Photographer Test - Are you left or right brained?

[Gentleman Villain]

This little test supposedly tells if you are left or right brained:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0%2C023739%2C22556678-23272%2C00.html (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0%2C023739%2C22556678-23272%2C00.html)


But, I don't know if it really works or not...

How does this relate to photographic lighting? Well, my observations are that the majority of forums, demonstration videos and how-to books on photographic lighting seem to teach to left-brained people that are detailed oriented instead of right-brained people that are more context oriented.

I might be forming the opinion that a conflict arises because most artists and/or self-employed photographers (that I've encountered) tend to be more right brained oriented. So there might be some room for improvement in the approach to teaching and discussing photography within the industry. And also room for possibly new forums/media taking a different kind of approach to looking and talking about photography.

Ok, so how exactly does this relate to photographic lighting? Right brained photographers take into account the "mood" of a particular lighting scenario when setting it up. Yet, almost none of the demonstration videos, books and forums seem to discuss the mood of lighting very much at all. The common approach to teaching lighting is sort of the charts and diagrams approach. That's cool...but we should also be taking into account the emotions and vibes that might be evoked when the audience views these lighting scenarios. The idea might be to look at possible lighting approaches with a bit less emphasis on formula and a bit more emphasis on intuition.

The main reason that this possible issue has been drawn to my attention is because of the conflicts and fights that often take place in forums. I'm wondering if part of this miscommunication be attributed to the left/right brain thing...but how knows...I could be totally on the wrong track...

Anyhow, I'm curious to see what kind of results people around here get when doing the short test. Or if this test even works at all? Maybe it's just the silhouette of the naked girl that appealed to me. :lol:

[FlyingPhotog]

Very interesting link, IMO. Thanks for that.

I see her turning clockwise = Right Brain

I feel the attributes listed do, in fact, describe me pretty well...

I especially like the characteristic "Gets It..." (meaning)
I can usually pull the intended meaning out of some pretty obscure images and perspectives

[Gentleman Villain]

Yep - I came up with the same results as you did...

[Rudi]

Interesting. I can see both! At first I was left brained, but then I looked away and now it's all right brain. How screwed up am I? ???

[FlyingPhotog]

Interesting. I can see both! At first I was left brained, but then I looked away and now it's all right brain. How screwed up am I? ???

"Abby somebody... Abby Normal..." :p

[Gentleman Villain]

Interesting. I can see both! At first I was left brained, but then I looked away and now it's all right brain. How screwed up am I? ???

You're not screwed up! That might just mean that you can ride the fence between the two types of thinking...maybe you're a peacemaker...I've often thought that a lot of photojournalists ride the fence right in between left-right brained since they can often do well in academic university and a rigid deadlines-oriented newspaper environment yet still talk like a fruit artist when it comes to taking a picture. Anyhow, I don't think that is a bad thing at all



"Abby somebody... Abby Normal..." :p

hahaha

[cdifoto]

She's turning? Looks like she's pole dancing to me.

[cdifoto]

Seriously though I don't consider that test to be worth a damn.

I know for a fact I have no feeling so I can't be right brained. I'm more logic-based than bleeding heart, and yet I see her spinning clockwise.

[Gentleman Villain]

She's turning? Looks like she's pole dancing to me.

Does that mean your answer is "none of the above" or "neither" ?

[Michael]

I can change the way she is spinning in my mind. I don't think it really gives a clear indication of anything. It's all about perception and whether or not you think she is spinning clockwise or anti-clockwise. Think about it whilst looking at it and you will soon discover that you can change the way she is spinning.

[Gentleman Villain]

I know for a fact I have no feeling so I can't be right brained. I'm more logic-based than bleeding heart, and yet I see her spinning clockwise.

No feeling? Do you mean feeling towards others? That's still a feeling because it's the feeling of self-love over all else. That's classic Narcissism. Has anybody ever accused you of being that before?

