Why You Like This Photo: The science of perception, and how we understand photographs

by Brian Dilg

Photographic beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but it can also be measured and understood. Scientists and psychologists are discovering more and more about how the mind has developed over human history; and this new knowledge has a direct bearing on our understanding of aesthetics and beauty. Did you know that the landscape photos people most enjoy looking at are closely correlated with exactly the kind of fertile landscape that early humans sought out on their migrations?

This kind of information is fascinating, but if you're a photographer it's also very useful.

Featuring interviews with numerous great photographers combined with concepts from exciting areas of science and psychology, this accessible photographic guide is illustrated with infographics highlighting brain areas triggered by particular views, and a selection of sensational ne art photos. Why You Like This Photo holds the inspiring and practical keys to capturing the images that you, and everyone, will find appealing and fascinating.

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Science, Psychology

160 pages, Hardcover

Published November 6, 2018

Reviews

[Yulia Kryval · Rating 4 out of 5]

цікава книжка, яка стисло, але ґрунтовно поєднує в собі основи фотографії з її об'єктами і суб'єктами, доступно пояснюючи, як люди буквально бачать, помічають і обдумують те, що підкидає нам світ і око фотографа.

якшо ви вивчаєте фотографію, то сумніваюсь, шо знайдеться тут шось нечуване, але книжка буде цікава й тим, хто любить роздивлятись світ не тільки через об'єктив камери.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

The elements of good photography and how the human eye/brain perceives the world, all in this short book. Well done!

[Rebecca Berto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insights and thought-provoking ideals to help shape better photographs or better understand existing photos.

[Yuri Krupenin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Совсем просто, но с интересными примерами.
Дает примериться, что посмотреть дальше.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and informative

Photography is a hobby and a passion of mine. I’m always looking to improve with a goal of one day being able to make money from this hobby. I’ve read countless books in an effort to improve my skills, but the more I read, the more I wondered about the science behind how people enjoy photos. Brian’s book was exactly what I was looking for. Understanding how people approach images, what catches their eye, what elements can make for more intriguing photos. I wanted to understand why things make for good photos, not just a checklist of what to do.

[Ilias Nikolaidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book about cameras and lenses and photoshop. This is one to make you think of and appreciate that the best tool of a photographer is their eyes and how they view the world.
So put your camera down for a minute. Look around you, and see the world anew.
Now pick up your camera again and without worrying too much about apetture and ISO settings, go out there and capture the mundane and the usual through a new perspective.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at all the aspects of how our brains look at photographs--scale, color, motion, etc. etc. Short essays by "experts" in perception add to the explanations. Many photographs are included to illustrate the author's points. I can't say I learned a lot of new information, but the book made me realize that there is a lot more I should be thinking about I photograph.

[Ronnie Fairley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great quick read about photography: it's like taking Photography 1 class in high school. The book goes in-depth on the use of perception and why/how angles change what we see. I would recommend it to anyone.

[Bryan Hutcheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic and brilliantly illustrated

I’ve been photographing for many years but still learned a huge amount from Brian in this book. It’s such an easy read and the photographs are a pleasure to look at. Well laid out in a way that’s easy to understand the points.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some pages were eye opening, others were a hash of things I already knew. Decent enough book!

[Mike Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and readible with some good takeaways

[Zier · Rating 5 out of 5]

now this is what i call eye-opening O_O

[Romy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read for anyone who is interested in creating art through photography and sharpening their ability to see with a photographer's eye. In today's world where most people take at least one picture every day and smartphones with highly advanced cameras promote the illusion that everyone can be a photographer, this book shows what it actually means to capture meaning.

[Howard Frisk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read many books on photography, so I purchased this one to hopefully find out from more of a psychological perspective what makes a good photograph. I was not disappointed. This is an interesting and educational book. The author explores the psychological as well as the physiological processes that occur within us each time we experience a photograph. The author begins by unraveling the neurological processes that occur when we perceive an image, providing a solid foundation for understanding the subsequent discussions. He addresses the ways in which social validation and trends influence our preferences, shedding light on the complex interplay between individual taste and societal norms.

One of the book's highlights is its emphasis on the subjectivity of aesthetics. The author encourages readers to embrace diverse perspectives and appreciate the beauty in images that may not conform to conventional standards.

Whenever I purchase a book on photography, I often ask myself, "Will this book help me take better photographs?" For this book, the answer is "yes".