Visual Language Decoder
1 Layout 2 The subject
Identifying structural components of visual texts: Identifying characteristics for people or animals
● composition in an image:
What is the image made up of? Which ● pose
individual elements can you see?
How is the body held?
● tone/lighting
● hand or arm gestures
What is the balance of light and dark in the
image? Is the lighting natural light (e.g., Where are the hands placed and are
sunlight or moonlight) or artificial light? Is it they moving or still?
side-lit, back lit or evenly lit? Has silhouette
been used creatively? ● facial expression
● colour What expressions or looks are on
people’s faces?
What colours are used in the image? What is the
symbolism or effect of the use of colour? If the ● costume
image is in black and white, how does the
monochrome colour palette promote tones and What are people wearing?
textures?
● identity
● perspective
Are the people individualised or not?
From what direction is the image viewed? For
example, are you viewing the scene from above ● props
or from below?
What objects are shown in the image?
● balance
● surroundings
What is the weight of visual placement of
objects? Visual texts are based on a horizontal Where is the subject located?
(left/right) and vertical (top/bottom) axis. Being in
the middle is the most balanced place to be. The
‘rule of thirds’ is a common technique in
photography which adds visual weight and
significance.
● framing
Is there a boundary shown around the image or
does it bleed (go to the edge)? Are there
divisions or sections in the image? Portrait or
landscape?
● texture
How do the surfaces look: smooth or rough? Is
their grain in the image itself?
● contrast or harmony
Are differences or similarities in the visual
elements emphasised? For example,
advertisements sometimes show ‘before’ and
‘after’ shots to emphasise changes in the
appearance of an object or person.
● rhythm
Is there any pattern in the visual elements such
as repetition? How many subjects? Even
numbers create balance, odd numbers create a
doschordant, dynamic image.
● symbols or writing
Are there any present? In what ways are they
connected with the visual elements? What is
the impact of font?
continued overleaf
Visual Language decoder (cont.)
3 Interaction with the viewer 4 The function of the image
Positioning devices used: The image represents a point of view.
Consider factors such as:
● focus and framing
● purpose and context
Is it a long shot, medium shot or close-up?
What is the viewing angle? For instance, is What is the purpose and context of the
the viewer looking up at or down on the image? How and why was the image
subject? produced? Who is the target audience for the
image?
● orientation
● the composer’s style
Is the subject face on, side on, or facing
away from the viewer? What is it similar to? For instance, is it like
a family portrait or a news photograph?
● vectors (leading lines) Does it remind you of anything? Does it tell
Vectors are imaginary lines created by the the viewer a story? Is it serious or is it
visual composition. For example, a person’s satirical?
gaze or a staircase may lead your eyes in a
● issues
certain direction, or the image might be
divided into different sections. Where are Is the composer making a point or trying
your eyes drawn? to influence the viewer? For example,
does the image comment on power,
● eye contact prestige, wealth, fame, age, class, culture,
Does the viewer have direct, indirect or no etc?
eye contact with the subject? Does their
● omissions or negative space
eyeline function as a vector in its own
right? Has the composer deliberately left anything
out of the image? Are the people in the
image representative of society? For
example, fashion photographs are often
‘airbrushed’ or ‘photoshopped’ to remove
imperfections from a model’s appearance.
Analysing Visual Text
1 Layout 2 The subject
Identifying structural components of visual Identifying characteristics for people or animals
texts: in an image:
● component parts ● pose
● tone/lighting
● hand or arm gestures
● colour
● facial expression
● perspective
● balance ● identity
● border
● costume
● texture
● props
● contrast or harmony
● rhythm ● surroundings
● symbols or writing
Analysing a visual text (cont.)
3 Interaction with viewer 4 The function of the image
Positioning devices used: The image represents a point of view.
Consider factors like:
● focus and framing
● purpose and context
● orientation
● the composer’s style
● vectors
● issues
● eye contact
● omissions