"Bleeding heart" is often a negative term used to describe people of the political left. The fact that it's a negative term means it's emotion based and not factual. So is your "logic based" on an emotion? If so, the argument could be made that you're right-brained for using an emotional term to describe your perceived antithesis.

Just having some fun :)

[AdamC]

I think the test is flawed - I've always known I was very left-centric, and yet I cannot even conceive of how the dancer could be seen as turning anti-clockwise..

[ghaleon109]

I'm more logic-based than bleeding heart, and yet I see her spinning clockwise.

Ditto...

[cdifoto]

No feeling? Do you mean feeling towards others? That's still a feeling because it's the feeling of self-love over all else. That's classic Narcissism. Has anybody ever accused you of being that before?
Yes - other internet psychologists on forums. Actually, I think it was on here. Maybe it was you. :lol:

I was being saracastic anyway. I do have feeling, but I'll take facts over a crying jag.

[cdifoto]

I cannot even conceive of how the dancer could be seen as turning anti-clockwise..
Me either. I even tried to "force" her to spin the other way. She refused.

[tiarehi]

Interesting, I can change the direction at will... lol

[Michael]

If you can't get her direction to change, try opening the eye opposite to the way you want her to spin. If you want to see her spinning to the right(clockwise) close your right eye. Test it out.

It's quite simple once you understand how it works. Just look at the legs. There is no detail indicating as to which is in front of the other, so if you just think about it you should be able to make it change.

[dliveleyphotography]

Interesting, I can change the direction at will... lol


lol same here, all I had to do was think which way i wanted to see it, look away then look back and she would change depending on what i wanted to see.

[Gentleman Villain]

Yes - other internet psychologists on forums. Actually, I think it was on here. Maybe it was you. :lol:

I was being saracastic anyway. I do have feeling, but I'll take facts over a crying jag.

right on :) I can dig that

[Lotto]

She turns right, then left, left, right again. Now she stays still and I am doing one those Matrix things around her. I am a mess!

Hey GV, are you trying to fry my brain? I am going to send you a case of Red Bulls :)

[slivr]

At first - I saw her clockwise and couldn't get her to "switch" direction. But then I focused on the feet and SHADOW coming in and out of view along the bottom. After a few spins watching the shadow I moved my eyes up and: She was turning counter-clockwise. Wow! Interesting, though I'm not convinced the test is a true identifier since I can switch back-n-forth now.

She's still clockwise to me at first glance every time. :)

[Gentleman Villain]

Hey GV, are you trying to fry my brain? I am going to send you a case of Red Bulls :)

ooh...that sounds good...seriously, I'm gonna make a caffeine and ice cream run to the store right now

[silvex]

What dancer...? J/K...right brain...

[TMR Design]

Hey Mike,

No matter what I do or try she is turning clockwise. My brain doesn't want to see otherwise. :D

[SnlpeR]

took me a frikkin while to get her to turn CCW
had to focus on the bottom corner of the screen for a while

but i can only hold it for a couple of seconds...then it goes back to going CW

pretty frustrating

[aia21]

No matter what I do she keeps spinning clockwise for me as well. :)

Looking at the shadow or looking away and then back does not help at all...

Best regards,

Anton

[KarlosDaJackal]

Your missing the point by trying to change her direction, whatever you saw when your first looked is an indicator. Some of the left/right ideas are not exactly polar opposite to each other either.

Of course how we are is not just down to which side of the brain we use more, there are probably half the things on either list which you are out of sync with, not because the test is flawed, but because personal experience has thought you to react to certain things differently. Remember the mind adapts to experience.

For me it was clockwise, so I'm a right sided guy. Most of that I think describes me well, but some of it is in conflict like the religion/science thing. I'm probably on the opposite side of the fence but that's due to personal experience and at one stage probably was the other way around.

Its an indicator, its reasonably fun on an otherwise dull Wednesday. If you think certain things on the list don't match up with your personality ask yourself "why" and "was I different at some stage" you will probably find good reasons from your past that changed your stance at some stage, you may get some more mileage out of it.

