Atmosphere refers to a layer of gasses that encapsulate the Earth and contribute to the sustenance of life on our planet. When we look up at the stars at night and they appear to twinkle, it is because we are looking at them through the layers.
Atmospheric perspective refers to the techniques that artists employ to replicate the effects of distance on the human eye’s ability to distinguish color, form, and detail.
Objects in the distance tend to blend in with the saturation of the atmosphere while the objects in the foreground appear highly saturated due to the closer distance between the viewer and the object.
The further away objects are from the viewer the lighter and “fuzzier” they may appear. This is because the human eye’s ability to make out contrast diminishes over a distance. Objects that are close will be more clearly delineated and distinct from their background.
When viewing a scene from an atmospheric perspective, it is important to take note that atmospheric temperature also plays a role in influencing the visual output of objects.
Objects gain more saturation and color when a strong light passes over them and this can be observed during daylight when the sun passes over buildings at certain hours.
Linear perspective is a technique based on geometry that was perfected during the Renaissance to create the illusion of depth and three-dimensional space on a flat surface.
Atmospheric perspective on the other hand is more centered on how artists can replicate the effect that the atmosphere has on the visual nature and perception of objects under it.