Eye dominance and ability to compose a photo

[Alan Edward Klein]

Not only photography but painting too. Whoever figured out the vanishing point changed artistry.

 

[albireo]

Not only photography but painting too. Whoever figured out the vanishing point changed artistry.

That would be Leon Battista Alberti, in the De pictura (1435).

More generally, Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446) is generally credited with the systematic introduction of perspective in visual art.

According to his early biographers Giorgio Vasari and Antonio Manetti, Brunelleschi conducted a series of experiments between 1415 and 1420, including making paintings with correct perspective of the Florence Baptistery and the Palazzo Vecchio, seen obliquely from its northwest corner, as well as the buildings of Place San Giovanni. According to Manetti, he used a grid or set of crosshairs to copy the exact scene square by square, and produced a reverse image. The results were compositions with accurate perspective, as seen through a mirror. To compare the accuracy of his image with the real object, he made a small hole in his painting, and had an observer look through the back of his painting to observe the scene. A mirror was then raised, reflecting Brunelleschi's composition, and the observer saw the striking similarity between the reality and painting. Both panels have since been lost.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

That would be Leon Battista Alberti, in the De pictura (1435).

More generally, Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446) is generally credited with the systematic introduction of perspective in visual art.

I could see the arguments that must have occurred between the traditionalists and the modernists. Just like film and digital photographers, the former would argue that "real" artists don't use lines (digital) but use their eyes (film) to paint (photograph) realistically.

 

[snusmumriken]

The eye dominance is my blather. But the article writer did explain how a human pointing at a subject keeps it about 1/3 to the right (if the right is dominant) while pointing with his right arm. He doesn't;t aim in the middle between two eyes. I assume left-eyed people point with their left arm so their view would put the subject 1/3 from the left side. Try it yourself. So we naturally see a scene with subject 1/3 from the edge which could make us appreciate photo that way as well.

Of course, eye dominance kind of forces us to look that way. We look (aim) with one eye, the dominant eye, not with both eyes. The second eye goes along for the ride and is more offset from the subject view.

1/3 to the right of what, though? I am left-eyed but point with my right hand. (I wonder if my kids ever saw the things I tried to point out for them?) If I close my left eye deliberately to point accurately (e.g. with a bow or a shotgun), my field of view is greatly reduced. If I'm looking through a viewfinder, the field of view is already chosen for me.

But you have also made me wonder about where I like to place subjects. I would need to go through my negatives and collate some stats, but I think I have a tendency to prefer placing my subject on the left looking right, more than vice versa. That would possibly also tie in with my failure to like mirrored images as much as the original composition. Interesting thoughts.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

1/3 to the right of what, though? I am left-eyed but point with my right hand. (I wonder if my kids ever saw the things I tried to point out for them?) If I close my left eye deliberately to point accurately (e.g. with a bow or a shotgun), my field of view is greatly reduced. If I'm looking through a viewfinder, the field of view is already chosen for me.

But you have also made me wonder about where I like to place subjects. I would need to go through my negatives and collate some stats, but I think I have a tendency to prefer placing my subject on the left looking right, more than vice versa. That would possibly also tie in with my failure to like mirrored images as much as the original composition. Interesting thoughts.

That could be because we read left to right. I wonder if Israelis who read Hebrew right to left do the opposite.

 

[Sirius Glass]

That could be because we read left to right. I wonder if Israelis who read Hebrew right to left do the opposite.

You should use "those who use semitic languages" to be more technically correct and encompassing.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

You should use "those who use semitic languages" to be more technically correct and encompassing.

I don't know other languages that read right to left. You're being unnecessarily critical. This isn't a course on civics.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I don't know other languages that read right to left. You're being unnecessarily critical. This isn't a course on civics.

Semitic languages read from left to right, so I was suggesting a more complete and inconclusive.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

And then there are ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics that read top to bottom and Asian languages that also scan vertically. Some Asian languages have several alphabets (e.g., Japanese) that read in different directions...

And then there's the problem of musical notation, which reads left to right and how to notate a song in, say Hebrew, which reads right to left.

Does the reading direction of a culture play a role in how people scan images? Do Western image-makers place more important objects on the left side of the image because that's where their writing starts to scan, where readers of Semitic languages would place them on the left?

Sounds like a great topic for a dissertation

Doremus

 

[Pieter12]

And then there are ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics that read top to bottom and Asian languages that also scan vertically. Some Asian languages have several alphabets (e.g., Japanese) that read in different directions...

And then there's the problem of musical notation, which reads left to right and how to notate a song in, say Hebrew, which reads right to left.

Does the reading direction of a culture play a role in how people scan images? Do Western image-makers place more important objects on the left side of the image because that's where their writing starts to scan, where readers of Semitic languages would place them on the left?

Sounds like a great topic for a dissertation

Doremus

I definitely think one's cultural background affects how we look at photographs and the direction we start if there are no dominant elements the draw your eye across the composition. If there is only one thing and it is at the bottom of the photo, that is where you look regardless of how you may read.

 

[Agulliver]

Back to the first page of this thread....I am right handed, but left-eye dominant. I believe this is purely down to the fact that toddler me "copied daddy" with the camera. Facing me, he would put the camera to what I saw as the left side of his face (his right eye) to take a photo. I started out very young, probably aged four but possibly five, and put the camera to the left side of my face...my left eye. Ever since I've used all optical instruments with my left eye. I cannot even comfortably shift to the right eye, which makes a few still cameras very difficult to use due to the viewfinder design and quite a lot of super 8 cameras difficult. The smaller Nizo super 8 cameras are nigh on impossible for me to see a damned thing through.