I'd expect to find a lot more right-siders interested in arty things like photography, and philosophy things like arguing why IS is better/worse than a tripod or why we should use filters/hood/condoms for protection, and there are a lot of them around here. Its also typical right-sider activity to come up with possibilities like "this test is crap", "this test is fake", "this test means nothing". The fact you went from a photography (arts) forum to the test may have affected the outcome of course.

[Gentleman Villain]

Hey Mike,

No matter what I do or try she is turning clockwise. My brain doesn't want to see otherwise. :D

me too...I've tried looking at it from every direction and all I see is clockwise

[Cali Agent]

Ok after opening the link I could only see the figure moving CW and after reading everyones posts I can see the figure moving left and right but not making a full revolution. It only moves from left to right and then right to left. Weird!

[digirebelva]

It started out counter-clockwise for me, but when I look at the wording directly and only look at the image out of the corner of my eye, she stops and starts spinning clockwise. But if i look away and look back she is again spinning counter-clockwise..thats wild.

[EOS_JD]

Thought this was a scam! I can change it at will now! Very neat!

[cdifoto]

I've looked at it about a dozen separate times and I still only see clockwise. :lol:

[DHancock]

I've seen that before. Then I was able to see it both ways. Now I just see clockwise. I guess my left side is losing power. :)

[cdifoto]

With all this right brain thinking, how come I still have no artistic abilities?

[digirebelva]

With all this right brain thinking, how come I still have no artistic abilities?

having the abilities and actually being able to use them are 2 seperate functions..you may need surgey to correct the condition:lol:

[cdifoto]

having the abilities and actually being able to use them are 2 seperate functions..you may need surgey to correct the condition:lol:
Hah maybe. I need rewired I guess. Got my terminals backwards. :lol:

[digirebelva]

Hah maybe. I need rewired I guess. Got my terminals backwards. :lol:

Yes we can make an appt. with Dr. Victor Frankenstein to fix you right up:p

[sevillafox]

Left brained for me but somtimes I can see the right brain way. I guess that explains why my photography mostly sucks but I get lucky sometimes and get a decent shot. ;)

[cdifoto]

Left brained for me but somtimes I can see the right brain way. I guess that explains why my photography mostly sucks but I get lucky sometimes and get a decent shot. ;)
Am I like, your mentor or something? You're sounding an awful lot like me. Emphasis on awful.

[sevillafox]

Am I like, your mentor or something? You're sounding an awful lot like me. Emphasis on awful.


Yeah, it's my goal in life to be just like you...without the porn addiction. :lol:

[Bobster]

when i opened the page up it was turning anti-clockwise, but if you look away slightly, you can get it to turn the opposite way :)

[TMR Design]

when i opened the page up it was turning anti-clockwise, but if you look away slightly, you can get it to turn the opposite way :)

Yes but that's you. The whole point is that some can do that and some can't.

[gjl711]

I can make her spin either way quite easily. When I first look she is spinning one way or the other, usually clockwise but not always. If I glance down at the shadow and think the other direction and look back up, she is spinning in that direction.

[LeesaB]

clockwise all the way, I could not see the other way no matter what.

[cdifoto]

Yeah, it's my goal in life to be just like you...without the porn addiction. :lol:
What the hell's wrong with the porn addiction? Matter of fact, I consider that my best trait.

[sevillafox]

What the hell's wrong with the porn addiction? Matter of fact, I consider that my best trait.

It certainly can't be your tact and personality. ;)

[digirebelva]

Left brained for me but somtimes I can see the right brain way. I guess that explains why my photography mostly sucks but I get lucky sometimes and get a decent shot. ;)


Must be my problem as well:D

[LeesaB]

Okay the more I try the madder I get! LOL

Stupid spinning girl!

