made, how it works and, most importantly, how it affects your image.
• Pause: Music to Our Eyes
  April, 1997
  by Stephen Muratore
  We're not talking music videos here; we're talking visual music.
• Alan Mund Offers a Correction to “Inside the Camcorder Lens”
  August, 1997
  by Donald Keller
  In Box
• Frame It Up!
  October, 1997
  by Rob Sheppard
  Framing your video images helps your viewers see what you want them to see and understand what you want them to understand. In this article, you'll learn the&he…
• Formula for Image Size and Depth of Field
  December, 1997
  by Karen Director
  In Box
• Getting Started: Don't Get Fooled Again: The Power of Manual Control
  February, 1998
  by Dave Welton
  Put yourself in control of your camcorder's automatic features.
• Camcorder Binoculars: Getting Close with Telephoto
  November, 1998
  by Gene Bjerke
  The telephoto lens is full of possibilities and dangers. Learn the basics of telephoto shooting, including when to use a telephoto setting, and how it works.
• Getting Started: Composition: A Work of Video Art
  June, 1999
  by Arthur Aiello
  Attention to framing will make any video more interesting.
• Videocraft: I've Been Framed (Properly)!
  June, 1999
  by Chuck Peters
  This handy template will help you compose shots with greater impact.
• It's in the Lens
  January, 2000
  by Joe McCleskey
  Forget expensive software, you can create these cool special effects inside your camcorder.
• Getting Started: Video Composition
  June, 2000
  by Arthur Aiello
  Good shot composition is at the heart of attractive video.
• Frequently Asked Questions About Camcorder Use
  July, 2000
  by Chuck Peters
  Learn the answers to some common camcorder conundrums.
• Home Video Hints: Shooting to Edit - 5 Tips for Success
  October, 2000
  by Mark Bosko
  Learn to shoot video with the mind of an editor and your editing will be faster, easier and a lot more fun.
• Put a Little Depth into Your Field
  January, 2001
  by Gene Bjerke
  Learn how to use your lens to create and control depth of field.
• Computer Editing: The Language of Editing
  March, 2001
  by Mark Bosko
  Learn the language of editing and edit like the pros.