I'm not exactly a duel processor, my life is math (maths for the kids across the pond) so I’ve always been locked into the left side of my brain. A few years ago I started drawing to wake up the dormant right side of my brain. I noticed pretty quickly that it is impossible for me to talk while I draw. I thought that was odd until I heard or read or somehow encountered a story about this sort of thing and given that drawing is a right brain activity and speech is a left brain activity it’s not uncommon for people to be unable to do both at once.
So I am NOT a unique snowflake after all – so it goes
I was wondering about this with photography. Right now at least for me a lot of this is technical, figuring out what ISO setting to use and the like. I’m sure my left brain is engaged but eventually the hope is that sort of thing becomes second nature and the process can evolve into one more of creativity.
Just wondering what other people’s experience has been like.
I just recently delved into photography. Although I always enjoyed it, it wasn't until I got my new DSLR that I really got into it. I have noticed that its been difficult to "wake up" my creative side. I have moments of greatness, then I got back to no-so-great. And then there is mastering all the settings. Its like I hadn't worn my thinking cap in so long I forgot how to learn! Maybe its an age thing, maybe its a season thing, but I think I know what you mean. Feels good to work these brain muscles though, I think we fall into a pattern in our lives where we just kind of skate through out of habit. There's no challenge.... if you know what I mean ;)
Welcome to over-analyzers anonymous. I am fully left-handed. And when I compose, I tend to leave my open space in the left two thirds of the screen. I have a hard time to placing subjects to the left. I have always wondered if that is a left brain/right brain thing. I found out in my 30's that if I use a calculator/adding machine with the left hand, I am 20x faster and more accurate. Work had to deal with a wired mouse on the left side of the computer.
I doubt there is any actions that I can do without talking. (enter canned laughter)
I don't draw, but you open a can of worms. I would like to hear more from leftie photogs, and if they recognize anything similar.
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I love conversation about left/right brain activity (both parents had left-side brain tauma and it was fascinating how they changed...and sad).
Kathryn...I am a writer and love music, but cannot write creatively if music is playing, unless it is strictly instrumental. I cannot write words and hear words at the same time...E
@intymalcolm - I'm not doubting you, but would like to see research that shows it is abject nonsense. I have seen much research that disputes that. I teach critical thinking, so opposing viewpoints are integral to my being and I welcome them.
@dlaxton Fair enough. Ah, critical thinking -- I wish there was more of that around :)
Don't have time right now to dig up 'real' research... but here's a few articles on the subject that do reference some:
@welcometocarolworld I am slightly dextrous although I can not use a mouse with my right hand. Having looked at several of my photos noticed I used either side of the photo for the main subject and sometimes the top 3rd other times the bottom 3rd.
@intymalcolm - thanks. I appreciate it. Yes, with the "teaching to the test" education system taking over, critical thinking is becoming a dinosaur - to the chagrin of most employers.
@dlaxton@intymalcolm I too would love too see that research. Like @elipoet my mother had a massive stroke when I was a high school senior when my mom had a stroke at age 44, it affected the right side of her brain and seeing the changes that have come because of it are very interesting and sad.
I've heard this left-right brain business forever. I'm sure there is research out there claiming it's bullocks. Just like there is research that claims that butter is like spreading vitimins on your toast - whatever, you have to find your own path. I think there is something to it. I know that I am out of my comfort zone when things are not lined up perfectly.
I think there is some validity to the left/right brain business. It gets complicated because our left and right brains do "talk" with each other. I find myself thinking with my left brain when I am composing a shot and when I am concerned with the camera settings. I find myself thinking with my right brain when I am envisioning a shot and when I am thinking creative. At such times, it is difficult for me to talk or to formulate the words. When other photographers take a photo walk with me, they say I zone out when I do this.
The Wikipedia says: "The front portion of the corpus callosum has been reported to be significantly larger in musicians than non-musicians, [21] and to be 0.75 square centimeters [22] or 11% larger in left-handed and ambidextrous people than right-handed people." I believe the corpus callosum is the part of the brain where the messages travel back and forth between the left brain and the right brain. It would be interesting to see what brain studies say about the brains of photographers!
I wish I didn't have to be concerned with settings, ISO, shutter speed and the like. Unfortunately knowing this things determines how you will create your photo. I care only to know the bare minimum of the technical side, whatever I need to know to get me where I want to go. I am a math idiot, logic is not always my friend...if I had to guess I would say I am a total right brainer.
