Scientists unartistic?

[P3D Paul S. Boyer <boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mark Dottle quotes his friend Bob:
"Bob the photographer visited me this evening and I invited him to
read
the many P3-D lists with me.  He laughed out loud and told me that he
would love to see the work of many who posted technical notes on the
list
claiming that 'science oriented people more often than not are lousy
photographers and do all theoretical dreaming and speculation....and
can't create a good image to save their lives!'"

My response is a big "phooey!"  One must not make such
broad generalizations about a subject as complex and
variable as human ability.  Having said that, I will offer
my own generalization which is that artsey people often
can't or won't do technology, but technological people
can readily learn artistic principles.  Even that is
a generalization to which several of my artist-friends
are notable exceptions.

The idea that technical people are not "creative" is
one of the stupidist prejudices among people who know
nothing about science and technology and the
creative imagination necessary in both endeavors.
I find that in one of my camera clubs the best
photographers from an artistic viewpoint (and
in judged competition) are: a physics teacher,
a dentist, a psychologist, another psychologist,
a lawyer, a machinist, and three housewives.  I
find it hard to see a definite pattern here,
except that all these individuals have worked
hard and have been willing to experiment and
to teach themselves.  They obviously have not
classified themselves as artistically disabled.
--Paul Boyer   <boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>


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