A precise organisation of forms: Exploring the aesthetics of photography

4P Room, Psychology Building 2, via Venezia 8, Padova

24.10.2019

Very few empirical studies of aesthetics use Fechner’s Method of Production, where participants actually create aesthetic objects, mostly because of practical difficulties.
Photography provides a solution to that problem, most people taking photos, recognising that some are better than others, and often having views on composition. This talk will describe a number of studies on photography, particularlyconsidering the process of ‘cropping’ – choosing how to frame a part of the visual world to produce the best result. Participants find cropping a natural and interesting process, and, unusually, professionals are also happy to take part in studies.