It does mean my nose presses differently onto the camera than if I were right eye dominant but I don't know that it affects image composition. I have started occasionally wearing glasses as I slide into middle age and I appear to adapt to that more readily than changing to my right eye.

I've never tried firing any sort of gun or crossbow but I have tried archery and need to adjust my aim. I've done axe throwing and seemed to take to it naturally.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Back to the first page of this thread....I am right handed, but left-eye dominant. I believe this is purely down to the fact that toddler me "copied daddy" with the camera. Facing me, he would put the camera to what I saw as the left side of his face (his right eye) to take a photo. I started out very young, probably aged four but possibly five, and put the camera to the left side of my face...my left eye. Ever since I've used all optical instruments with my left eye. I cannot even comfortably shift to the right eye, which makes a few still cameras very difficult to use due to the viewfinder design and quite a lot of super 8 cameras difficult. The smaller Nizo super 8 cameras are nigh on impossible for me to see a damned thing through.

It does mean my nose presses differently onto the camera than if I were right eye dominant but I don't know that it affects image composition. I have started occasionally wearing glasses as I slide into middle age and I appear to adapt to that more readily than changing to my right eye.

I've never tried firing any sort of gun or crossbow but I have tried archery and need to adjust my aim. I've done axe throwing and seemed to take to it naturally.

Have you tried turning the camera upside down?

 

[Pieter12]

Have you tried turning the camera upside down?

I hope you're joking.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I hope you're joking.

I should have used a different emoticon. How's this one?

 

[Auer]

Personally I see the compostition first, regardless if I have a camera with me or not.

Once I find a focal point I use the camera and finish the shot.

Maybe I'm simple, but I dont see how what eye I use and how could be a factor.

 

[jtk]

I am a "traditional" archer... don't use sights and am relatively accurate at 30 yards.

Archers tend to be obsessed about eye dominance and some think right-vs-left is crucial information.

Truth is, that if the archer always aims with one of those eyes and shoots with it as well, the issue goes away.

If instead they switch back and forth they have trouble because they do (mostly) have noses in their field of view.

When looking at a view/subject I generally notice significance with both eyes open (pistol shooters do that too, I've heard). If I then view via camera that camera (along with my preconceptions) determines "dominance"

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Personally I see the compostition first, regardless if I have a camera with me or not.

Once I find a focal point I use the camera and finish the shot.

Maybe I'm simple, but I dont see how what eye I use and how could be a factor.

What if you shooting street shots or flying birds or sports? Or your kids running around?

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I am a "traditional" archer... don't use sights and am relatively accurate at 30 yards.

Archers tend to be obsessed about eye dominance and some think right-vs-left is crucial information.

If instead they switch back and forth they have trouble because they do (mostly) have noses in their field of view.

When looking at a view/subject I generally notice significance with both eyes open (pistol shooters do that too, I've heard). If I then view via camera that camera (along with my preconceptions) determines "dominance"

So you mean if you're left-eye dominant, you shoot lefty? If you're right-eye dominant you shoot righty? But what if a person is left-eyed and right-hand dominant or vice versa? Could you use this issue to avoid getting drafted? (seriously)

 

[Vaughn]

Tossing in another wrinkle into the fabric of our consciencness.

Does some people's non-dominate eye get naturally trained to become their dominate eye because their previous dominate eye was the one that could be more easily closed individually?

Thinking back to my youth -- I had a hard time closing my left eye without my right closing, too...but not the other way around.

Edited to add: Sorry -- reading that second sentence makes both my eyes hurt...

 

[Auer]

What if you shooting street shots or flying birds or sports? Or your kids running around?

I shoot street a lot, same way, just faster.
I did say personally in my original post, I get were all different.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I am a "traditional" archer... don't use sights and am relatively accurate at 30 yards.

Archers tend to be obsessed about eye dominance and some think right-vs-left is crucial information.

Truth is, that if the archer always aims with one of those eyes and shoots with it as well, the issue goes away.

If instead they switch back and forth they have trouble because they do (mostly) have noses in their field of view.

When looking at a view/subject I generally notice significance with both eyes open (pistol shooters do that too, I've heard). If I then view via camera that camera (along with my preconceptions) determines "dominance"

I am left handed but always used a bow in my right hand because the bows at school were all right handed.

 

[Pieter12]

I shoot street a lot, same way, just faster.
I did say personally in my original post, I get were all different.

I often shoot street without lifting the camera to my eye. I am familiar with the angle of view of my 35 or 28mm lenses, have them zone-focused and just aim the camera and trip the shutter.

 

[MattKing]

Have you tried turning the camera upside down?

I hope you're joking.

I do that lots of times with an Olympus XA. It works well, because it moves the controls that most require dexterity from the right side to my much more dexterous left hand.
It makes my contact sheets a bit confusing, but otherwise there is no real downside.
Come to think of it, it might work as well with my Retina IIIc.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I am left handed but always used a bow in my right hand because the bows at school were all right handed.

What if the guns in the army are all right-handed?

 

[snusmumriken]

I hope you're joking.

With the Rollei 35 it was/is essential if you want to use flash, because the flash shoe is underneath. Actually, pushing the shutter button up with a thumb isn’t as awkward as it sounds, and the focus and exposure are pre-set anyway. But I’m not a flash kinda guy really.