Page 3 Visual Elements

Visual communication, like written communication, has specific practices and conventions. Understanding these conventions will improve communication skills.

All images contain

  • a subject
  • space (various shots and angles)
  • line
  • shape and composition
  • lighting (value)
  • colour



Fig. 9 
The subject of an image can be a

  • person
  • place
  • thing
  • animal
In Figure 9, the subject is family.



Fig. 10
In Figure 10, the subject is the empty chair, which suggests "awaiting peace and tranquility."




Fig. 11 
Focus draws the viewer's eye to the key part of the image, so the viewer knows whether the subject is a person, place, or thing.

In Figure 11, the key image appears to be the stadium light or the arm that draws the eye through the field.



Fig. 12 
In Figure 12, the cycling girl is in focus, while the boy in the background is blurred.


  Please contact your teacher if you have questions.