Codes

Written, technical and symbolic codes

Written codes:
* Headlines.
* Captions.
* Speech bubbles.
* Style of language.
* Font and size of text.
* Position of text.

Technical codes:
* Camera angle.
* Lens choice.
* Framing.
* Shutter speed.
* Depth of field.
* Lighting and exposure.
* Juxtaposition.

Symbolic codes:
* Objects.
* Setting.
* Body Language.
* Gesture, posture and facial expression.
* Clothing.
* Colour.

Written codes: How the text conveys meaning.

Technical codes: How the image is composed.

Symbolic codes: How cultural symbols informs the audience about the text.



Shots

Low angle shot:
Taken from below a person or object and looking up. It gives an impression of power or supremacy.

High angle shot:
Looking down on a person or object.
It makes something look small and insignificant and like you are superior to them.

Extreme close up (ECU):
Zooming in on a particular feature.
Normally used to convey a meaning without using any dialect.

Close up (CU):
A close up will focus on a particular part of something, for example the upper body of a human.

Mid shot (MS):
Mid shots are of the main feature and have little or no background.

Long shot (LS):
Long shots will normally be of the object that the photo is focusing on and some of the background.

Extreme long shot (ELS):
Looking at something that is very far away.


Lens choice

Telephoto:
Telephoto shots are used by people like the paparazzi. It captures someone when they don’t know it and it is normally from quite far away.

Macro:
Close up shots.

Wide angle:
Wide angle gets something in whole, for example a car.



Shutter speed

Fast shutter speed:
Fast means that the shutter from the camera closes instantly. It should be used for an event that needs a quick reaction like sports.

Slow shutter speed:
Slow means that the shutter takes more time to close. This type of shutter speed could be used on things like motorways where the reaction time does not have to be so precise.


Depth of field

Deep:
Everything is I focus – When you want to see all of something.

Selective:
Only focuses on one aspect – When you want to focus on something pacific.

Soft:
Slightly blurred – To glamorise someone E.g. to get rid of wrinkles. It can also be used as a method of making someone focus on one thing.


Lighting and exposure

Realistic lighting:
When actors and set are lit so naturally that the audience does not notice the technology being used.

Expressive lighting:
When the audience uses light to set a mood or tone for a scene.

High key:
Often a sense of strength and power.

Low key:
Dark overall with few areas of highlights.

High contrast:
Often survey a sense of strength and power.

Low contrast:
Often survey a sense of gentleness.
Juxtaposition:
Placing images or scenes together to try and create a third meaning.