The Manipulation of Perception: Barbara Probst's Exposure #106

Abstract

My thesis analyzes a series of photographs entitled Exposure #106, by contemporary photographer Barbara Probst, through the lens of understanding visualized information. In the viewers’ attempt to discern the information within Probst’ photographs, they begin to “map” the space visually. I demonstrate, however, that the viewers come to find their attempts to map the space ineffective due to Probst’s use of camera angles, color, and the grid installation. Instead, viewers must find an alternative to grasp the space. Thus, I evaluate Exposure #106 by employing urbanist Kevin Lynch’s concept of cognitive mapping, or our ability to orient ourselves in the external world by mentally locating and organizing our surroundings.  I argue Probst’s Exposure #106 may only fully be accessible to viewers via this method of cognitive mapping, in that it allows them to create their own cognitive map utilizing the content of Probst’s photographs as landmarks and boundaries in order to navigate visually the seemingly unmappable space of Probst’s fictitious world.