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Strategies �for �Studying Illustrations

By Amy

Bonus: photography tips at the end of this presentation!

Image courtesy of www.pixabay.com

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Visual Images are Everywhere!

We see them represented in…

paintings (oil, acrylic, water colours)
photography (portraits, ads, photographic art)
drawings (ink, pencil, digital)
advertisements (signs, magazines, Internet, TV, bathroom stalls…)
comics, graphic novels, magazines
content in TV and Film
signs or symbols (local, national, universal)
digital media (websites, video games, apps, social media, digital data-bases)
graphic design (business logos, visual planning, blue prints)
instructions, educational texts, training manuals

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Created Visuals…

communicate information in “picture” form

emphasize or enhance meaning and purpose with visually-specific effects (angle, lighting, focus, colour)

may include written text

have a subject (focus of the shot)

communicate a message, idea, or theme to an audience or viewer

What details visually suggest the child is sliding downward?

What does the arrangement of the subject (two men) suggest? Is there a conflict here?

Images courtesy of GettyImages

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Subject

The subject of an image can be a/an…

person
place
thing or animal
event
idea or concept

Sometimes understanding subject can be very easy, especially with images used for identification or classification.

The subject of an image can be summarized in one or two words, and can range from very simple (aesthetically pleasing) to quite complicated (a social or political issue; a specific event).

The photographers chose the chameleon and the astronaut as the subject of the images.

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Unlocking Theme

A photographer or visual artist uses certain effects to clarify theme for an audience:

focus
angles
framing
lighting
color & contrast
lines
composition

Each effect contributes value to the image by hinting at theme. Visual images usually use a combination of these effects.

Public Domain

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Focus…

… draws the eye to the main part of an image to establish if it is a person, place, thing, event, or idea

… the main “hint” a visual creator uses inform an audience of the subject matter

Here, the tiger’s colour, distinguishing her from her surroundings, and location, in the centre, make her the focus, or subject, of the image.

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Types of Shots

shots: the point of view or position a visual artist chooses to capture an image

“shot angles” used in photography, film, TV, drawing, graphic novels, comics, painting, and design

similar meaning and effects of angles throughout these media

This rare shot uses “a worm’s-eye view” angle (from the ground looking up).

Opposite of worm’s-eye view, this “bird’s-eye view” makes the biggest and mightiest object look small and fragile.

A low-angle shot (looking up at a subject) makes the subject seem intimidating or powerful.

High-angle shots, used to capture large numbers of objects in a frame,

give an “all seeing” view or a condescending view.

Melissa Farlow/National Geographic Creative

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Types of Shots continued…

“Straight-on” or mid-ground shots…

give the idea of common ground or equality between the subject and the viewer because the subject is captured on the same level as, or facing, the viewer
draw attention to body language or to conflict, such as being too close to a rhinoceros!

Long Shots (wide-angle or establishing shots)…

taken from a distance, capture the

entire subject and background area

give information on setting and how the character

relates to the setting

gives the viewer an idea of distance, scale/size, or of a journey being made

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Types of Shots continued…

Close Up shots…
zoom in and frame the subject(s) closely
emphasize emotions or important details in an image
draw attention to physical communication or relationships
give the illusion of intimacy between viewer and subject

Canted-Angle shots…

capture an image at a “tilt”; horizon is slanted
imply that something is odd, eerie, not right
create effects of tension, suspense, or creativity

Image courtesy of www.pixabay.com

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Framing

Framing enhances a visual artist’s deliberately chosen components and subject matter within the image. Framing is also a part of composition, which will be addressed later.

Framing presents a visual artist’s point of view about the subject through the arrangement of details.

Every decision a photographer makes influences the meaning and theme of an image. A poorly framed image may confuse the viewer.

Foreground

Mid-ground

Background

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Lighting

Lighting, a necessary element of all visual images, often manipulates specific effects such as…

enhancing or emphasizing

visual details or emotion of

the subject (backlighting,

contrast, silhouettes)

creating dramatic effects

(spotlighting or tracking

action)

creating mood or

atmosphere

Low lighting often has a calming effect on viewers (relaxation, romance, mourning, mystery, or suspense).

Bright or high light levels in images can promote energy, high activity, tension, or anxiety.

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Colour…

… can be symbolic of a concept (culturally, commercially, or emotionally)

White represents…
emotionally: peace, innocence
culturally: purity, mourning
commercially: modern style
Red represents…
emotionally: danger, love, anger
culturally: religion, political parties
commercially: adventure, excitement

… can emphasize or suggest an emotion, mood, or atmosphere in an image

“warm” colours: orange, fuchsia
“cool” colours: green, blue
“neutral” colours: grey, tan, beige

Images courtesy of www.pixabay.com

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Contrast…

Here the photographer used contrast of light and color to draw attention to bright star trails and warm, cozy, yellow tent; a stark contrast to the cold, dark night sky. Create these photographic effects on your own by mounting your digital camera on a tripod and leaving the shutter open for an extended amount of time.

uses colour, texture, light, or shapes to show visual, thematic, or symbolic differences among elements in an image

emphasizes or draws attention to a detail or subject

Image courtesy of www.pixabay.com

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Lines…

… draw the eye through the image, or to key parts of the image

Diagonal Lines…

pull your eye through the image
imply movement
give the illusion of depth
add a sense of action or interest
add perspective to an image

Horizontal Lines…

frame or add stability (an “even” quality) to an image
suggest restfulness, permanency, or timelessness
are most commonly seen in horizon lines used to “anchor” a subject

Vertical Lines…

contribute in many ways to the mood of an image
give the impression of power, height, strength, expansion, or growth

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Composition…

ensures an image and its subject are pleasing to the eye and well balanced
ensures the subject is clear and understandable for the viewer
generally uses “the rule of thirds” to organize elements within an image
reveals mood and atmosphere through arrangement of details

Here the rule of thirds is at work:

The image is divided into three equal parts horizontally and vertically.
Text creators put points of interest on at least two line intersections of the “grid” (the eyes of the lynx).
The green circles on the train tracks indicate three points of interest: two strong leading lines at the bottom, and the point of perspective on the horizon (where ground meets sky – see top left).

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Bonus: Tips for Basic Photography!

When photographing animals or people close-up for portraits or detail, always ensure you can see their eyes clearly. Light reflecting off the eyes preserves “liveliness”.

Experiment with long exposures by either moving your camera around a light source, or lengthening your shutter speed (most cameras can do 1-30 seconds, most cell phone cameras excluded). If you can open the shutter longer, experiment with “drawing” things in the frame with a light source, such as a flashlight or glow stick.

For crisp action shots, always use your flash. The burst of light holds your subject still to be captured on film or digitally.

If you don’t want to use your flash, change the ISO on your camera to a high number (800-1000) in the day time, and a lower ISO at night (200-400). Night photos can be difficult if the camera is jiggling and has no flash; invest in an inexpensive tripod!

The best tip is….HAVE FUN!