Visual Techniques Flashcards
Allusions
References to other images/visual media. Sometimes in the form of a parody , these usually recontextualise or change the meaning” of the original media.
Angles/ Lines
The ‘direction’ of an image based on the angles or lines within it. Horizontals create a sense of calm, verticals a sense of structure and diagonals a mood of unease or being off balance.
Body Language
Facial expressions, body language and gestures used to show character’s attitudes, moods or personality. Often focused on overall body movement and positioning.
Close-up Shot
When the frame is mostly or entirely filled with a character’s face, an important object. Used to create viewer focus and show that whatever is being shown is important. Often used on character’s faces in highly emotional images.
Colour (Hue/Tone)
Colours are symbolic of different emotions, moods, etc. and are used to evoke corresponding responses in audiences. Purple is a colour of royalty, wealth and luxury whereas red symbolises lust, passion, anger and so on.
Composition
What an image is made up of – where things are placed, how it is framed, the colour and lighting used, etc. This generally refers to the image as a whole.
Framing
The camera shots and angles used in images/films to create different audience reactions and emotions. E.g. close-up, extreme close-up, mid shots, aerial shots, etc.
Gaze
Where a character looks, which then directs viewer’s eyes. A ‘demand’ gaze involves direct eye contact between a character and the viewer, an ‘offer’ has the character look at something within the image, drawing the viewer’s eyes there too.
High Angle Shot
A shot taken from slightly above something/someone, looking down on it/them. Creates a sense of the character being weak, helpless, intimidated, etc.
Law of Thirds
By dividing an image into equal thirds along the horizontal, the vertical axis you can break it into 9 equal sections which each have different connotations, Movement is expected to from the left thirds to the right thirds, otherwise it’s read as moving backwards. Characters in the top right third are seen as powerful or in control, while those in the bottom left thirds are weaker or being controlled.
Lighting
How a shot is lit or not lit. This includes natural lighting and man-made lighting as well as feature lighting such as coloured lights, spotlights, moving lights, etc. Lighting has a major impact on the mood and atmosphere of an image.
Long/Wide Shot
A shot that is made up of a large landscape, cityscape or other kind of scene, Generally these are used to get across lots of information at once, such as the layout of a room, the location of an event, the number of people around, etc.
Low Angle Shot
A shot taken from slightly below someone/something, used to present them/it as being in a position of power, dominance or control.
Mid Shot
A shot that is approximately half-filled with a figure, object, etc. Usually these are ‘regular’ shots and are very common for character conversations/interactions or showing a select area or object within an area.
Point of View
How the shot is framed in reference to the viewer or a character. Does the shot take the character’s point of view or is the audience placed level with, above or below the characters/objects/action?
