Analysing visual images Flashcards
what do visual texts offer us?
an interpretation of the world around us, not a reflection of it
when they ask how, what must we do?
Describe the visual feature Name the visual technique Discuss the meaning conveyed
Which frame does this relate to? “How do I respond to this image”
Subjective frame, personal response
3 Qs to ask for Subjective frame
- What do you feel? 2. What does it remind you of? 3. What is the composer conveying in this image about the subject and the times?
Which frame does this relate to? ‘How does the image make meaning?’
structural frame, techniques
What is composition about?
Whatever is included in a visual text is deliberately placed and there for a reason – find that reason. This is where you have to apply a lot of imagination – what do you think of the different aspects of the picture and how do they make you feel? Are they saying something? Composition also includes all omissions – if something is missing, why is it missing?
What should you ask about composition?
what do you think of the different aspects of the picture and how do they make you feel? Are they saying something? Composition also includes all omissions – if something is missing, why is it missing?
What is contrast and what effect can it have?
the arrangement of opposite elements –> to create interest, excitement or drama
What does composition include?
Layout Mise-en-scene: What is placed deliberately in the frame Rule of thirds: Top third of frame empowered. Background: - contextualised background is one which provides a place, time or setting for the viewers - non-contextualised background is one which can be saturated colour and provides less contextual information for viewer
What is Mise-en-scene:
What is placed deliberately in the frame
What is the rule of thirds about?
Divide image into thirds from the top and sides and look at the placement of people and objects in relation to each other. Anything in top third is usually empowered whereas anything in bottom third is disempowered.
Contextualised background
contextualised background is one which provides a place, time or setting for the viewers
- non-contextualised background
is one which can be saturated colour and provides less contextual information for viewers
Which frame does this relate to? ‘How would this image have been received, and how does it reflect its times? ‘
Cultural frame, context
Which frame does this relate to? ‘How could this image be read?’
Critical frame, representation
What are 10 techniques for visual images?
- Framing or Composition 2. Salience 3. Gaze 4. Vectors 5. Demand and Offer 6. Angles 7. Shot 8. Colour and lighting 9. Contrast 10.Symbolism and icon
What are the different types of contexts?
Historical, social, political, cultural, responder’s context
what question should you ask about context?
What is its impact on meaning?
What are 3 main features of the critical frame?
- Gaps and silences 2. manipulation of image 3. Positioning of responder
Close up shot
head & shoulders
What can a background suggest?
what is going on contextually
What effect/purpose could a caricature (character w. exaggerated features have)?
creating a parody/satire through deliberate distortion
What is chiaroscuro and what does it always create?
having contrasting light & dark shades/lighting. Always creates DRAMA
What does chiaroscuro clarify?
characteristics of object/idea that’s dark and the object that’s light
Mid shot
upper body of person
Long distance shot
full person showing long distance/depth
Bird’s eye view shot
from a really great distance
What does a high angle shot show?
Power/dominance
low angle shot shows
weakness/submission/vulnerability
What do //diagonals\ always create and what could they symbolise?
Always create TENSION, could symbolism disorder, weakness/off balance
Foreground
front of image
background
back of image
If there were different colours/ objects in foreground and background what could it create?
contrast
what else could having foreground & background create
a relationship with viewer, eg. if person was placed in foreground they would have a closer connection than if person was placed in background (would have a distant relationship)
Salient feature/focal point
where eyes first drawn to
What do composers use salient features for>
to emphasise meaning and show main ideas
what do you use the rule of 3rds for?
to id important parts of picture
What are graphics (a visual image of some kind) often used for?
support written texts, a form of visual language
What do captions do?
provide a brief explanation for an image
What does the use of colour create
meaning, emotion, symbolism
types of colour schemes
- Monochrome 2. Warm and cool colours
Monochrome
shades of a single colour, eg. grayscale (all shades btw black and white)
what should you ask about colour?
how does the colour relate to discovery? does it symbolise an emotion that could have led to the discovery?
what is sizing (making different objects have dif sizes) used for?
to affect our perception of objects/characters and help us understand them
Sizing
a) size of person/object b) level (eg. high: powerful, dominant, low: scared/insignificant)
How could sizing relate to discovery?
having a really small person in a large enviro could symbolise the difficulty/effort of physical discovery
juxtaposition
the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.
what do composers use juxtapositions for?
to prove something to audience
Icon
image used to represent person place thing/idea
What does body language include?
facial expression, gestures, position of hands/body, posture, proximity to others (proxemics)
what could proxemics (social distance btw ppl) indicate?
the relationship of characters to one another
What are the different reading paths when looking at an image?
Salience Vectors: Gaze - Demand: Gaze - Offer:
vectors
Vectors: The lines that draw us towards a particular image
Gaze - Demand:
The eyes of the image demand out attention
Gaze - Demand:
The eyes of the image demand out attention, can show emotion
Gaze - Offer:
The person in the frame could be looking beyond the frame. can show intent
What are the features of a text in a visual image?
Bold, sketched, fine Font Size Placement Colour
Symbolism of red, blue and black
red = passion; blue = peace and tranquillity; black = death or fear
Saturation:
The colour could be bleached out – open aperture of the camera lens so too much light floods in.
What do lines influence?
mood
Wavy line
movement
Zigzag line
tension/excitement
straight line
order/neat
middle ground
btw foreground & background
what do narration boxes do
tell reader where they are and what’s happening
in images what are allusions?
References to other texts and well known images
Parody:
An imitative work (caricature/cartoon) designed to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work
negative space
space between and around objects in a photo, parts of image that are left blank
what does negative space do?
defines and emphasises main subject of a photo, enhancing its salience. It provides “breathing room”, giving your eyes somewhere to rest and preventing your image from appearing too cluttered with “stuff”. Helps to create a more engaging composition
what do panels do
gives snapshot of most interesting part of story, you have to use imagination to fill in gaps, inviting engagement from audience
point of view
angle from which viewer sees objects/scene
repetition always creates
emphasis, but in context what effect does it have?
What could symbolise innocence?
children, white colour, light tone
what could vector indicate?
speed, is object moving to forwards (right) or backwards (left)
What could slogans be?
a pun/imperative statement/other
What do you do when analysing a visual text?
find 3 techniques. look for first: 1. Framing (where things are placed) 2. Sight lines (where eye’s drawn to) 3. Colour
What do vertical lines indicate?
structure
What do horizontal lines indicate?
calm
Visual metaphor
an image that acts as a vehicle to create meaning about another concept/object
perspective creates
depth and movement
What is linear perspective?
where gradations of line produce depth. linear perspective parallel lines that recede into the distance appear to get closer together or converge.
What is linear perspective influence?
if the image looks 2D or 3D, and gives depth
How can linear perspective be used?
to indicate how things are orientated,
what do parallel and converging lines indicate?
parallel lines: flat surface converging lines: that we see as parallel indicate a surface that recedes in depth.
Atmospheric perspective
where gradations of tone produce depth, distance affects the clarity and color tinting of an object
features of atmospheric perspective
The blueing and slight blurring indicates that objects are further away giving impression of depth
effect of juxtaposition
to create a comparison between two objects/ideas and highlight the contrast between them
what is obvious technique in this image?
juxtaposition
