still image analysis focusing on a shot from the shining and a shot from you've got mail

1. STILL IMAGE
ANALYSIS
By Leanne Davidson

2. In this image it is clear
to see that the
character is the villain
or the ‘baddie’ several
clues of this picture
can lead to this, it may
just look like an angry
face now but i will talk
you through some of
the features i have
recognised.
The camera shot is a close up on the
characters face which makes the shot
very intimidating being able to see every
detail in this shot. This shot type could be
a prime reason why the audience would
see the character as an aggressive type.
The characters appearance has a
big influence on the audiences
opinion too such as his un-groomed
beard, this could show that the
character doesn’t look after himself
or he hasn’t had the opportunity to.
The wrinkles in his face could show
that he is an aging man or that he is
very stressed. Also the bags under
his eyes could show that he hasn’t
slept well. His sweaty hair could
also show that he is warm, this
could mean a number of things such
as he could be running away from
someone or he could be running
after someone. His eyes show that
he is looking at someone, this could
possibly be the same person he
could be running from/after. By his
mouth expression his dirty teeth
make it clear he doesn’t look after
himself however the actual
expression shows that he is angry
however it could be argued that this
is an aggressive but pleasurable
mouth expression since there is a
sense of delight in his face this
could show that this man is a
psychopath.
The shot contains two main
features – the characters
face and the wood either
side of his face – this is
where the enigma in the
shot is created – where is
this character ‘peeping’
from? It could be a wooden
door or an old window, it is
very hard to tell but it is
clear that is is old and used
due to some of the wood
being broken and causing a
shadow, more enigma could
come from ‘what is this
character looking at?’ his
eyes are diverted from the
camera and so this could
show that the character is
The lighting in pictures such as the one above is important for example in this shot
we can see that the wooden frame is fairly bright and it darkens towards his face –
showing negativity by forming dark shadows in some parts of his face and
especially under his chin, the area that you can see just above his head is also
fairly well lit – this could show that this character has bought darkness or negativity
to the area that he is in.

3. In this shot from
you’ve got mail it is
clear that these two
characters have
created a romance
genre film however
there is some
tension in the scene
and there is much
more to the scene
than you would have
originally expected.
The camera shot is a cross between a mid
shot since it you can see half the personal
and quite a lot of background however is also
a two shot since it contains two characters.
The shot looks asif it is set in a library due to
the bookshelf behind them and the fact that
there are two characters – male and a female
suggest that this is a romance genre based
film.
The two characters look as if they
are looking deeply into each
others eyes, they are both wearing
black, this could suggest that they
are working and black is their
uniform or they have just visited a
funeral, black could resemble a
number of things such as
sadness, darkness or some form
of tension. Both characters look
very neat and tidy, this shows that
they maintain themselves very
well and this could also show that
they are middle class – i think this
because they are in the
surroundings of what looks like a
public library with fairly standard
clothes and they both look clean.
They look as if they are talking to
each other and listening to each
other too. There is a small amount
of confusion of the male
characters face this could show
that the female is saying
something that he doesn’t agree
with.
The enigma of this shot is
primarily shown in what
she plans to use the knife
for or what they are
talking about that the male
character should be
concerned about, also
where they are and what
will become of these two
characters.
The few props that are used in this scene is a knife and a plate. The
woman is holding a knife and it is raised slightly in her hand which
contrasts the whole romantic shot, as if she is pointing the knife at
the other character however this could be un-intentional as if it is
just a hand gesture and she happens to be holding the knife
because the male is holding a plate domesticating the situation, the
fact the surrounding contains a lot of books influences that the
characters are fairly clever and intellectual.
The lighting in this scene is interesting
since the main source of light comes from
behind the female character – the lamp,
this enhances her shape and makes her
look innocent where as the male looks
fairly shadowed compared which shows
that the female is more innocent in this
shot.