What does a picture book look like? Front Cover Title of book – often large in font and eyecatching Publishing company logo A picture/illustration that grabs the reader’s attention; provides some information about the characters and/or setting of the book Name of author/illustrator Often includes an exciting and suspenseful blurb that outlines the story (without giving away the ending!) Praise for the book from various publications; use of highly emotive language sparks reader interest Back cover More illustrations from the book creates interest Highlights the awards the book has won. Why would this be included? Provides the names of more titles from this author A barcode Features of a Picture Book VISUAL TECHNIQUES Salience Copy into your book The salient image in a visual text is the first image that a viewer sees when looking at an image. Salience is important as it is where the audience will begin their reading path. There are a number of reasons why a feature of a visual text may be the salient feature: ◦ The colour is bright and therefore stands out. ◦ The image is particularly eye catching. ◦ The layout or where the image has been placed. Salience What is the salient image? Copy into your book Reading Path The reading path is the way the composer leads the reader to follow the text. This may be left to right, top to bottom, or your path may jump around the page. What is the reading path of this image? Vectors Copy into your book Vectors are the lines in an image that direct the eyes to a particular object o person. They may be horizontal, vertical or diagonal vectors across a page. What are the vectors in this image? Silhouettes Copy into your book A silhouette is a dark shape or outline of someone or something. A silhouette appears black against a brighter background. Copy the following notes onto your worksheet. Camera Shots Extreme Close Up Shot The focus is on a specific part of a person or object. It allows the reader to pay attention to detail. For example, the focus may be on the eyes or hands of a person. Close Up Shot This shot focuses on a person’s face, including their neck and shoulders. It draws attention to the emotions of a person. Medium (Mid) Shot This shot focuses on a person from their head to their waist. It can often show a person’s body language and their relationship with another person or object in the shot. Long Shot This shot shows the entire person and the background. It allows the reader to see a person in their environment. Extreme Long Shot or Establishing Shot This shot shows an entire landscape or setting. People are less noticeable and the focus is on the environment. Copy the following notes onto your worksheet. Camera Angles Eye Level Angle The camera (or reader) and the characters are on the same level. It creates equality. Low Angle The camera (or reader) is positioned at a low point and are looking up at the characters. Makes the characters appear larger, powerful and dominant. High Angle The camera (or reader) is positioned at a high point, looking down on the characters. Makes the characters appear small, weak and powerless. Undershot The camera (or reader) is positioned directly below the action. We are looking up at the action. Example: a shot of a plane flying in the sky, a character looking up at clouds. Overhead Shot The camera (or reader) is placed directly above the action, looking down. We have a birds-eye view. Example: looking down from a tall building, a map. Positioning Copy into your book Foreground – the part of the scene that is closest to the reader; the front of the scene. Background – the part of the scene that is furthest from the reader; the back of a scene Symbolism Copy into your book Symbolism is when an object, place, word, action, event, person or colours used in a story convey certain ideas. For example: a rose may symbolise the love between two people. A motif is a recurring symbol. Colour Copy into your book Colour symbolism These colours are commonly associated with certain ideas – Red – passion, love, power, fire, blood, war Yellow – joy, hope, summer Blue – peace, calm, truth, loyalty Orange – energy, warmth, harmony Green – nature, health, youth, jealousy Purple – royalty, spirituality, wisdom Grey – security, maturity, practicality, age, doom, sadness Brown – earth, the outdoors, land White – purity, simplicity, peace, cleanliness, winter, marriage Black – death, sadness, elegance, class Gaze Copy into your book Demand – a demand shot is when the gaze of the character meets the gaze of the reader. The character is looking directly at you and demanding your attention. It creates involvement in a story. Gaze Copy into your book Offer – an offer shot is when the gaze of the character is looking away from the reader. The character is detached from the reader and we are onlookers in story. Perspective Copy into your book Point of View Shot - a point of view shot is when the reader is able to view the scene from the same perspective as the character. Perspectives Copy into your book Over the shoulder shot – allows the audience to view the scene from over the shoulder of characters. A third-person shot. Body Language and Facial Expressions A character’s body language includes their stance and gestures. The body language and facial expressions of a character show us their attitudes and emotions towards people and situations. Copy into your book Proximity Proximity refers to distance and allows us to determine the relationship between characters and other people and objects based on their distance from each other. Close proximity – the means that there is a closeness between characters and/or characters and objects. This can show that there is a close bond or relationship; or belonging. Copy into your book Layout Copy into your book Layout refers to the shape, size and arrangement of the illustrations and text in a picture book. It includes positioning and framing. Framing refers to what appears around a picture or scene or text. What do you notice about the layout of the following pages?
