VISUAL COMMUNICATION STUDIES

I often notice how quickly my mood changes when I look at something. A color, a shadow, the speed of a video. Without realising it, my body responds first, before my thoughts do (I can’t control my facial expressions :) ). That is why imagery, colour, and pacing is so important to me in this documentary. They quietly shape your emotions, making it more memorable.

Media psychology shows that visual elements communicate feeling faster than words. Softer colors, natural lighting, and slower pacing are associated with calmer emotional responses, while fast cuts and high contrast visuals increase arousal and tension (Elliot & Maier, 2014). This makes me more aware of every visual choice. Not only what I show, but also how long I allow the viewer to stay with an image.

Pacing especially feels meaningful in a time when everything moves quickly. Research suggests that slower media rhythms give the audience more space to process emotions and feel present, instead of being pushed from one moment to the next (van Laer et al., 2019). By letting shots breathe and resisting the urge to rush, the emotion can unfold naturally, rather than being forced.

For me, colour, imagery, and pacing are not aesthetic details, but emotional tools. They help guide how a moment is felt rather than how it is understood. In a world full of visual noise, choosing calm visuals and a slower rhythm becomes my intentional way of creating connection.

Citations

• Elliot, A. J., & Maier, M. A. (2014). Color psychology: Effects of perceiving color on psychological functioning in humans. Annual Review of Psychology, 65, 95–120. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115035

• van Laer, T., Feiereisen, S., Visconti, L. M., & Wetzels, M. (2019). Storytelling in the digital era: A meta-analysis of relevant moderators of the narrative transportation effect. Journal of Business Research, 96, 135–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.10.053