Light and Color in Nature and Art

An introduction to the science of light and color and its applications to photography, art, natural phenomena, and other related areas. Explains the origin of phenomena commonly encountered in nature and art, emphasizing the physical aspects but also touching on aspects of physiology and psychology that directly influence how visual images are perceived. Covers the effect of mixing color, the notion of color spaces, how atoms and molecules affect light, how light can be measured, the effect of using a lens, and many other topics. Requires little or no mathematical background. Includes questions and references for further reading.

About the authors Samuel J. Williamson is presently a professor of physics at New York University. He was awarded his Sc.D. degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1965 and has done extensive research in low temperature physics, particularly magnetism and super conductivity and neuromagnetism--the study of the magnetic field of the human brain. Herman Z. Cummins is a Distinguished Professor of Physics at City College of New York, Cuny. He received his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1963 and has done research work in optics, solid state physics, and biophysics.