there are heaps of visual and film techniques. the visual ones can also be used for film ones.
visual texts.
gaze
where you look first or where your eye is led to
subjective view pts:
encourages the viewer to adopt a certain stance
high angles = position of power for viewers
low angles = powerless position for viewers
eye level= no power difference
objective view pts:
viewers are not drawn into involvement with the participants
social distance:
close up suggests intimate distance
medium shot suggests close personal distance
image with whole figure close socal distance
long shot is far social distance
lighting:
shadows suggest something is hidden about character
bright light suggests hope
dim suggests romantic feel
modality/credibility
low modality are graphics that look least real
high modality are graphics that look most real
influences are idealisation, decontextualisation and perspective.
salient features: the most obvious feature
reading path: where your eyes are led. normally from top left to bottom right.
compositional axes:
vertical axes: items on one side are the known (usually left), and on the other are the new (usually right), relating to journeys aswell.
horizontal axes: one section represents the ideal (usually upper), and the other represents the real (usually lower)
framing: lines or boarders around an element
for films mainly focus on camera techs cause there are heaps.:
camera work
camera shots
extreme long shot: contains landscape and helps establish location
long shot: contains some landscape and recognisable male or female figures
full shot: contain full height of figures in the frame, and less landscape
medium shot: waist up
close up: almost no background focuses on a single object or persons face
extreme close up: focuses on an aspect of the object or persons face eg. eye
camera angles
overshot/overhead shot: camera is directly overhead, making things look like maps or figures look small
high angle shots: camera is above, but not overhead = more power to viewer and characters are insignificant or vulnerable
eye level shots: self explainitory = real life effect
low angle shot: looking up at object/ person = insuperior or less power
undershot: directly beneath an object = extreme power/ danger eg under stampeding cattle etc..
camera movements
panning: camera pivots slowly, either vertically or horizontally.
tracking shot: camera follows object.. helping to convey movement
tilt/ dutch tilt: camera is tilted to suggest a reaction to a scene/ object. = strangeness/ imbalance/ tension/ unexpectance
point of view shot: camera becomes characters eyes= we see what they see
soft focus: an object is not sharply defined= romantic vision / drunkenness/ drugs etc..
camera speed
slow motion: objects/ people move slowly to emphasise/ dramatisise (dont think that is a word) movement
fast motion: usually a comic technique.. makes the subject move faster or jerkily
sound effects mood and atmosphere;
sound effects: sound made by movements, reactions etc.
music: usually in background that helps set the mood
voice-overs: narrators that give infomation during the film.
design
setting: when and where
props: additional objects that help the acting etc.
lighting: convey emotional states or moods.
dark light/shadows=evil
dim light = romantic mood
bright lighting = clear thoughts etc.
colour: black and white, cool or warm colours etc
costume: effect setting and status
make-up and hair: may wear it in certain ways to depict characters or events.
editing
sequencing of shots: how have they been put together.. (e.g kill bill is put in a random order, creating suspence from starting in chapter 13 or what ever it starts at)
fading: image fades to black/ black screen reveals image, suggests a passing of time or new location
dissolving: one frame is slowly replaced by another, but both are still visable, indicates flashbacks/dreams
flashbacks
special effects
animation
pixillation: making an immobile object move by photographing it one frame at a time
mise-en-scene: french for 'been but in the scene'. used to describe the visual aspects that appear in single shots. e.g objects, movements, lighting, shadows, colour, focusing shots and movement of camera.
hope it helps
