Gestalt theory of visual perception

Gestalt means a ‘unified whole’. Humans have a tendency when first looking at things to see them as a whole rather than some of its parts. These are the laws of visual perception-

Closure: This Law states that when we look at complex visual arrangements, we tend to look for a single, recognizable pattern.

Similarity: This law states when we look at similar to each other we often perceive them to be a pattern or a group.

Proximity: According to this law, we tend to associate objects in close proximity to each other appear more related than things further apart.

Continuity: It is the principle in which the eye moves along any path, curves or lines, seeing continuous figures rather than separate things.

Symmetry: According to this principle, elements that are symmetrical to each other are perceived as a unified group.

Figure and ground: This law of perception justifies the eye’s tendency to see and separate objects from their surrounding background.

For our FVD class, we were asked to click pictures of our surroundings where ever we can find these principles. I started by looking around the house wherever I could visualize them. Initially, it was a struggle to recognize which principle is visible where. Also tried to look at some reference over the internet. One thing I majorly observed was that there was a possibility of overlap between two of these laws.

The same object clicked with two different perspective continuation and figure and ground

Image one shows continuity while image two highlights figure and ground and both of them show closure as well.

Woke up to these lines on my hand resembling the law of similarity

The law highlighted here is continuity and closure

Here the law of similarity and proximity is visible

Both symmetry and proximity can be seen here

Figure and ground can be seen here

The Law of symmetry is visible here

After the first few, got the hang of at least some principles and consciously tried to look around for them. That weekend I went to a friend’s wedding in Shimla, I found many of these laws in plain sight. It sort of became a fun game to spot these. Continuity was easiest to spot

Law of Similarity and continuity can be seen

An animal head is visible in the clouds which highlight the law of closure

The continuity principle can be seen in both

The continuity principle can be seen here

This is actually a good example for one point perspective but it represents continuity as well

This appeared as figure and ground as well as proximity