A visual text is any image—such as a photograph—designed to communicate meaning without words. Its composition, angle and context guide how audiences interpret events and issues.
The 1972 “Napalm Girl” photo reshaped global opinion on the Vietnam War.
Goal: Identify and objectively describe every visible element before analysing.
Record the photographer’s name and the work’s exact title.
List people, objects, colours, setting and actions using neutral, measurable language.
Mark any element that may connect to the chosen global issue—still purely descriptive.
Look first, analyse later—stay factual throughout Stage 1.
Assess how light, colour and framing guide the viewer’s eye and shape interpretation.
Items in the foreground demand focus; background context sets mood and supports meaning.
Balance, symmetry or rule-of-thirds steer the eye and signal subject importance.
High, low or eye-level angles suggest power, vulnerability or neutrality.
Shallow focus isolates subjects; deep focus preserves detail, cueing attention and hierarchy.
Use precise technical terms to show how each visual choice creates meaning.
Move beyond the frame—anchor the shot in its environment, the photographer’s history, and the era’s photographic trends.
Pause; feel first. Spot imagery sparking emotion. Unpack symbolism in each detail. Link both to storytelling to craft your interpretation.
Ask: How does the photograph make me feel, and why?
Drag each question to its stage to practise applying the four-stage framework.
Observe
Think
Contextualize
Wonder
Aim to classify each card correctly—this checks your ability to apply the four-stage analytical framework.
If only the main subject is sharp while foreground and background blur, the photo has …
Consider how “depth of field” affects focus areas.
Exactly—this selective focus is called a shallow depth of field.
Review depth-of-field: shallow D.O.F. means only the subject is sharp.
Observe facts – ask: “What do I actually see?”
Think technically – “How do design choices produce effect?”
Contextualize historically – “When, where, and for whom was it made?”
Wonder personally – “Why does it matter to me or my audience?”
Pick three real-world images; run them through the four questions; jot one sentence per stage and share tomorrow.
Thank You!
We hope you found this lesson informative and engaging.