[gymell]

Hey Mike,

No matter what I do or try she is turning clockwise. My brain doesn't want to see otherwise. :D

Me too, except I couldn't make myself see it going clockwise. All I can see is counter-clockwise. It's interesting, but I certainly wouldn't consider this any kind of scientific test. Or did I just prove the test right by making that left-brained statement! :)

[gjl711]

Okay the more I try the madder I get! LOL

Stupid spinning girl!Look at the shadow and thing left. :)

[gjl711]

...Or did I just prove the test right by making that left-brained statement! :)Sounded pretty left brained to me. ;)

[Tessa]

Mostly going clockwise, sometimes counter-clockwise... hmm...

[TMR Design]

Me too, except I couldn't make myself see it going clockwise. All I can see is counter-clockwise. It's interesting, but I certainly wouldn't consider this any kind of scientific test. Or did I just prove the test right by making that left-brained statement! :)

It's only a scientific test if you believe in science. :D:D:D

[KarlosDaJackal]

It's only a scientific test if you believe in science. :D:D:D

Thats just sillly, its like saying a tree falling in the forest with nobody around to hear it does "not" make a sound! :lol:

[gjl711]

Thats just sillly, its like saying a tree falling in the forest with nobody around to hear it does "not" make a sound! :lol:
It doesn't, I though everyone knew that. It takes an observer to be present to interpret the pressure waves as sounds. :)

[gymell]

Thats just sillly, its like saying a tree falling in the forest with nobody around to hear it does "not" make a sound! :lol:

How left-brained of you. ;)

[KarlosDaJackal]

How left-brained of you. ;)

I'm a right swinger! Actually I lied I'm brain ambidextrous, enough of this I'm off to buy some duct tape from a pink elephant :p

[TMR Design]

Thats just sillly, its like saying a tree falling in the forest with nobody around to hear it does "not" make a sound! :lol:

Of course it's silly. I wouldn't have it any other way. :D

[gjl711]

If a tree falls in the forestMore importantly, if a tree falls in the forest do the other trees laugh and say “look, Oaky is fell..)

[Gentleman Villain]

This thread seems to be getting passed around the sub-forums a bit.... Is it possible that some left-brainers are finding it difficult to place this particular topic in a category? The OP already tied it to lighting, but maybe some people just didn't "get it" :p

BTW - some of the comments are really cracking me up

[gymell]

This thread seems to be getting passed around the sub-forums a bit.... Is it possible that some left-brainers are finding it difficult to place this particular topic in a category? The OP already tied it to lighting, but maybe some people just didn't "get it" :p

BTW - some of the comments are really cracking me up

Hey, it's the right-brainers who are all disorganized and non-linear! ;)

[sevillafox]

Maybe the test conclusively proves that we're all full of it.

[TMR Design]

Maybe the test conclusively proves that we're all full of it.

Ahh, now we're on to something. ;)

[gjl711]

Hey, it's the right-brainers who are all disorganized and non-linear! ;)
My wife always tells me I act as if I had no brain so tonight I’m going home, popping up this website stare at the nekid lady and prove to her that I do in fact have a brain and its somewhere on the right side.

[sevillafox]

My wife always tells me I act as if I had no brain so tonight I’m going home, popping up this website stare at the nekid lady and prove to her that I do in fact have a brain and its somewhere on the right side.


Aren't most males' brains located somewhere significantly south?

[gjl711]

Aren't most males' brains located somewhere significantly south?
Hmm… Though there may be a head, I can attest to the fact that there is no brain. Why I let the little feller have a peek at the spinning girl and he saw nothing. Yup.. conclusive proof. No brain. ;)

[sevillafox]

Hmm… Though there may be a head, I can attest to the fact that there is no brain. Why I let the little feller have a peek at the spinning girl and he saw nothing. Yup.. conclusive proof. No brain. ;)

<choking on my pepsi>

LMAO!!!

[HuskyKMA]

At first she was spinning clockwise, they I thought she was going anti-clockwise. I can change it in my head. But looking at the list of traits, I'm definitely a left-brained person.

Hmm… Though there may be a head, I can attest to the fact that there is no brain. Why I let the little feller have a peek at the spinning girl and he saw nothing. Yup.. conclusive proof. No brain. ;)

I...have no comment. :eek:

[TMR Design]

Aren't most males' brains located somewhere significantly south?

