Visual Literacy: An Introduction to Terminology

Terms Used When Describing Images Subject Foreground/Background Perspective Focal Point Depth of Field Explicit context, implicit context, no context Color Lighting

Subject The subject is what the picture is about. e.g: man falling; or 9/11

Foreground: The part of the image that is closest to the viewer. Background: The area of an image that is behind the subject/focal point or the part of an image that is furthest from the viewer.

Perspective Perspective is the point of view that the photographer or artist projects when capturing a photo or creating an image. The photographer has the power to choose the perspective or viewpoint of the viewer by the position in which they angle their camera. Likewise, the artist can choose how to create their overall image to project the perspective they want the viewer to see it from. e.g. near, far, zoomed in, from the side, from below

Why so close?

Why so far?

Depth of Field: Depth of Field refers to the sharpness of the scene surrounding the object of focus and is used to enhance of isolate the main subject in an image. Making the space behind your focal point out of focus is referred to as a Shallow Depth of Field. When everything in the image appears sharp, it is referred to as Great Depth of Field.

Focal Point: The focal point is the point to which the viewer’s attention is drawn and is usually the image’s main subject. In other cases, however, the viewer’s eye may be drawn, through the use of light, color, or the depth of field, to a different place in the photograph.

Explicit Context

Implicit Context

No Context

Color

Light