I wholeheartedly think true beauty exists in contrast. Without light we’re unable to appreciate darkness? Without weight, something delicate would be more difficult appreciate. Without hunger, how do understand being satisfied?
Without sorrow how do we truly understand joy?
Without contrast our world would be quite dull. Imagine really trying to understand (or explain) cold without warmth, smooth without rough, delicious without disgusting or loss without discovery. It really can’t be done.
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”
―John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America
Social scientists (Sherif, Taub and Hovland 1958) studied how much we need contrast all the time to make decisions in or lives. It’s so much a part of our everyday decision making we don’t really have to ever think about it. Once I read more I became quite aware of how much contrast is used in retail shopping.
Here’s a link that explains Perceptual Contrast Effect further.
http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/perceptual_contrast.htm
con·trast noun
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the state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or close association.“the day began cold and blustery, in contrast to almost two weeks of uninterrupted sunshine”
These images were shot in Lexington, Kentucky last week at PBS Artist Open Studio during an ecodyeing workshop with Elizabeth Bunsen. While I was treating my photos I noticed that there was a lot of magnificent contrast. How could there not be when we’re working with rust, leaves and indigo?
Here’s the link to find out about future workshops.
http://www.pbsartist.com/pbsartistopenstudio/