Visual techniques in picture books When the wind

Visual techniques in picture books. ‘When the wind blows’ has been referenced in this presentation. No illustrations are shown in this power point however page numbers from the picture book have been mentioned.

The Question • Create a Power point presentation that provides the definition and examples of various visual techniques that specifically relate to picture books. In your presentation you should: - include at least 8 techniques (1 technique per slide) and use images/openings from your picture book to demonstrate how the techniques has been used. - include notes on your presentation that explain how each technique has been used to communicate the story and convey the idea of battle/conflict.

Intimate Distance • The characters are very close to each other OR • a character is very close to the responder. This suggests that the relationship is close. Example – Male character in female characters lap. Opening 12 – The couple are hiding in their bunker, a nuclear strike has hit. The story is situated in war time. The fact that they are in a bunker means they’re sheltering from conflict.

Illustration Angle • The direction from which the subject is drawn. • A technique used to change/improve the look of objects. • Angles are used to convey different information and feelings about a character. Example – Political leaders (Hitler, Stallin) standing – Opening three – The camera angle used is from a lower position than the subject. This makes the character appear authoritative and wield a position of power.

Lighting • Lighting is a techniques used to imply a mood/emotion. • Lighting and shadows inform the reader of the time of the day the shot was taken. • Example – The moment of the nuclear strike – Opening <><> - The page shines white from the bomb and slowly darkens. This informs the reader of how bright and hot the strike would have been. The shading of their bunker graduates throughout two pages and transfers from white to dark. The author has devoted 4 out of 38 pages to the nuclear strike with only one word said. This shows the intensity of the explosion.

Vectors • Imaginary lines extending from lines created in an image that draw the readers eye to a particular part of the page. • Example – Elderly couple standing – Front page – Vectors draw the readers eyes to the center of the page where the (in colour) couple is standing. Once focusing on them, your eyes then look elsewhere on the page and notice the two armies drawn in mono facing each other which are ready for battle.

Salience • The largest or most dominant part of the image. This is the object or subject you look at first. • A missile ready for launch on a plain in another country – Opening two – The picture spreads across two pages, your eyes first look at the missile and then notice the plain around it.

Symbolism • An image or object that is used to represent something else. For example, the crucifix is used to represent Christianity and the white dove represents love and purity. • The Russian hammer and sickle on one side which symbolises communism and the Nazi Swastika on the other which symbolises fascism. The Russian and Nazi leaders were very powerful during and after the war.

Colour • Illustrators will use colours to indicate different meanings and emotions. It is also important to note that illustrators will often use colours that stand out in order to attract the attention of the reader. • In early pages of the book the colours used in the cartoons are bright blues, greens, reds and yellows but after the air strike a duller mood is set by a colour change. Darker colours such as purples, greens and greys with a brown wash portray feelings of despair and loneliness.

Juxtaposition • Juxtaposition is the act of placing two illustrations together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast. • Opening one contains multiple cartoons of small characters living their old-fashioned, simple life. The next opening is a double page spread drawing of a large, lone missile on a vast plain. The size of the characters in the first opening is juxtaposed with the enormous missile in the next opening • Opening three starts with cartoons of the small man and suddenly very large portraits of political leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini fill the page. The juxtaposition is the small man in comparison to the large portraits.