Atmospheric perspective is a technique used by artists to depict distance. Objects that are closer appear larger and have brighter, more vivid colors, while objects farther away appear smaller, paler, and may even appear blurry. Several examples are provided of photographs and paintings demonstrating these effects, such as mountains becoming paler in color with increasing distance and the sun appearing smaller than a person due to its vast distance from Earth.

1. Atmospheric Perspective

2. Ever Notice. . . Objects up close look bigger? Objects far away look smaller ? Objects up close have brighter colors? Objects far away have paler colors? If so, then you know about atmospheric perspective .

3. Atmospheric Perspective Artists use atmospheric perspective to show distance. Things that are up close are bigger and brighter Things that are far away are smaller and paler and even blurry! . . . Let’s look at some examples!

4. Pretend this is a picture of mountains. Do you see how the mountains get paler as they get farther away from you?

5. Look at this photograph. Does it show atmospheric perspective ?

6. Now look at this painting of mountains. Do the mountains in this picture show atmospheric perspective ? How can you tell?

7. Objects also get smaller as they get further away from you. Does this photograph show atmospheric perspective ?

8. Look at this photograph. Is that person really holding the sun? Of course not. The sun looks smaller than the person because it is so far away! What else in this picture is far away and looks smaller than the person?

9. Look at the following slides and decide if they show atmospheric perspective Remember atmospheric perspective shows: Things in the distance are smaller and paler Things in the foreground/nearest are brighter and larger