The Perspective Research Centre (PRC) offers illustrated lectures, talks, workshops and courses examining visual, optical and technical perspective across art, science and technology.
Programmes can be adapted for universities, museums, schools, professional institutions, research groups, creative organisations and specialist teams.
Featured Lecture
Perspective: Past, Present and Future
A richly illustrated lecture exploring how perspective connects vision, optics, geometry, art, photography, cinema, scientific imaging, computer graphics, virtual reality and artificial intelligence—and why it should be understood as a major interdisciplinary field.
The lecture is available in the following formats:
- 45-, 60- or 90-minute illustrated versions
- extended 122-slide presentation lasting approximately three hours
- suitable for general or specialist audiences
- available in person or online
- questions and discussion included
- adaptable to the audience, venue and event programme
Designed for beginners, general audiences, students and specialists alike, the lecture introduces the fundamental principles of perspective while also presenting advanced classifications, interdisciplinary connections and original theoretical ideas. The level of technical detail can be adapted to the audience, institution and available time.
Browse this 85-slide illustrated prospectus of the complete 122-slide lecture. Select any slide to explore the talk’s themes, visual material and scope.
Standard Lecture – Topics Covered
This general lecture introduces perspective as a major field of visual knowledge. It is suitable for universities, colleges, research groups, museums, creative organisations, visual-production teams, and specialist professional audiences.
The lecture can be adapted for general or specialist audiences and may cover:
- the nature and wider status of perspective;
- natural, visual, optical and artificial perspective;
- the historical development of perspective;
- Leonardo da Vinci and visual knowledge;
- linear, curvilinear, spherical and other forms;
- viewpoint, projection, horizon and vanishing structures;
- monocular, binocular and stereoscopic vision;
- perspective phenomena, distortion and visual illusion;
- photography, cinema, scientific imaging and computer graphics;
- virtual, augmented and extended reality;
- artificial intelligence, computer vision and the future of perspective.
The complete 122-slide lecture can be delivered as an extended presentation of approximately three hours, including questions and discussion. Condensed 45-, 60- and 90-minute versions are also available and can be adapted to the audience, venue and event programme.
Why Study Perspective?
Perspective is commonly taught only as part of drawing, architecture, photography, cinema, geometry or computer graphics. This fragmented treatment can obscure its wider significance.
Studied as an interdisciplinary field, perspective connects vision, optics, representation, imaging, spatial measurement, media technology and the construction of visual reality. It offers valuable methods for analysing images, solving visual problems, designing spatial systems and understanding how views and representations are created, transformed and interpreted.
Learning Goals
Participants develop a clearer understanding of:
- the principal types and forms of perspective;
- natural, visual, optical, artificial, technical and simulated perspective;
- the historical development of perspective;
- relationships between perspective, vision, space, imaging and measurement;
- how perspective views and images are created, captured, projected, displayed and interpreted;
- applications across art, science, technology and contemporary visual industries.
Lecturer
All lectures and courses are presented by Dr Alan Radley FRSA, Founder and Scientific Director of the Perspective Research Centre.
Radley has researched visual, optical and technical perspective for more than thirty years. His background in physics, optics, astronomy, imaging systems and visual technology provides the programmes with a broad art–science–technology foundation.
He has presented internationally and written books, papers, articles and book chapters on perspective and related visual and optical subjects. His work also develops the research legacy of Professor Kim H. Veltman, whose scholarship forms an important part of the PRC’s intellectual foundation.
Perspective Courses
The PRC offers structured courses for beginner, intermediate and advanced audiences. Courses combine illustrated lectures, diagrams, guided discussion, practical visual problems and supporting materials.
A typical one-day programme is suitable for approximately 10–15 participants, although larger groups may be accommodated. Programmes can be adapted for educational institutions, professional teams, creative organisations and research settings.
These are not conventional drawing courses limited to linear perspective. They examine perspective across art, science, technology, vision, imaging and spatial representation.
Course 1: The Beginner Perspectivist
Core topics:
- defining perspective;
- natural and artificial perspective;
- visual and optical perspective;
- the historical development of perspective;
- purposes and functions of perspective;
- monocular, binocular and stereoscopic vision;
- viewpoint, horizon and vanishing structures;
- graphical, linear and classical forms;
- perspective phenomena and illusions;
- imaging, instrument and New Media perspective.
Course 2: The Competent Perspectivist
Core topics:
- the nature and categories of perspective;
- one-, two-, three- and higher-dimensional perspective;
- views, images, displays and models;
- Perspective Category Theory;
- looking, seeing and visual perception;
- parallel, linear, cylindrical and curvilinear perspective;
- spherical perspective;
- spatial illusion and immersion;
- artistic, scientific and technological applications;
- problems and limitations of perspective.
Course 3: The Advanced Perspectivist
Core topics:
- perspective as an interdisciplinary field;
- natural and visual perspective;
- retinal image formation and binocular vision;
- photographic and cinematic perspective;
- telescopes, microscopes and optical instruments;
- environmental and architectural perspective;
- virtual production, LED walls and volume screens;
- virtual, augmented, mixed and extended reality;
- lasers, holography and three-dimensional displays;
- computer vision, robotic vision and artificial intelligence;
- emerging systems and the future of perspective.
Undergraduate Teaching
The PRC can support undergraduate teaching on the history, science, methods, philosophy and applications of visual, optical and technical perspective.
Earlier dedicated courses at the University of Toronto, together with teaching materials developed by Professor Jean-Pierre Le Goff through Les Cahiers de la Perspective: Points de Vue, demonstrate that perspective can be taught as a serious academic subject rather than merely as a component of other disciplines.
PRC programmes extend this tradition into modern imaging, digital media, virtual production, computer vision, artificial intelligence and emerging visual technologies.
Book a Lecture or Course
To enquire, please include brief details of your organisation, intended audience, preferred lecture or course, proposed date, location and whether the event will be in person or online.
Dr Alan Radley FRSA
Founder and Scientific Director
Perspective Research Centre
Email: alansradley@gmail.com