Layout, shots, angles

Layout

Layout refers to the composition of the frame, where the images are placed and what colours are used. When you are analysing a visual text you are really analysing the layout. Why has the composer used particular images and why are those particular images placed where they are?

Shot

Camera shots are used most often for analysing films. They are, however, also a really useful place to start when analysing any visual text. The size of the shot is determined by how much space or landscape is in a particular frame, or put another way, how closely the audience is positioned to the subject in the visual text. Let's look at some examples:

Long shot

Image one is a long shot. You can see that it contains a lot of landscape. The effect of a long shot is to give the audience an idea of place. A composer of a visual text will use a long shot to establish a setting. Long shots are often used in advertising. Imagine how Image One could be used to advertise island holidays. The layout could include large portions of sea, implying isolation, lush greenery for a 'tropical' feel and golden beaches.

Full shot

Image two is a full shot and contains the full figures of people. Composers of visual texts use full shots to give the audience an overall impression of the people in a shot. Generally, a full shot demonstrates the type of people and general social interaction between them. This is called proxemics. The closer together the characters are in a frame, the closer their relationship.

Consider a romantic dinner, to show the closeness of the characters you would probably place them close together. Consider then if two characters are positioned so that there is a lot of space between them. This implies that they are not closely linked.In Image Two for example, we can see that the two men are businessmen. We can also assume that they have some kind of formal relationship because they are shaking hands and there is little space between them. (Refer to Topic 1, Chapter 4 for more information.)

Mid-shot or Social shot

Image three is a mid, or social shot and contains characters or objects in more detail. It is sometimes called a social shot because it demonstrates, in more detail than a full shot, the relationships between characters. In Image Three it is obvious these people are a couple and we can assume that they are having fun. Composers of visual texts often use mid-shots so the audience can understand and empathise with the characters in an image.

Close-up or personal shot

Image four is a close-up and contains a character or object in detail. It is sometimes called a personal shot because it reveals to the audience the emotions of a particular character and creates a direct link between text and audience. We can see in Image Four the link between the character and the audience. The wink that the character is giving makes the audience feel as though they are part of the text. This technique is discussed more fully in advertising

Camera angles

Again, camera angles are also a very useful starting point for analysing a visual text. You need to ask yourself: 'How is the audience positioned to respond to the text?'

High angle

Image five is a high angle and is when the audience looks down on the scene or picture. Because the audience is looking down on the subject, the effect of a high angle is to either empower the audience (make the audience feel powerful) or to make the subject seem vulnerable, or both. Imagine it like this: from the audience's perspective, you are much taller and bigger than another person. From the subject's perspective, you are much smaller than another person.

Eye-level shot

Image six is an eye-level shot and is used by composers when the intended effect is to position the audience to feel equal with the subject in question.

Low angle

Image seven is a low-angle shot and is the exact opposite of a high-angle shot. A composer will use a low angle to make the audience feel vulnerable or in awe of the subject or to emphasise the subject's power and strength.

Refer to the 'Storyboarding Activity' to practice using these techniques.