Re: Good Photographers

[P3D Josh Rubin <jnr@xxxxxxxxx>]

George T. writes:  

>   In your opinion, what does it take for someone to be a good vs. average or 
>   not so good photographer?  How are some people able to take better pictures
>   than others?  What does it take to be a good photographer?  Experience,
>   education, talent?  What?
   
Without answering the question as posed, I'd like to 
ask a related question.  What does it take to be a 
good *stereo* photographer, over and above a
photographer's technical skills?

Obviously, there is certain technical knowledge
only applicable to stereo, such as windowing,
ortho rules and their wanton violation(;^)),
etc.  But what is a stereographer's "eye"?

I'd like to suggest a factor that might 
settle me into some serious hot water.  In
the interest of robust communication, I 
offer the following:

Sex.

I think that good sterography requires an
innate interest in spatial relations.  Not
to kick off a flame war but, just as women
are known to surpass men in verbal skills,
men are known to surpass women in space
relations.  This may account for the
entirely lamentable under-representation 
of women in the field.

***DISCLAIMERS!!!!!!***

1.  I am not a sexist.  The foregoing observations
    are intended as a statement of someone else's
    scientifically and statistically verified
    findings.  I accept them because they are
    generally acknowledged in the cognitive 
    science field.

2.  Obviously, the foregoing is a gross
    over-generalization and is not
    intended as any statement about how things
    ought to be, natural law, or whether the
    differences are due to nature or nurture.

3.  I don't intend for a moment to belittle
    the truly outstanding work of the many
    excellent female stereographers.  One
    of my closest friends, Sara Cook of
    Depthography, Inc., has an amazing
    eye for 3-D.  I am totally in awe of
    her ability to take 2-D artwork and,
    using her knowledge of perspective,
    transform it into a magnificently
    sculpted lenticular composition.

Josh (last seen fleeing the jurisdiction in an asbestos suit)
   
Joshua N. Rubin (jnr@xxxxxxxxx) 


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