Gestalt Theory

Gestalt theory comes from German psychology of the 1920s — the study of how the human eye groups visual information. It is not a photography concept, but it is one of the most useful frameworks a photographer can borrow.

The core principle: the eye does not see a collection of independent elements. It sees relationships. It groups things automatically, before conscious thought kicks in. Understanding how it groups them lets you design frames that direct the viewer's eye intentionally.