Left Brain-Right Brain Photography

Article and photographs by Karen G. Schulman

A friend and former photo student used to refer to the camera owner’s manual as the "M" word. The anxiety she once felt with the technical and mechanical aspects of using a camera decreased with experience and practice, but there was a time when it stood in the way of expressing herself creatively. Another workshop participant is extremely comfortable with the technical side of photography and thrives on knowing all of the specialized functions of his camera and lenses. He, on the other hand, once had difficulty creating images that were little more than documents of a scene.

We are, as humans, a finely tuned combination of left and right brain functions. All individuals are more or less intuitive, usually more so in females than in males. For some, the ability of the right brain to influence instinctual creativity is more accessible than for others (often males) whose analytical or rational approach to making photographs is more evident.

Photography offers us the opportunity to balance our thinking with feeling, our intellect with intuition, as we respond to the world through our images. It is a way of expressing ourselves artistically but with technical competence.

Throughout my many years using a camera and teaching photography, I have observed how differently each of us goes about learning to make photographs. In addition to "seeing" our surroundings uniquely, some of us are more "left" or "right" brained than others. There is no clear delineation within most of us, we tend to have strengths and weaknesses in both areas of brain functions, which certainly impact more than our photography. Understanding how we learn will aid us in overcoming our learning obstacles.

As you read through the descriptions below, see if you can identify how similar each characteristic is to you. This will aid you in developing the other side to be more "whole-brained," and consequently more successful with your photography.

If the left mode is stronger within you, you may find that you examine, explain and rationalize the subjects in your photographs. You may come to photography with a sincere appreciation for its technical aspects, and knowledge of the camera’s controls. You are certainly not afraid of the "M" word! Left brain photographs show or tell a story about a moment, event or place. They allow the viewer to understand exactly what took place, and are more journalistic in their approach.

Those with a stronger right mode may spontaneously jump into shooting a subject without much thought or planning. At first, technical aspects of camera use are often weaker for you. Your approach to making images might be to capture a sequence of time or document an action through a personal or more abstract interpretation. When others ask you to explain your photograph, you often have difficulty finding the right words. Right brain photographs give you an opportunity to become completely absorbed in your intuitive and impulsive side, which you love!

Don’t confuse left brain photography with whether a person is thinking or not. Right brain shooters think also. They just think differently, in a less linear and more holistic way. Abstract pictures are often a direct result of using the right brain. Reacting to your surroundings without pre-judgment will result in images that reflect this aspect of your creativity.


EXERCISE FOR DEVELOPING YOUR LEFT BRAIN PHOTOGRAPHY:

1. Experiment with aperture and shutter controls and write down what you have done. Photograph one subject from the same location at a variety of apertures to learn what each will look like. Keep your point of focus consistent so that you will have uniform results. Do the same with shutter speeds. Choose from some of the faster speeds, 1/250th to 1/1000th, and at the other extreme, 1/2 to 1/15th second. Of course, your ability to use various settings will depend on the speed of film you are using as well as type of lens, subject matter, available light, etc.

2. Explore the technical aspects of your camera and be able to explain how and why you employed them. As with the above, think about your point of focus; why did you choose it? In what direction is the light coming from? Did you use Matrix, Center-Weighted or Spot metering and why? What are your reasons for composing horizontally or vertically?

3. Document a passage of time during your travels. You may choose to add text to the images, as though you were submitting for publication.

4. Make a photograph of a person, trying to reveal the emotion of your subject but treating your subject as objectively as possible.

EXERCISES FOR DEVELOPING YOUR RIGHT BRAIN PHOTOGRAPHY:

1. Break the rules! Take chances with aperture and shutter controls while using Aperture and Shutter Priority modes. If you "think" that you need f-22 for depth of field, use a wide aperture such as f-5.6 instead and change your point of focus. Set a slower shutter speed than one that you would normally use for a specific shooting situation. Allow yourself to make mistakes.

2. When you think you’re close enough, get closer. This is one of my favorite suggestions for improving your seeing, and my students tell me they hear me saying it when they are out shooting. Moving physically closer to your subject or zooming in allows you to create abstracts out of literal images and can show details which are often overlooked in the larger picture.

3. Bracket your exposures widely. Over and under-expose your subject at least 3 full f-stops for a roll or two of film to see what happens. (I would not do this over an entire trip.)

4. If you are using a tripod for sharp images, occasionally shake the tripod for a few frames. You may be pleasantly surprised!

When you look over the results of your experiments, remember to view them in the same spirit as you created them. You may not like them all, but some "mistakes" may turn into your favorites.

As you learn to use both hemispheres of your brain to make photographs, a wonderful side effect occurs. The development of left and right brain seeing crosses over to other areas of your life. Your visual intuition expands and nurtures your intuitive responses to the world. And your technical or mechanical abilities develop in other areas. Fine tuning these combinations of thinking and feeling, intellect and intuition, technique and aesthetic will help you to find your own vision and share it with others. The camera owner’s manual, previously referred to as the "M" word will just be another tool, not to be feared!

Karen Schulman is a WIPI PRO member.

Focus Adventures Workshops and Tours with Karen Gordon Schulman Since 1985, photographic artist and teacher, Karen Gordon Schulman has been offering small group photographic adventures and tour programs that emphasize using the camera as a tool in the process of self-discovery and personal growth. "Our goal at Focus Adventures is to assist our photo workshop and tour participants to develop inner strength and achieve personal growth through the 'art of seeing'. We encourage people to give themselves permission to make mistakes as well as permission to create. The more we learn to "see" with our minds, hearts and spirits, the more of an adventure life becomes. Though the photograph may be a "concrete" end result of the experience, it is only a part of the total learning process. We welcome interested participants of all ages to take part in our programs - whether they are age eighteen or eighty!"

Photo tours in 2007 include:
Morocco in October,
Ecuador and the Galàpagos Islands in May.
Photo workshops will take place in July and September in northwest Colorado.

 KAREN GORDON SCHULMAN, WIPI PRO member   (6-04)