It has been said that a picture paints a thousand words. Photographs capture a moment in time and can contain both obvious and hidden details in one image. Visual texts can be provocative, informative and stimulating.
In the exam you may be asked to respond to a visual text, or during your classroom- based assessments you may choose to use a picture or photograph as inspiration for your presentation and/or one of your written pieces. Refer back to this list when writing about and discussing visual texts.
Subject: what does the image capture?
– An object: identify the central object. Describe the appearance and placement of the object. Who does it belong to? Why is it there?
– A person: look closely at the person’s facial expression and body language. Try to read their mind – what are they feeling or thinking?
– People: if there is more than one person, try to guess the relationship or connection between them. Look closely at the facial expressions and body language. Do they know each other? If so, how?
Focus: what is the main draw or where is your attention directed? Is your attention directed towards one particular part of the image?
Background Centre
Foreground
Placement and order: in the same way that a poet emphasises an idea using techniques like imagery and repetition, an artist or photographer will emphasise an idea by presenting their image in a particular way. Ask yourself, what elements make up the image? How are these placed? Do they relate?
Size of objects within the image: does one object or person dominate the image? Are other objects or people hidden? Sometimes the most interesting part of a visual text is the background detail.
Examine the use of colour.
– Colour: what colours stand out to you? Why has the artist or photographer chosen the colours? What do you associate with the colours?
– Lack of colour: is the image lacking in colour? Why has the artist or photographer chosen to present the image without colour? While an image may be lacking in colour, there may be significance to shade or shadow.
