{"id":406,"date":"2016-10-12T18:21:55","date_gmt":"2016-10-12T22:21:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/52.90.43.4\/?p=406"},"modified":"2022-01-27T14:05:01","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T19:05:01","slug":"frame-your-shots-properly-for-more-impactful-videos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sproutvideo.com\/blog\/frame-your-shots-properly-for-more-impactful-videos.html","title":{"rendered":"Frame Your Shots Properly for More Impactful Videos"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever watch a movie that just gets your heart pounding, whether from suspense, action, or a scare? Getting a strong emotional reaction out of viewers drives\u00a0engagement, sharing<\/a>, and brand recall, making it an important factor in the success of your videos.<\/p>\n

The way you frame your shots has a lot to do with their impact on\u00a0viewers. Here’s how to get it right every time, using math as your secret weapon.<\/p>\n

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The Golden Ratio and Framing<\/h3>\n

A\u00a0great shot that really “wows” you feels more like art than anything else. However, there is actually a mathematical basis for what makes a scene\u00a0visually appealing on screen.<\/p>\n

According to Wikipedia, the Golden Ratio<\/a> refers to mathematical quantities where “their ratio is the same as the ratio of their sum to the larger of the two quantities.” In writing, it’s not clear how that complex statement about the mathematical relationship between two numbers would apply to visuals.<\/p>\n

In practice, the impact is clear. It’s actually not that complex as these images from Wikipedia show:<\/p>\n

\"Golden<\/p>\n

The above example is referred to as the Golden Rectangle. Imagine any interview you’ve seen with a subject up close. Their nose probably would align nicely with the line separating the two shapes. You might have instinctively aligned the subject of a shot in such a way without even realizing it.<\/p>\n

The Golden Rectangle is derived from the Golden Ratio, which can be visualized as a Fibonacci Spiral:<\/p>\n

\"Use<\/p>\n

In the headline image for this post, we took a frame from one of the Lord of the Rings movies, and overlaid the Fibonacci Spiral. As you can see, Sam, Frodo, and the Ring are nicely aligned with the Fibonacci Spiral.<\/p>\n

At first glance, you might not have realized that. But, you might have thought (like we did), “Wow, what a great shot.” This method of arranging a scene is innately\u00a0pleasing to the eye.<\/p>\n

Basics of Framing<\/h3>\n

Famous artists, like Salvador Dali, have used the Golden Ratio to influence the layout of their works of art for centuries<\/a>.\u00a0Let’s delve into ways you can leverage it in your videos today.<\/p>\n

First Things First<\/h4>\n

Make sure you don’t get tripped up by common factors that can ruin an otherwise great shot:<\/p>\n