WJEC AS Media studies, media language, technical codes, lighting and colour

1. To develop our understanding of technical codes
through analysis of still images

2. • Look at the following images and identify the
technical CODES you learned last lesson (e.g
shot size and angle)
• Consider the PURPOSE - why has it been
used?
• What is the EFFECT?
Task

7. Lighting
• Lighting helps to create mood and atmosphere.
• If there is very little light it can be quite scary
• Low key lighting – less light creates areas of dark and light
and lots of shadows.

8. • High key lighting – is bright lighting used to make
the scene look like it is natural light.

9. Lighting direction
• Top lighting –the light comes from above, can
make a star look more glamorous.

10. • Back lighting –light comes from behind and creates
silhouettes which hide a characters face

11. • Under lighting –light source comes from below,
can make a person look threatening.

12. Spotlight – light that highlights a specific area

13. Comparing Imagery
Why have
the
producers
created 2
different
covers?

14. Colour
• Advertisers deliberately use certain colours to
target the audience.
• Colours invoke feelings and emotions in the
reader.
• Would you buy a toothbrush that had
or bristles? Why not?
• What colour would you like? Why?

15. • Power
• Fire
• Passion
• Love
• Danger
• Communism
• Anger
• Blood/Violence

16. • Decay
• Death
• Mystery
• Authority
• Evil
• Night
• Sinister
• Strength
• Hard

17. • Innocence
• Purity
• Perfection
• Clouds
• Weddings
• Surrender
• Christenings
• Salvation
• Snow

18. • Colour filters –can be placed over lights reveal
something about the characters, setting or genre
(however, this is an editing technique).

19. • Can you identify any other CODES?
• What is the PURPOSE?
• Explain the EFFECT
Look back at the stills you have in front of you…