Funny, I know many woman that have their brain slightly further south of where males' brains are located.

[Junior's G7]

I'm impressed by this forum! I skimmed through and didn't see anyone saying "That's fake - it changes randomly" or any such nonsense. First time I've not seen that appear shortly after the .gif gets posted.

If you ever need any proof that it does, in fact, change according to your mind's eye, have a look at these two .gifs that will explain it:

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o73/itllgrowback/Misc/forums/1194108501277.gif

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o73/itllgrowback/Misc/forums/1194069157952.gif

If you need a password, it's Junior.

[gymell]

Looking at them both spinning different directions at the same time makes my head hurt. ;) Seriously, I think it gave me a slight bit of motion sickness.

[gjl711]

...If you ever need any proof that it does, in fact, change according to your mind's eye, have a look at these two .gifs that will explain it:

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o73/itllgrowback/Misc/forums/1194108501277.gif
....
Hey.. It’s not spinning anymore. She is bouncing left to right then back. A wecome left and right brained at the same time.. Wait.. left + right = 1 + -1 = … Wait.. Maybe my wife is right after all.

[Gentleman Villain]

I'm impressed by this forum! I skimmed through and didn't see anyone saying "That's fake - it changes randomly" or any such nonsense. First time I've not seen that appear shortly after the .gif gets posted.

If you ever need any proof that it does, in fact, change according to your mind's eye, have a look at these two .gifs that will explain it:

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o73/itllgrowback/Misc/forums/1194108501277.gif

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o73/itllgrowback/Misc/forums/1194069157952.gif

If you need a password, it's Junior.

Thanks for posting!

WOW - that is trippy! I finally see both versions. There was absolutely no way I could have seen the counter-clockwise movement without the help of that colored gif...that's amazing

[PiRho]

by brain spins both directions. of that list of right vs left brained traits, I find I fit about 50/50, so I guess I'm normal... oh wait. was it normal to only see her spin one way?

[S-S]

i saw both directions...

[EOS_JD]

I've looked at it about a dozen separate times and I still only see clockwise. :lol:

If you concentrate on the planted foot, you should be able to see it move one way then the other and therefore the whole dancer too :)

[powerslave]

Clockwise all the way. Does this mean I'm a good artist? If it does, I'm putting this on my resume. :lol:

[Billginthekeys]

I can see her going clockwise and ONLY clockwise, and I tried. I also am usually very good with optical illusions.
Edit, nevermind I got it. Its still really creepy though.

[Gentleman Villain]

Clockwise all the way. Does this mean I'm a good artist? If it does, I'm putting this on my resume. :lol:

haha...me too

Actually, the reason why I started this thread is because I'm trying to find an approach to teaching and learning photography (especially lighting) that deviates from formula....So the LAST thing I want is for people to look at the left/right brain thing as just another formula. I hoping to get people to stray away from formula.

My belief is that the left/right brain thing is just one factor that makes up a person's comfort zone. There are probably lots of other factors too.... like gender, culture, language, race, astrological sign, religious beliefs etc that will determine a photographer's particular Point of View. The left brain vs right brain thing is just one factor of many...I think it helps to determine a "comfort zone"....It doesn't necessarily mean a person will be a good artist or not.

[DozerLYP]

I see her tuning one way and when I go back to read the text, she start turning the other way. It's probably from all those years working in a strip club. :rolleyes:

[gjl711]

What does it mean when she stops?

[FocalPrincess]

I think the test is flawed - I've always known I was very left-centric, and yet I cannot even conceive of how the dancer could be seen as turning anti-clockwise..

Me either. I even tried to "force" her to spin the other way. She refused.

I've even turned the damn monitor upside down in an effort to get her to spin the other way. Didn't work. Clockwise for me as well. Damn this is frustrating, lol, I consider myself to be rather logical and well, somewhat detail oriented....rather than artistic. I don't have a friggin' crafty bone in my body.

