Good composition is essential to creating superior photographs.  Many rules for composition we already seem to know, though if we were asked to say what they were, we may have a hard time articulating them.  This is where the principles of Gestalt can provide some insights.

 

In 1910, a German psychologist had an insight when he observed a series of lights flashing on and off at a railroad crossing. It was similar to how the lights encircling a movie theater marquee flash on and off.  To the observer, it appeared as if a single light moves around the marquee, traveling from bulb to bulb, when in reality it’s a series of bulbs turning on and off and the lights don’t move it all. 

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This insight led to a group of psychologists to study how we look at the world, and what rules our brain follows in perceiving the world; the “rules” of visual perception are ones we intuitively use each time we snap a picture.  Gestalt Theory relies primarily on the idea people observe the world “holistically,” that is, we make sense of what we see by automatically reducing the image to simple figures or relationships among the elements.  A set of rules were developed by these psychologists to explain how the brain does this.  These are the rules we can learn to create better compositions for our photographs.  

 

For more detailed information on Gestalt Principles in photography go to:

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http://www.adorama.com/alc/0013706/article/6-Principles-of-Gestalt-Psychology-That-Can-Improve-Your-Photography

 

In this presentation, Jim will go through these simple rules and show how they are used in photographs, many of which are from photographs of master photographers.  You may not become one of these “master photographers” after learning about Gestalt theory, but you should edge a little closer.

 

Jim’s accomplishments include some noteworthy recognition:

 

2015 -- Crocker Art Auction

 

2009 through 2014 -- California State Fair Fine Art (including an Award of Excellence in 2011)  

 

2005 through 2014 (except 2009) -- KVIE Art Auction (Juror's award in 2013)

 

2014 -- Show in the main gallery at Viewpoint

 

2013 & 2011 -- Blue Line/Roseville Arts (Black and White show and Lottery for the Arts (one of the top three)) in 2013, and Photography Show in 2011 (including Award of Merit

 

2011 -- Color Magazine, Single Image Contest

 

2010 -- Show in Step-Up Gallery at Viewpoint

 

2010 -- Coastal Arts League

 

2009 through 2011 -- Viewpoint's Twelve show

 

2008 through 2012 -- Sacramento Fine Arts Center's Magnum Opus, (including an Award of Merit in 2008)

 

Jim has given presentations on photography topics, written photography articles for the Viewpoint newsletter, and jurored club photography competitions as well as co-jurored the Sacramento County Fair photography competition.

 

Jim’s photos can also be viewed on his website:   

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http://www.jimkleinphotography.net