Just a quick visual test.
which one do you see first?
Most people see the solid yellow, some people say they see the yellow with the red spot.
The point here is that your eye goes to what is different, or the highest contrast point in the image.
Here are two examples to Illustrate the point.
We used to think that your eye went to white first.
Which block do you see first?
Which block do you see first?
That thinking can be changed by the following test.
Which block do you see first now?
Now which spot do you see first
You will realize that your eye does not go to the lightest point,
but to the the point of the highest contrast.
The visual effects of this when composing and viewing a photograph can be enhancing, or
distracting to the visual message of any image.
Try the following illustration as a basic example.
Size also plays an important part
you first see the dark bird because of size.
However, you eye will still be drawn to the White bird due to contrast with the background,which is green,
but the background is medium gray in tonality comparison.
Looking at it in Black and White you will see that the background is medium gray.
Contrast still draws the eye to that location
Contrast still draws the eye to that location
And the lighter bird draws the eye.
Be aware of the contrast points in you image when composing, or lighting your image.
viewing images upside down helps see tonal balance
Try viewing your image upside down to force your Right Brain to see
the spacial balance and contrast.
viewing images upside down helps you see tonal balance
Until next time,
BD Roberts, M.Photog, CPP
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