Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Salience
Salience
refers to the
feature in a
composition
that is most
prominent.
Jeffrey Smart The Guiding Spheres II (Homage to Cezanne)
1979 Edition Size 499 All images Estate of Dr Jeffrey Smart
AO
Reading paths
A reading path is the path you take
through a visual text. The path
moves from the most salient to the
least salient elements.
It can be created through the gaze of
the subject (i.e. an offer).
Vectors
A vector is a line that leads your eye
from one element to another.
A vector is the visible line.
Compositional axis
The horizontal
axis:
The left, is
known or given;
The right is new
or unknown.
The vertical
axis:
The upper section
is ideal;
The lower elements
are real.
Framing
Elements in a layout can be
disconnected and marked off from
each other or connected. If elements
are cut off from one another they are
strongly framed.
Framing.
Framing can be achieved by borders,
discontinuities of colour and shape,
or by white space.
Connectedness can be achieved by
vectors and devices such as
overlapping or superimposition of
images.
Gaze
Demands and
offers.
Demand: subject
looks out of the
image at the
responder.
This establishes a
connection
between
subject
The portrait
of Bindo Altoviti
by Raphael (c 1515)
and viewer.
Gaze
Offer: The figure looks away.
The viewer is a detached
onlooker.
Can create a reading path to
the offered object.
Social Distance.
A close-up is intimate.
A mid-shot suggests a personal
or a social distance.
Long-shot -the whole figure
framed = social distance. This
type of framing suggests that
context is important.
Thomas Kinkade
Caravaggio
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas
1601-02; Oil on canvas, 42 1/8 x 57 1/2 in; Neues Palais, Potsdam
Modality/credibility
Lowest modality
graphics are the
least real.
Highest modality
is most real.