Triangulation

“Ways Of Seeing” by John Berger

“Ways of Seeing” is a book that discusses the ways we truly see, combining photographs and text to depict this. Seeing is different to everyone. We all make different conclusions and have different attitudes in the way we may observe something.

One statement Berger makes is that seeing is not the same as knowledge. He uses the example that a child can see a car move but does not understand how it moves. Therefore we may be able to see something and even recognize it but then not understand it, making you’re perception different to another person that may witness the same object. Another factor that can change someone’s perception is past experiences, objects may mean more to others because of involvement or past practice.

As well as this, photographers and their work, including advertising, are also described to have a massive impact on the depiction of certain objects, places, people etc.  Berger argues that the photographer selects one shot out of many images and is therefore choosing what we see and completely controls the meaning behind the image.  This means that the shot will be swaying to one particular persons view point and viewers can be persuaded by this. A photograph is also an instant, “a mechanical eye” that shows you the world the way it sees it.

In conclusion “Ways of seeing” is a very detailed text on John Berger’s  view of how we see, what effects our visions and understandings and proves how everything is interpreted through your own mind. Everyone has different opinions and there are many factors on how we perceive something.