Visual techniques are literary devices used by artists, filmmakers and photographers to convey meaning, create impact and engage viewers in visual texts. These techniques can manipulate elements such as colour, composition, light, and perspective to highlight specific aspects of the visual work.

Visual Techniques

Techniques	Definition	Examples
Angles	Angles of an image refer to the ‘direction’ of an image based on the angles or lines within it. Horizontal lines create a sense of calm, while verticals a sense of structure. Additionally diagonals convey a mood of unease or being off balance.	In cinema, Dutch angles are often used to create a feeling of disorientation or tension.
Allusions	A reference in a visual medium to a well-known piece of art, literature, history, or culture, often to enrich meaning or elicit an emotional response from the viewer.	A modern film depicting a character crossing a small bridge while pondering a significant decision, alluding to the famous "A Bridge Too Far."
Close-up shot	A camera shot that tightly frames a person or object, highlighting details, emotions, or important elements, and creating a sense of intimacy or intensity. This technique also imposes a sense of importance of anything in the close-up frame.	Close-ups of a character's hands trembling during a tense scene in a thriller film.
Vectors	Lines or paths that guide the viewer's eye through a composition, indicating direction and movement to an important feature of the image. These can be literal or implied.	In a road advertisement, the road lines lead the eye towards a car at the horizon.
Text	Written words included in a visual context to provide additional information, narrative, or dialogue, complementing the visual elements.	Speech bubbles displaying what a character is saying in an image.
Mid shot	A camera shot framing a subject from a middle distance, balancing context and detail, often used in dialogue scenes.	A mid shot in a TV show during a conversation at a dinner table.
Salience	The quality by which an element stands out visually within a composition, often achieved through contrast, colour, size, or placement. Generally, the more salient the feature is, the more important it is to the concept of the image.	In a magazine advertisement, a brightly coloured product against a muted background to draw attention.
Law of thirds	A principle in photography and film where the frame is divided into a three-by-three grid, placing the subject along these lines or their intersections. This is a measure of the general importance of the image, with the top third being the most important and the bottom third being the least.	A landscape photo where the horizon is placed on the lower third line, emphasising the sky.
Lighting	The use of light within visual media to enhance mood, focus attention, and create depth or atmosphere. Types of lighting include natural, artificial, high-key, or low-key.	A horror movie scene using low-key lighting to create shadows and suspense.
Symbolism	The use of symbols in visual media to represent deeper meanings or concepts, conveying complex messages through visual metaphors.	An eagle in a film representing freedom; a shattered mirror in a painting symbolising lost identity or fragmentation.