1. In Focus
Differences Between Photos and Real Life Perception
• Colours in a photo are not reproduced exactly, and are reduced to shades of gray
in black and white photos.
• The human eye can detect details in a high-contrast subject, but a photograph can
only reproduce a limited range of tones.
• When we look at something only a small central area is in focus at a time, but the
eye focuses quickly while scanning so we don’t notice this. A camera can only
focus on a single plane at one distance. The additional material that can be
brought into focus with depth of field is limited.
• The mind can filter out unwanted visual information, when viewing the original.
Unwanted information in a scene is faithfully reproduced in a photo and can be
distracting.
• Depth perception is lost in a two-dimensional image. The depiction of depth in a
photo relies on the relative size of objects, convergence of parallel lines and
atmospheric details.
We can control the final appearances of
photos by trying to visualize what the photo
will look like before we take it.