{"id":72204,"date":"2017-12-06T08:42:23","date_gmt":"2017-12-06T16:42:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=72204"},"modified":"2017-12-06T08:43:15","modified_gmt":"2017-12-06T16:43:15","slug":"gestalt-theory-for-photographers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/06\/gestalt-theory-for-photographers\/","title":{"rendered":"Gestalt Theory For Photographers"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m currently teaching myself Gestalt Theory, a principle mostly applied to designers. Here are some ideas which can make you see the visual world from a design standpoint:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. Figure to ground<\/h2>\n
\"Figure
Figure to ground: separation between opposing colors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In gestalt theory, you need a separation between opposing colors or brightness.<\/p>\n

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For example, white vs black, and black vs white.<\/p>\n

\"Gestalt
Gestalt theory: Do you see a face or a vase?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The secret: create SEPARATION between the colors, avoid overlap.<\/p>\n

2. Proximity<\/h2>\n
\"Proximity:
Proximity: gestalt theory. Red objects seem to be the same group, and blue objects are the same group too.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\n When you place objects next to one another, the eye perceives them as part of a group.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To make better photographs, group certain subjects you want together, by placing them together.<\/p>\n

\"Kurosawa
Kurosawa Rashomon still.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Kurosawa
Kurosawa Rashomon still. Note how the blue and the white subjects are a group, because they are next to one another. Distant in another group, is the man in yellow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Abstracted.
Abstracted. Kurosawa Rashomon still. Note how the blue and the white subjects are a group, because they are next to one another. Distant in another group, is the man in yellow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Continuance<\/h2>\n
\"Continuance
Continuance in photo gestalt theory: our eyes want to see things completed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This applies to leading lines<\/a>, because our eyes want to see the forms and shapes continue through the frame.<\/p>\n

For example, in this picture, your eyes want to see CONTINUANCE of the woman in umbrella, to complete her walking movement, to the right of the frame:<\/p>\n

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4. Closure<\/h2>\n
\"Closure:
Closure: gestalt theory, our eyes see a triangle even though there really isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t one.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To apply closure to photography: make sure not to crop out any edges of an object at the edge of a frame.<\/p>\n

For example, if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re photographing a triangle, make sure the edge of the triangle doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get chopped off.<\/p>\n

\"Bad
Bad closure: not enough black space around white triangle on the right of the frame. Gestalt theory.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Good
Good closure: Black space around white triangle. Gestalt theory.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

Or for closure, if there isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t any shapes or forms to fill in the blank spaces in your pictures, your brain will automatically try to fill in the negative spaces.<\/p>\n

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Practical Assignments to apply to your photography<\/h2>\n

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I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m still working through these ideas on Gestalt Theory, but the basic principles to apply:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Create clear separation between your subjects and the background <\/li>\n
  2. Movement and negative space is essential in photos <\/li>\n
  3. Avoid overlapping figures <\/li>\n
  4. Keep it simple: shoot black and white, to better see the relationship between figure to ground<\/a> in your pictures <\/li>\n
  5. Use Procreate and iPad to visually analyze your own pictures<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    COMPOSITION 101<\/a><\/h1>\n

    \"ERIC<\/p>\n

    Dynamic Photography Composition 101<\/h2>\n
    \"Leading
    Leading lines. ERIC KIM DYNAMIC COMPOSITION<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n