Photographer Peter Range mentioned at the end of the three sessions I delivered at the Royal Photographic Society Travel weekend that he felt he could see for the first time. What did he mean by that?

One of my favourite books is about Art and Visual Perception by Rudolf Arnheim, and I was reminded of it whilst talking to the attendees towards the end of the two workshops and lectures I delivered at the RPS Travel Group weekend in Bristol, they refered to as ‘A Sense of Place – Some Different Perspectives’. One of the attendees was Peter range, who attended both my workshops and the lecture and he said he felt he could see for the first time afterwards. What did he mean by that?
This short article, which I will build on over the next few months inspired by Peter’s comment, and discusses ‘Visual Perception’, more commonly known as ‘The Art of Seeing’.

The art of seeing, also known as visual perception, is the process by which we interpret and make sense of the visual information around us. It involves not only the physical act of looking but also the mental processes that occur in our brain to interpret and understand what we see. Seeing is not a passive activity but an active and complex process that involves various factors such as attention, memory, and cognitive processing. When we train ourselves to see, we see more than the obvious, we see with our subconscious, we see more than the leaves, we see the veins on the leaves and the insects that walk alongside us.
One of the key figures who extensively studied the art of seeing is Rudolf Arnheim, a prominent perceptual psychologist and art theorist. In his book “Art and Visual Perception,” Arnheim explores the psychological principles that underlie the visual perception of art and how artists can effectively use these principles to create compelling visual experiences. He emphasises the importance of understanding how we perceive and interpret visual stimuli to create meaningful and impactful artwork.
Another influential figure in the study of visual perception is Betty Edwards, an art educator and author of the book “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.” Edwards emphasises the importance of shifting from a left-brain, analytical mode of thinking to a right-brain, intuitive mode for enhancing artistic perception. She provides various exercises and techniques to help artists tap into their visual perception abilities and see the world in a new and creative way.

The art of seeing also extends beyond the realm of fine art and encompasses disciplines such as photography. Renowned photographer Ansel Adams, known for his stunning landscapes, emphasised the significance of “previsualization.” This concept involves envisioning the final photograph in the mind’s eye before taking the shot. Adams believed that the ability to see the potential in a scene and imagine the final result is crucial for capturing powerful and evocative images.

It is really important to think, talk and write about ‘art’, but I really agree with Arnheim’s inttorduction, that sometimes we talk so much we can often forget to take the photographs
References to further explore the art of seeing:
- Arnheim, R. (2004). Art and Visual Perception: A Psychology of the Creative Eye. University of California Press.
- Edwards, B. (2012). Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. Penguin Books.
- Adams, A., & Alinder, M. (1995). The Negative: Exposure and Development. Little, Brown, and Company.
- Berger, J. (1972). Ways of Seeing. Penguin Books.
These references provide valuable insights into the art of seeing and can deepen your understanding of visual perception and its applications in various artistic disciplines.
I am interested in your thoughts on all of this, and welcome comments. Over the next few weeks and months I will be unpacking the above, and look forward to seeing where it takes me. The next articles will including considering the two workshops in Bristol, and the impact on both myself and the attendees
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