For starters, Barry (2005) describes 'perception' as the process where “data are reduced and compressed, and what was once a retinal image becomes … representative map of visual reality. In this way, light is transformed into meaning built from separate, specific functions in the brain.” (p. 51). In other words, this basically means our interpretation of what we see is not only limited to one particular object, rather we pick up on the objects surrounding it and draw from our previous knowledge or memory. To further simplify this ideology, it basically draws down to; our perception is influenced by what we already know (Berger, Blomberg, Fox, Dibb & Hollis, 1977). It is just a matter of our brains linking things together like puzzles to create a complete picture.

Think of this as how our brains work and piece information together.
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Whereas 'seeing' is a little different from 'perception' as it deals with a more scientific approach. If I were to categorize them, 'seeing' would be something literal, whereas 'perception' takes on a more figurative or metaphorical aspect of viewing things. The “light” referred to in the previous paragraph is basically a product from 'seeing'. 'Seeing' according to Barry (2002, p. 91) “begins with light patterns reflected on the eye's retina”. That reflection of light hence produces the images we see in our brains. Our process of seeing is similar to how projectors work. It is also worth noting that we see by choice (Berger, Blomberg, Fox, Dibb & Hollis, 1977).

Therefore, to explain how 'perception' and 'seeing' are different; 'seeing' is like the first stage of viewing things. It is the light exuded from an object and the reflection of those lights into your retina, hence producing an image in your brain. The process of 'perception' is like the second level of viewing things; you use information you have previously obtained to impose meaning on a something.

Just to test these out, what you see or what you perceive?

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References:

Barry, A. M. (2002). Perception and visual communication theory. Journal of Visual Literacy, 22(1), 91-106. Retrieved from http://www.ohio.edu/visualliteracy/JVL_ISSUE_ARCHIVES/JVL22%281%29/JVL22%281%29_pp.91-106.pdf on 12^th August, 2011.

Barry, A. M. (2005). Perception Theory. In K. Smith, S. Moriarty, G. Barbatsis & K. Kenney (Eds.), Handbook of visual communication: Theory, methods and media (pp. 45-62). New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=AF7dqHPy-60C&lpg=PA7&dq=perception%20visual%20communication&pg=PA51#v=onepage&q=perception%20visual%20communication&f=false on 11^th August, 2011.

Berger, J., Blomberg, S., Fox, C., Dibb, M., & Hollis, R. (1977). Ways of seeing. London: Penguin Books.