Owens Lake Perception Compendium

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INTRODUCTION The perception studies here are based on the parameters outlined in Tadahiko Higuchi’s book, The Visual and Spatial Structure of Landscapes. In examining a landscape, foreground, middleground, and background are used as a standard for measuring landscape distances. This is based on the theory of space in traditional landscape painting and photography, where they function as an important compositional element in creating depth on a flat surface.

Trees Foreground

Higuchi used a tree as his measurable element, but since there aren’t any trees on Owens Lake, the studies that follow examine other elements, both natural and manmade. While the Higuchi analyses conducted in this studio are similar to Higuchi’s findings on trees, they vary in details and distances. Generally, in the foreground, elements are recognized as individual units from any point of observation and people are able to scale themselves in relation to the object. For example, on a tree, leaves, trunks, and branches are discernable as belonging to particular trees and people know the relative size of each object.

Trees Midground

Trees Background

In the midground, outlines of objects are visible but not the small details. Objects are sensed as groups and texture, rather than individual. Variations in the shape of terrain become important compostional elements. In the background, the eye can only observe major topographical features such as valleys or crests. With the influence of atmospheric perspective, texture is uniform and color is visible only as lighter or darker parts of an overall blur. The most visible aspect of long distance views is the outline of mountains against the sky.

Longitudinal Surfaces and Angles of Incidence

In addition to distances, landscapes can also be examined in a more abstract fashion. The appearance of the scene is equivalent to the total visual effect of the individual planes, which depends largely on the angle between the individual planes and line of vision. This is called the angle of incidence.

Height of Vantage Point and Area of Visibility

CONTENTS PERCEPTION OVERVIEW

PERCEPTION: EARTH

PERCEPTION: WATER

PERCEPTION: VEGETATION

PERCEPTION: INFRASTRUCTURE

VIEWSHED ANALYSIS

Higuchi Analysis Summary Distance Comparison

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12

13 Control Stations

14 Key Analysis Summary

Berms Textures Gravel BACM Tillage BACM

Reflections Salt Crusts BACM Pond Size Pond Edges

Color + Density Color Contrast Shadows Emotion


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Owens Lake Perception Compendium by Alexander Robinson - Issuu