We will be analysing the images from the

complex picture book The Rabbits. The

allegorical story has hidden meanings on
every page that are there for us to
uncover.

We will be working together initially, then I

will be asking you to independently
looking forward to what meaning you get
from the images.
The subject of colonisation has itself
also fascinated me for some time, not
simply as a political issue, but as an
event of utter aesthetic strangeness
where two very different worlds
collided. – Shaun Tan
• Everything inside
the frame is
important to the
whole image

• However, the
placement of an
object within a
frame influences
what is
communicated
(what story is being
told to the viewer)
• A large image
identifies that it is
important or
dominant

• A small image
denotes reduced
impact or lack of
importance
An object placed
front and centre
(foreground) is
the central focus
and this indicates
prominence and
importance
What is large?

What is small?
Task:
Write an image
analysis based on
this photo.
Can you think of an image
that is similar to this.
Every image is
framed; it has a
border of some kind
In a picture book,
the frame may be
the edge of the
page

In a newspaper, it
may be the edge of
a photo

Anything within a
frame is important to
an overall image
RED: warmth,
urgency, passion,
heat, blood,
excitement,
danger, hostility.
BLACK: death,
rebellion, strength,
evil, power, formality,
strength,
determination
WHITE: purity,
cleanliness

PINK : beauty,
softness, health
Take note of the two sides
of the page. Why is the side
of the numbats
(Aboriginals) white? What
could this indicate?

The side of the rabbits

(British) seems to become
darker. What does this
suggest? What darkness
are they bringing with
them?
BLUE : peace,
tranquillity, truth,
dignity, power,
melancholy,
coolness,
heaviness,
therapeutic The soil is shown to be nearly
white suggesting the purity of
the land before the British

This page with a lot of blue can suggest that the land was peaceful and tranquil before the rabbits (British) took over
• BRIGHT COLOURS: convey an air of excitement

• SOFT COLOURS: convey an air of peace and tranquillity

• The angle a reader
looks at an image
from indicates
power

• Low angle - when

the reader looks up
at the subject;
makes the subject
look more
important,
imposing and
powerful
Low angle - when the reader looks up at the subject; makes the subject look more
important, imposing and powerful
• High angle - when the reader looks
down on the subject; the subject is
made less important, diminished,
powerless, intimidated
High angle - when the reader looks down on the subject; the subject is
made less important, diminished, powerless, intimidated