Right and Left Photographers

[Dshambli]

From a young age I had always loved photography. It was one of those things that was never a phase. One Christmas, my aunt had given me a book, "The Great LIFE Photographers." When I was in college for engineering, I was looking at this book and reading some of the bios. I was surprised that many of them were previously in very technical fields (such as engineering). It made me think about why. Then I realized the similarity the two had was that they were whole brain activities. Each was very technical (left brained) and at the same creative (right brained). To be good at each of these endeavors, one had to possess a handle on both the technical and the creative. But as I look more and more at photography, I notice that people (while possessing whole brained abilities) tend to one side or the other. They may be extremely creative, and not so much care about the technical aspects (Holga users, and pinhole enthusiasts come to mind). While some photographers are very technical and focus on producing quality images through linear, step by step means. Which side do you tend more toward?

 

[keithwms]

Well, I know that PET scans of the brain reveal that activities such as playing music are delocalized over both hemispheres. I don't see why photography would be any different. Perhaps in the early learning phase, things will be handled mostly by the left, but as the paths are established, the activities should gradually become distributed across the brain.

My sense is that the way people talk about photography has more to do with the conversation they want to have than anything else. Some people simply enjoy discussing the technical stuff, or perhaps feel that they can help others by discussing those things.

I can't imagine anybody wanting to admit that their photography takes place in the left hemisphere.

On the other hand, we do have quite a few members here from the southern hemisphere, and their stuff is, you know, upside down

 

[Jeff Kubach]

What happens if you have dyslexia?

Jeff

 

[Danielle]

I have no issue talking about technical stuff to those interested in such things, but to most people its always 'oh wow, that's really nice' as the end result on your print. It doesn't matter to most how one got to the end result, so long as they like it.

I think I used to get caught up in the technical side, now I don't tend to care so much so long as I get the result intended. I get very excited still about seeing the end result, and I really do think that's the most important part.

Being left or right brained specifically, it does make sense that we do have to be able to function in both hemispheres though.

 

[benjiboy]

What happens if you have dyslexia?

Jeff

You get things the wrong way round Jeff

 

[Danielle]

So waist level finders are dyslexic then?

 

[benjiboy]

So waist level finders are dyslexic then?

That's right, in the same way that farts smell, for the benefit of the deaf

 

[BrianShaw]

What happens if you have dyslexia?

Jeff

.emas eht lla s'tI .yllear gnihtoN

 

[bobwysiwyg]

.emas eht lla s'tI .yllear gnihtoN

 

[keithwms]

Do LF folks in the southern hemisphere find the inverted groundglass image less challenging at first?

Not really. The only weird thing is when your subject and your ground glass are on opposite sides of the equator.

I apologize to the O.P. for destroying this sincere thread

 

[Dshambli]

Not really. The only weird thing is when your subject and your ground glass are on opposite sides of the equator.

I apologize to the O.P. for destroying this sincere thread

Haha, I think I prefer where it's gone.