Here is my experience coming from a different standpoint- In addition to being a photographer, I am also a sign language interpreter. There is a lot that goes into interpreting- taking in the message, analyzing it for both obvious and subtle meaning, figuring out how to equate that meaning in the target language, and putting it out as such, all while taking in the next message- i.e, a lot of brain power is involved. That being said though, the more you do it and the better you become at it, the less brain activity is needed and it becomes much more second nature. I've done it for so long, that my brain just "knows" what to do and I don't have to devote so much energy to the process. Photography is the same way. The more and more you work at figuring out the settings and all that, the less brain power will be required to make it work. This time last year, it would take me FOREVER to manually set my camera. Now, I can very quickly analyze a scene and, with close to 100% accuracy, get the settings right or close to right the first time around. It just takes time. Keep working at it and you'll do great :)
And yet with the right/left brain theory debunked, I can tell if a child is left handed or right handed within just a few minutes of having them sit down at the piano. I can see it in how they send "code" to their fingers.
Also, I can often tell musicians from non-musicians in their ability to shift from visual to verbal and how frustrated they get in doing so.
Some of my adult students take piano only for this reason. And over the years, I have taught many attention issue children for whom it was also a form of therapy.
@welcometocarolworld I was born left handed but forced to change when I started school aged 3! However, I still do some things lefthanded. I always look through the viewfinder with my left eye. As a lefthander, which eye do you use? I do have a creative side though because I write poetry and I like to think that I creatively compose my pics sometimes! LOL
@rosiekind I use my left eye....and have extra difficulties because of my bifocals. Have to remove my glasses most of the time. My vision has been the bane of my shooting of late. So tough on minute focus points.
@welcometocarolworld Funny, I'm also left-handed, but I've never felt the need to leave the left side of the frame open unless it affects the composition (e.i. the subject looking or walking toward the left). I also feel the exact opposite about technical or mechanical things like using a mouse, calculator, pair of scissors, etc: I need to do that with my right hand or else I feel the need to stand on my head. But when it comes to things that ask for more "creative" thought, like writing, drawing, or playing guitar, I prefer my left hand, but still often have the urge to do the technical part (the lettering, strokes, or strumming) backwards/upside down, or mirror-image.
Of course, I'm certainly not qualified to make any assertions about brain activity, but it's pretty interesting stuff! Thanks Kathryn for starting this discussion :)
Kathryn, I wish it wasn't Wikipedia, but at least it gives me hope that there is something out there that I can throw in my brother's face when I continue to argue with him that my brain is bigger than his. ;)
My right hand is my dominant hand but my left eye is my dominant eye. For things where I need precision aiming I've had to learn to do things left handed. I wasn't able to put my finger on it at first but when I made my obligatory "behind-the-camera-in-the-mirror" selfie I couldn't for the longest time figure out why I looked so cramped and no one else did. But it is because I have my face hidden by the camera while looking through the view finder with my left eye.
Which brings me to wonder....do they make left handed cameras? :)
@welcometocarolworld I'm left handed too (mainly) and yes I like, if it is that sort of shot, to have the subject on the right. Use my left eye to look through the view finder. However right handed mouse/golf kick right footed - just plain old weird!! It's a fascinating thread though!
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There are, indeed, functional difference - speech, motor skills etc - but the whole left/right creative/technical brain thing is abject nonsense.
Just sayin'
I doubt there is any actions that I can do without talking. (enter canned laughter)
I don't draw, but you open a can of worms. I would like to hear more from leftie photogs, and if they recognize anything similar.
Write a Reply @aponi
Kathryn...I am a writer and love music, but cannot write creatively if music is playing, unless it is strictly instrumental. I cannot write words and hear words at the same time...E
Don't have time right now to dig up 'real' research... but here's a few articles on the subject that do reference some:
Psychology Today
Washington Post
I'm not sure if that means anything, though. lol.
And yet with the right/left brain theory debunked, I can tell if a child is left handed or right handed within just a few minutes of having them sit down at the piano. I can see it in how they send "code" to their fingers.
Also, I can often tell musicians from non-musicians in their ability to shift from visual to verbal and how frustrated they get in doing so.
Some of my adult students take piano only for this reason. And over the years, I have taught many attention issue children for whom it was also a form of therapy.
Of course, I'm certainly not qualified to make any assertions about brain activity, but it's pretty interesting stuff! Thanks Kathryn for starting this discussion :)
Kathryn, I wish it wasn't Wikipedia, but at least it gives me hope that there is something out there that I can throw in my brother's face when I continue to argue with him that my brain is bigger than his. ;)
My right hand is my dominant hand but my left eye is my dominant eye. For things where I need precision aiming I've had to learn to do things left handed. I wasn't able to put my finger on it at first but when I made my obligatory "behind-the-camera-in-the-mirror" selfie I couldn't for the longest time figure out why I looked so cramped and no one else did. But it is because I have my face hidden by the camera while looking through the view finder with my left eye.
Which brings me to wonder....do they make left handed cameras? :)