Left brained for me but somtimes I can see the right brain way. I guess that explains why my photography mostly sucks but I get lucky sometimes and get a decent shot. ;)

You're fulla crap. Your shots don't suck.

Am I like, your mentor or something? You're sounding an awful lot like me. Emphasis on awful.

You're full of crap, but different reasons. ;)

Yeah, it's my goal in life to be just like you...without the porn addiction. :lol:
It certainly can't be your tact and personality. ;)

You're killing me today! I didn't know you got a kick out of Don too.


clockwise all the way, I could not see the other way no matter what.
Okay the more I try the madder I get! LOL

Stupid spinning girl!

YES! Same here.

[sidg]

AHHHHH!
Each time I look back from the list of characteristics to the lady spinning she changes directions. I think that just says that what little brain I might have left can't decide which way to go.

[sevillafox]

You're killing me today! I didn't know you got a kick out of Don too.


Oh, yes. He cracks me up. Check out the "what's your dirty little photography secret" thread.

[Gentleman Villain]

damn, there are haikus in this sub-forum eek? So, the lounge is where the unwanted threads to go die huh? hahaha Guess that explains why I never looked in this place before today.

[TMR Design]

damn, there are haikus in this sub-forum eek? So, the lounge is where the unwanted threads to go die huh? hahaha Guess that explains why I never looked in this place before today.

The Lounge can be a dangerous place Mike.. lolol

[fubarhouse]

Interesting find, I am right brained, according to this, but I am a mix and match of the listed attributes.

[digirebelva]

Interesting find, I am right brained, according to this, but I am a mix and match of the listed attributes.

As I am, and once I can get her to spin clockwise, she will spin back counter-clockwise while I am looking directly at it. Dang indecesive brain...I wish it would make up its mind and quit having internal conflicts...really gets confusing sometimes;)

[cheson74]

I see strictly clockwise.

[AngryCorgi]

Here is an excellent test for finding what part of your brain is dominant.

http://www.rcw.bc.ca/test/personality.html

Download the "brain.exe" app and run it (Windows only). I tested this against people who were not terribly successful at my last job (drafting work) with interesting results.

I normally test far-back (visually stimulated) and center.

[gjl711]

Hmm.. I'm always leery about downloading and running .exe files I know little about.

[Stealthy Ninja]

At first she was going CW. Then I worked out how to get her to go CCW. Now she's spinning left and right like a crazy woman.

My ninja mind power has turned her crazy.

The key is concentrating on the legs and the crossover point, not the body. Some of you guys probably couldn't keep your mind off the... upper endowments.

[rkmenon]

I started seeing it anit-clockwise and then clockwise and was stuck at clockwise for almost 15 mins then i came up with the answer :)
i was not able to see her going anti-clockwise again for such a long time so what i did is
while clockwise i tried to visualise her legs spinning anti-clockwise and in a few secs i started seeing it anti-clockwise. try it out!
Its all about once on persception.

thanks for sharing!
ravi.....

[nphsbuckeye]

I can only see clock-wise, but I'm strongly right brained.

[Stealthy Ninja]

The key is concentrating on the legs and the crossover point, not the body. Some of you guys probably couldn't keep your mind off the... upper endowments.

then next post

...so what i did is
while clockwise i tried to visualise her legs spinning anti-clockwise and in a few secs i started seeing it anti-clockwise. try it out!

Didn't I just say that? ???

:lol:

[Stealthy Ninja]

I can only see clock-wise, but I'm strongly right brained.

That surgery was a mistake? :lol:

[neilwood32]

Clockwise only - but i reckon im more logical than artistic so i guess my wiring is all screwed up!

[Stealthy Ninja]

Clockwise only - but i reckon im more logical than artistic so i guess my wiring is all screwed up!

.neht siht daer nac uoy ebyaM

[neilwood32]

.neht siht daer nac uoy ebyaM

:pmelborp on htiw nac i sey

[rkmenon]

then next post



Didn't I just say that? ???

:lol:

i tk a bow.....