reading visual texts ...
Angle
Body Language
Camera shot
Caption
Clothing
Collage
Colour
Composer
Composition
Direction/Eyeline
Focus
Font
Framing
Light
Objects
Where has the photographer/artist placed the objects in the photo/frame?
o A low angle (where we look up to the object) shows the subject as
strong and powerful.
o A high angle (where we look down to the object) shows submission
and weakness.
Posture, gesture and facial expression all tell about the way we are feeling
and thinking.
o What does the posture and gestures of people suggest?
o What do the expressions reveal?
o Is this meant to be seen as a happy moment? Serious moment?
The distance from which a photograph is taken (close up, mid shot, long
shot etc)
o What has the distance of the shot allowed the viewer to comprehend?
The descriptive, printed line of text that appears in a visual text
Reflects our personality and can also be a symbol of the period, culture and
status.
Random gathering of visual images that have some relationship to a theme,
issue or concept
Colour can be used as symbols
o white = innocence
o black = death
o soft pastel colours = female
o dark primary or metallic colours = male
The person who has created a text (Artist – painting, cartoonist; Author –
literature; Film – director)
The way that a whole visual text has been put together; the arrangement of
elements within the text
In what direction are the objects, figures, people etc facing?
o Is it at the camera, past the camera or at a person or object in the
photograph?
o Where are the people looking? At the viewer? At each other? At
something out of frame?
o What do the eyelines suggest about what is considered important?
The degree of sharpness or distinctiveness of an image (deep focus,
shallow focus, soft focus etc)
The design of the text that accompanies a visual text.
o What is it about the design of the text that adds meaning to the visual
text?
o What mood/tone/emotion is suggested by the font?
o How has colour been used in the font to add meaning?
The way that the subject is placed within a visual text
o How has the borders of the image defined the image?
o What might appear outside the frame?
Different lighting effects or colours can provide meaning:
o Soft yellow light creates a halo effect and can suggest innocence.
o The time of day can be established through lighting.
Shapes or figures (people, animals, places or objects).
Position
Of the objects, shapes and figures in the frame can give meaning.
o Who or what holds the centre of attention in the frame?
o How does the position help make this the centre of attention?
o How does the background contribute to the ideas you get from the
photograph/frame?
o How are people/objects placed in relationship to each other?
o What is suggested by the placements? (Respect? Affection?
Conflict? Unity?)
Settings
Have symbolic significance and influence our response to a visual text.
o Dry, country settings suggest ruggedness and hardship.
o Soft, green, rural settings suggest tranquillity.
Shading
The dark areas of an image that result from lack of lighting
o What use has been made of shading?
o What effect is gained from this shading?
Size
Of the object of interest.
o Important objects are usually large and located in the foreground
o Small objects that are in the background are considered less
important.
Symbol/symbolism When something in the text sands for something abstract, such as an
emotion or idea
o rose = beauty, snake = evil
Vector lines
The thing in a visual text that directs the eye of the viewer
o A pointing finger directs the responder to the object
o A line of people in a queue will direct the responder to the
beginning/end of the queue.
Reading Path
The reading path is the order that the responder makes their way through a
visual text. The path begins with the most salient element and moves to
other less salient elements.
The mood of a visual image can be read from the offers and demands
Offer/Demand
present in an image.
o Demand: when direct connection is made with the responder (subject
looking directly at responder)
o Offer: when the responder is an invisible and detached onlooker not
invited to participate with the subject directly.
Social Distance
Positioning of objects within a visual text that indicate a ‘distance’ or
connection by the subject/ object to the viewer/responder (key words:
intimate, personal, long-shots, close-ups, medium shots, far /close personal
distance)
Modality
The degree of ‘credibility’ found in a visual text
o High modality: a high degree of truthfulness or reality (eg photograph)
o Low modality: a low degree of truthfulness or reality (eg comic,
cartoon)
Salience
The ‘visual weight’ or importance allocated to elements within a visual text.
The composer’s use of various techniques can create salient features within
a text. Factors include size, focus, colour, distance, placement (heavier
salience if placed towards the top or left of an image).
Dutch Angle
An image using a camera shot made with the camera leaned to one side
and filming at a diagonal angle. The shot is used to either represent a
sense of confusion or disorientation in a character on the screen, or to
create that same sense for the viewer.