What’s Your Preference?

CaptainNH · #1 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 01:51 PM

Whilst paying for yet more camera gear recently, the store owner commented that I was yet another left handed photog. He reckons photogs are about 60% lefties.

Let's see shall we?.........

Gobae · #2 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 02:45 PM

Hmm... we'll have to see as more people participate.

But I've noticed the same thing in the blacksmithing/art-metal community. Nearly 50% of all the demonstrators at the national hammer-in's are left handed. A prodigious amount compared to the 7%-10% of left handedness occurrence in the general population.

OsmosisStudios · #3 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 02:49 PM

really? I think the issue I have is that the left-handed population is a small fraction compared to the right-handed population

Of course, Ken Rockwell is the only person to have a Left-handed D3!

/lulz/

Daoust · #4 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 02:55 PM

I'm a lefty and voted as such.

I'd wager a bet that, while there may not be more lefties than righties, I think there will be a disproportionately higher number of lefties than usual, especially males. That's if the whole left brain/right brain science holds any truth.

Jim Bryant · #5 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 04:17 PM

Ha, sorry..we live in a right-handed world. It would be stupid to make cameras for lefties, but who knows what technology has in store for us

. The golfing companies now have left handed clubs.

beth0b · #6 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Ha, sorry..we live in a right-handed world. It would be stupid to make cameras for lefties, but who knows what technology has in store for us

. The golfing companies now have left handed clubs.

All sorts of companies make left handed things still.. left handed guitars, golf clubs like you said, scissors... to accommodate to left handers too, even though 90% of us are right handed

dakwegmo · #7 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 07:25 PM

With 90% of the population being right-handed, I would find it hard to believe that the subset of the population buying cameras is that far shifted to lefties. Perhaps there's something about photography in general, or simply buying in a brick and mortar store that appeals more to people who are left-handed, but I suspect the 60% figure is way off.

navcom · #8 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 07:31 PM

I'm a lefty!....we are the only one's in our "right mind".

It is a right-hand world though. While some products do offer left-hand versions, the vast majority do not. Case in point...a rifle I once bought. It ejected the spent cartridge out the right side and backwards...right in my face. Had to learn to shoot right-handed (stock in your right shoulder) or return the rifle. Returned the rifle for one that ejected outwards like most do.

In many countries, as I'm sure some here can attest to, children are forced to use their right hands early on if they show signs of being a lefty. Sounds like discrimination to me!

I have seen statistics that say artistic people are more likely to be left handed because the same part of the brain that motivates one to exercise their artistic side is the same as the one that determines your hand usage....or something along those lines!

navcom · #9 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakwegmo

With 90% of the population being right-handed, I would find it hard to believe that the subset of the population buying cameras is that far shifted to lefties. Perhaps there's something about photography in general, or simply buying in a brick and mortar store that appeals more to people who are left-handed, but I suspect the 60% figure is way off.

You are probably right. But I would be curious about how many successful photographers are left handed versus right handed instead of just how many folks who are hobbyists. That might be more accurate as to whether there is a link.

I'm a pilot. I'm also scared to death of heights! But it doesn't bother me in the aircraft. I have several friends who are the same way. Then I learned that the percentage of the pilot population that is scared of heights is MORE than the percentage of the general population...by quite a bit! Not quite sure why, but my guess has always been that those who are scared of heights become pilots to face their fear or something along those lines.

dakwegmo · #10 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by navcom

You are probably right. But I would be curious about how many successful photographers are left handed versus right handed instead of just how many folks who are hobbyists. That might be more accurate as to whether there is a link.

That's a good point. Successful photographers probably do gain an advantage from using their right brain more, so the numbers might skew slightly there. However, among hobbyists, I expect the numbers would very nearly match that of the general population, since photography requires use of both right and left brain (left for all the technical details, right for the more creative aspects).

Quote:

Originally Posted by navcom

I'm a pilot. I'm also scared to death of heights! But it doesn't bother me in the aircraft. I have several friends who are the same way. Then I learned that the percentage of the pilot population that is scared of heights is MORE than the percentage of the general population...by quite a bit! Not quite sure why, but my guess has always been that those who are scared of heights become pilots to face their fear or something along those lines.

That is fascinating. I wonder if there are other professions that have similar fear/exposure relationships.