general

This book gives a practical presentation of Gestalt psychology for photography and imaging. No background is assumed, no complex theory or jargon is introduced, everything is very educational and remains completely oriented toward practical imaging. The style is very enjoyable, the book is full of excellent illustrations and all the chapters end with exercises which are not only useful in a classroom context, but are also very inspiring for artists and photographers. This book is an excellent invitation to have a different point of view on imaging.

It covers the figure/ground differenciation, the white/dark balance, perceptual grouping, associations, the importance of contours and in particular apparent contours, illusions, various morphisms (anthropo, zoo, ana, etc.), some subliminal aspects, personality, critique, etc.

The bias towards a Gestalt explanation of all phenomena may sometimes be a bit too much, you just have to be aware of it and keep a critic mind.

This book follows the landmark work of Pr. Arnheim on the subject (Art and Visual Perception), but with a more practical purpose and in a style which is easier to read.

There are many different and useful ways to talk about images; aesthetically, historically, socially, technically, and so on. I have chosen the area of perception and psychology, and have selected those concepts that are highly relevant to photography-to image capture, creation, design, manipulation and editing. The concepts cross the various disciplines of imaging, from photography to graphic design, from camera to computer. Concepts such as synesthesia, pupillometrics, personal space, memory and association, archetypes, visual field dependency, color connotations, and subliminals are discussed. There is also a section on applied semiotics and an entire chapter on visual rhetoric.
When asked about the value of books, the author Eric Hoffer, remarked that any book that provides the reader with one new idea, has great value. I believe "Perception and Imaging" will do this and more. The book includes 125 photographs, 300 illustrations and 400 quotations that support the text.

I'll keep this review short and sweet. This book is an in-depth academic discussion of how humans see and perceive things. Although there were some interesting tid-bits throughout the book, I wanted to learn how to improve the composition of my photographs, and didn't find anything of use. This book is probably well-suited to a graduate-level psychology course, but for me it has little applicability to photography.