Composition: Gestalt Principle - Proximity

[janepettigrew]

Hi guys,
I'm doing an assignment for Uni on the 4 Gestalt principles (Proximity, Similarity, Closure, Continuity).

I've happily taken my one billion shots and proximity seemed to be the hardest. I have narrowed it down to two, and I'd like some opinion on the two shots - specifically on which one you think best portrays proximity in the composition.

Just a reminder - Proximity is defined as when visual elements that are in close proximity tend to be grouped together and seen as figure (as opposed to ground).

Image 1 - park bench and bin.
Image 2 - palm trees.
And a third I took as a 'just in case', although it's a bit of a stretch to fit it into my theme of 'parklife'. Any thoughts on that and proximity?
(sorry, would have just put the three up, but rules are rules)

I'm inclined to go with the park bench - the palm trees seems a bit - meh, but does it illustrate the point as one item of figure?

I look forward to what the rest of you think. (And sorry, this is my first uni assignment, so a little apprehensive about the entire thing, you know?)

Cheers
Jane

[mfreg]

I feel the park bench best fits the definition you gave. Not knowing of things like this, I'm a bit hesitant to give an opinion, but after reading your definition, I would think the park bench is the best example. It's also a very fine photo.......The detail in your third photo is awesome BTW, I just don't think it fits your description.

regards
mike

[wulf]

I'm not sure I really understand what proximity is (is this a psychology course you are taking?). I think the bench shot is probably a better choice. What about that bench in the background though? It seems too distinct to count as part of a proximity effect but visually so close to the near bench and bin that it is distracting.

Wulf

[janepettigrew]

Originally Posted by wulf

I'm not sure I really understand what proximity is (is this a psychology course you are taking?). I think the bench shot is probably a better choice. What about that bench in the background though? It seems too distinct to count as part of a proximity effect but visually so close to the near bench and bin that it is distracting.

Wulf

Hi Wulf,

It's actually a photography course, and they talk about the principles of figure/ground in composition, and the concepts of visual organisation. They are proximity, closure, continuity and similarity. I hadn't ever thought about them in composition before, although now I get to understand it more, I like to think I'm taking better composed shots.

I think I'm going to go back to the park tomorrow and see if I can't get the bench and bin from an angle without the other bench - I've been mulling it over now for a couple of days. But alas, rain has been my great enemy.

Thanks for your thoughts.
Jane

[janepettigrew]

Originally Posted by mfreg

I feel the park bench best fits the definition you gave. Not knowing of things like this, I'm a bit hesitant to give an opinion, but after reading your definition, I would think the park bench is the best example. It's also a very fine photo.......The detail in your third photo is awesome BTW, I just don't think it fits your description.

regards
mike

Thanks Mike for the feedback. I'm going to go with the park bench, I was going that way but got myself overthinking it. And thanks! It was a spur of the moment to take off the shoes and put the feet through the grass!

Cheers
Jane

[wulf]

It might be worth looking for silhouettes as an option for proximity; by draining away the colours, the differentiation between objects is blurred and they are more easily interpreted as a single object rather than as a group of distinct items.

Wulf