Perspective and Perception

Perspective

Dictionary Definition

"the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship"

"a mental view or prospect"

Perspective is the way objects appear based on their dimensions or spatial aspects. There are two primary meanings to it: linear perspective or aerial perspective.

Linear Perspective

This is used in graphics arts to show roughly how something 3D would appear on a flat surface, such as paper, as it would look to the human eye. The two main are features in linear perspective are objects further away appearing smaller and foreshortening shows on the objects - thisis where the objects appears closer in the representation than it actually is.

 

Here you can see the train track fade into the distance, labelling exactly where the track vanishes along the horizon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aerial Perspective

This is the effect the atmosphere has on an object that is a distance away. The further away an object is the less contrast there is between it and the background. As well, the details on the object become less apparent, such as the colours becoming less saturated and blending into the background

 You can see aerial perspetive here as the mountains further away become more and more blue, blending into the blue sky, when we can see that their are actually many colours which we see on the closest mountain face.

 Perception

Dictionary Definition

"the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses."

"the way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted." 

Perception is the way we organize, interpret and identify sensory information so that we can understand the world around us.

The way each person percieves the world around them is different to the next, therefore leading to ambiguity.

The Necker Cube 

Here is an example of perception taking place, this cube has no debth cues therefore leaving it to the viewer to decide with face is closer and in which direction it is facing.

Optical illusions like this prove the subjectivity of perception, but also how easy it is to change it.

Rubin Vase

Created by Danish pyschologist Edgar Rubin, the vase can be interpreted in two ways either the vase or two faces.

 In both images you can see the two different angles, however it is easier to see the vase in the image with detail and easier to see the faces in the contrasting tones of the other.