Visual Literacy: An Introduction to Terminology

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

Subject The subject is the person, place, or object that is the focus of the image.

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 uses when capturing a photo. The photographer has the power to choose the perspective or viewpoint of the viewer by the position in which they angle their camera.

Camera Angle The camera angle can influence the relationship between the viewer and the image.

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

Lighting