A camera takes a series of pictures per second which we call frames. There are 24 frames in a second and when played back this gives us a moving image. When looking through the lens of a camera just imagine your taking a picture and the best pictures are framed in a certain way by using the Grid System.
Grid System:
Now take a look at the picture below, you have to admit it's a great picture of the evening sky.
Now lets take a look at the same picture but with the Grid System over it.
You can see the top three squares are filled with negative space, the middle three squares are filled with the clouds, the bottom left is filled with the sea leaving the remaining two squares filled with the dock, thus showing a perfectly framed picture.
This is a great technique that once drilled into the brain you will never forget and you will notice yourself doing it subconsciously when looking through the lens. Here's another picture but with a change of the depth of field.
Because the background is blurred your eyes are Immediately drawn towards the centre square. This is one of the many tools used in film when the director wants the audience to focus on a particular person or item. The best way to practice Focus Pulling is with a tripod first before moving on to tracking shots, pans etc.
