The Camera Frame
When you are making a movie, a TV show, a video of any kind, or even a comic, the most basic element is the shot.
A shot is what is captured within the camera frame while the camera is filming—a single moment for a still photo or a comic, anywhere from a few seconds to possibly a few minutes in the case of a video, TV show or movie.
Camera shots are the most basic rule of notice in visual media: they are how media makers direct your attention, show you what’s important, and tell you how to “read” an image.
You can imagine that you’re looking through the lens of a camera by making a frame with your fingers, like in this image. (It helps to close one eye while looking through the “frame.”
Hold your “frame” in front of you. What is in the frame and what is outside of it?
Still looking through the frame, turn your body from left to right. What do you see?
Pick something to look at, then move the frame closer to your eyes. Now move it further away. What details are left out when you move it further away?
Find something close to you to look at, like something on your desk. Move the frame closer to it. What details are captured by moving the camera closer to it?
Rules of notice are the techniques, codes and conventions that media makers use to tell you what to notice and how to feel about what's happening.