The Limits of Human Vision

Charles S Johnson, Jr. says in his book, Science for the Curious Photographer, that “Photography is a human activity that depends on the entirely on the capabilities and limitations of the human visual system.” We as humans tend to judge the apparent resolution, contrast levels, whether it is over exposed or under exposed, the quality of the color in a photograph, but these parts that we judge are subjective because everything depends on our level of vision and perception. If someone with really bad vision views the same amazing photograph that a person with amazing vision sees, they will have two different perspectives on it because while one of them sees it as a blurry picture, one of them sees it as an amazingly clear picture. As such, a photograph does need to be good for it to be seen by many people, but it’s quality does depend on what people are viewing it. If you are only showing it in an elderly home, then it doesn’t necessarily have to be as perfect as possible. However, anywhere else, it should be as perfect as you can possibly make it.