Abstract
In this paper I contrast the geometric structure of phenomenal visual space with that of photographic images. I argue that topologically both are two-dimensional and that both involve central projections of scenes being depicted. However, I also argue that the metric structures of the spaces differ inasmuch as two types of “apparent distortions”—marginal distortion in wide-angle photography and close-up distortions—which occur in photography do not occur in the corresponding visual experiences. In particular, I argue that the absence of marginal distortions in vision is evidence for a holistic metric of visual space that is spherical, and that the absence of close-up distortions shows that the local metric structure possesses a dynamic variable curvature which is dependent upon the distance away of objects being viewed at a given time.
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French, R. Apparent Distortions in Photography and the Geometry of Visual Space. Topoi 35, 523–529 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11245-015-9316-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11245-015-9316-5