Dear readers, on this sad and gloomy Monday, we bring you the final video and article in our mini-series of framing tutorials. It's with a great deal of melancholy that we approach the very close-up. Yes, even bitterly afflicted, we try to be funny... Sad though it may be...
Let's pick ourselves up and make this last article a memorable one, marking its time, and transcending minds. Better still, revolutionize your video creations! So, for your eyes only, ladies and gentlemen: the very close-up.
What's it for?
The very close-up doesn't seem very useful at first glance. Too precise, it only frames a detail of a body, be it an eye, a scar, a bruise on a knee, a mouth or even hands. In cinema, it's used to emphasize an action or a detail that's decisive for the rest of the story. Whether filming the eyes - nothing but the eyes - of Clint Eastwood in The Good, the Bad and the UglyUma Thurman's waking toes in Kill Bill or the mouth open in fear in Psychosis. The close-up gives them the importance they deserve.
Why is this frame so great? Well, because it's not just about the human body. You can film anything from a watch to your wrist or a pen to your vacuum cleaner! Even if we don't really see the point of the latter...
Highlighting your product, whatever its size, requires showing all the little details that make it unique, and it's always with this plan that you'll get the best results. Our users are already using it in their tutorials, and the results are more than appreciated! Not convinced? You're wrong! What if we told you that it's also a very easy plan to implement? How? Just read the next paragraph and you're all set!
How does it work?
Whether with a grip, on a tripod, or by hand, there are two important things to remember in order to get the perfect shot:
First of all, avoid quick movements. Whether in framing or in your detail itself, abrupt action easily disconcerts the eye and doesn't allow it to stay focused on the coveted object. Indeed, it can take some time for the eye to understand what it's looking at when the detail is zoomed in too much. Plan ahead and let your shot last longer. The aim is to present the element in question from its best angle. So if you feel like doing a tracking shot from a wide shot to a very close-up - or vice versa - make sure that people have enough time to observe it properly.
Secondly, pay attention to focus. The phones we all carry in our pockets are very powerful. They are now capable of filming at very close range. Only, to satisfy all our desires, their sensitivity is increased. So don't be afraid to press down on your screen until you find the spot you're looking for. Once you've found it, we strongly recommend that you lock the focus by pressing for a few seconds on the area you want to keep in focus. If you nevertheless opt for a tracking shot, be sure to change focus as you move, so that your object remains in focus throughout the shot.
So that's it, we've finished with the different framing techniques you can use to dress up your video. If you like it, please let us know, and we'll be sure to come up with other topics such as dolly shots and focusing difficulties.
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