The Right Hemisphere and the How Visual Imagery Transforms the Mind
In a world saturated with text and language (and what we SEO people call "copy", that is large blocks of text for search engines), it is perhaps more crucial than ever to understand what is really going on in the mind when we view written language, photographs, and video. What is it doing to us and what are the effects of creating, posting, and sharing this media on ourselves and our audiences?
Hi, I'm Matt! As a photographer and video production specialist based out of Rochester, Minnesota, I wanted to get deeper into question with neuroscience to grasp the profound effects of photography and videography on the mind in particular. Here, I will give you the short version of the story.
"It is with the right hemisphere that we distinguish individuals of all kinds, places as well as faces. In fact it is precisely its capacity for holistic processing that enables the right hemisphere to recognise individuals. Individuals are, after all, Gestalt wholes: that face, and types, the right hemisphere is more concerned with the uniqueness and individuality of each existing thing or being."
- Iain McGilchrist, The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World
After nearly 5 months, I've just finished reading neuroscience researcher and scholar Dr. Iain McGilchrist's 616 page masterwork The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World where he explores these questions (among many others). Although difficult to summarize, the key focus of the book is in grasping the reasons for the brain being divided into left an right hemispheres, and the implications of this on perception, cognition, and art and culture.
https://www.amazon.com/Master-His-Emissary-Divided-Western-dp-0300245920/dp/0300245920/ref=dp_ob_title_bk I encourage you to give it a read if you find the subject fascinating. It is a challenging and dense read at times, packed with information and concepts, but for myself, it is no exaggeration to say that the insights and research in this book have fundamentally altered the way I interpret the world.
So What Makes the Hemispheres Different?
While the left hemisphere excels at analyzing the technical aspects of these mediums—framing, composition, lighting—it is the right hemisphere that unlocks their deeper potential for connecting us to the world and to each other.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Left Hemisphere
Strengths:
Language and Logic: The left hemisphere excels in speech, grammar, and sequential reasoning.
Focus and Precision: Analyzes details and breaks down complex problems.
Abstraction and Categorization: Creates concepts and organizes knowledge.
Utility and Control: Focused on problem-solving and achieving goals.
Drive for Certainty: Prefers clarity, predictability, and established patterns.
Weaknesses:
Limited Perspective: Overemphasis on parts, losing sight of interconnectedness.
Literalism: Struggles with nuance, metaphor, and implicit meaning.
Emotional Detachment: Prioritizes logic, limiting empathy and emotional depth.
Denial and Overconfidence: Resists change and denies uncomfortable truths.
Dissociation: Overreliance can detach from lived experience and emotion.
The Importance of Balance and Integration
The two hemispheres ideally function in a dynamic and interdependent relationship, each contributing its unique strengths to create a balanced and holistic experience of the world. However, when the left hemisphere operates without the balancing influence of the right, its inherent limitations can become amplified, leading to a distorted and potentially harmful perspective on the self and reality, disabling meaningful and emotional connection.
So How Does The Right Hemisphere Correct for These Weaknesses?
"...emotion is also the basis for our engagement with the world. Social understanding in the sense of empathic connection, as well as understanding how others feel, what they mean not only by what they say in context, as we have seen, but by their facial expressions, their ‘body language’ and tone of voice – all this is made possible by the right hemisphere."
- Iain McGilchrist, The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World
1. The Right Hemisphere and Attention: Beyond the Frame
While the left hemisphere may guide the technical framing of a shot, it is the right hemisphere that attunes us to the emotional context, the atmosphere, and the unspoken narratives that infuse an image with meaning.
Think of capturing a candid portrait: the left hemisphere might ensure proper focus and exposure, but it is the right hemisphere that senses the fleeting expressions, the subtle gestures, and the genuine connection between subject and photographer that make the image truly captivating.
2. The Right Hemisphere and Wholeness: Beyond the Sum of the Parts
The right hemisphere's ability to grasp the Gestalt, the essence of a whole, allows us to move beyond the individual elements of an image and to experience its overall impact, its emotional resonance, and its connection to a larger context.
In contrast to the left hemisphere's tendency to fragment and analyze, the right hemisphere perceives the interconnectedness of elements within an image, the interplay of light and shadow, the harmony of colors, and the way these elements contribute to a unified and evocative experience.
Consider a landscape photograph: the left hemisphere might dissect the scene into its constituent parts—trees, mountains, sky—but it is the right hemisphere that appreciates the overall beauty, the sense of place, and the feeling of being immersed in the scene.
3. The Right Hemisphere and Empathy
The right hemisphere's capacity for empathy allows us to connect with the subjects of photographs and videos on a deeper level, understanding their emotions, sensing their intentions, and recognizing their humanity, even in stillness or silence.
While the left hemisphere may focus on the objective features of a person's face or body, it is the right hemisphere that discerns the subtle cues that convey emotion, the nuances of expression, and the sense of a lived experience that lies beneath the surface.
Imagine a documentary video: the left hemisphere might process the factual information being conveyed, but it is the right hemisphere that allows us to empathize with the subjects, to share their joys and sorrows, and to feel a sense of kinship across cultures and circumstances.
4. The Right Hemisphere and Metaphor
The right hemisphere's affinity for metaphor allows us to see beyond the literal meaning of images, appreciating their symbolic significance, their ability to evoke multiple layers of interpretation, and their power to connect us to deeper truths about ourselves and the world.
While the left hemisphere might interpret an image in a straightforward, denotative manner, it is the right hemisphere that grasps its connotative meanings, its ability to resonate with personal memories, and its potential to spark insights and connections that go beyond the explicitly stated.
Think of a photograph of a single object: the left hemisphere might identify it simply as "a chair" or "a tree," but it is the right hemisphere that understands its potential for symbolic meaning, its connection to broader themes of home, nature, or human experience.
The Right Hemisphere and the "I-Thou" in Photography
The right hemisphere's role in fostering "I-Thou" relationships is central to understanding how photography and videography can connect us to others.
When we view an image with a right hemisphere lens, we engage with the subject not as a mere object ("I-It") but as a fellow being ("I-Thou").
This shift in perspective allows for empathy, respect, and a sense of shared humanity.
The Power of Visual Storytelling
In an era of text-heavy communication, the limitations of left hemisphere-driven content become increasingly apparent: a tendency toward abstraction over lived experience, fragmented perspectives, and an emotional detachment that hinders genuine connection. For individuals and brands aiming to build trust, foster community, and spread their message effectively, it is essential to harness the power of visual storytelling to overcome these pitfalls.
Photography, imagery, and video tap into the right hemisphere’s unique abilities—its appreciation for metaphor, wholeness, and empathy—bringing a depth and resonance that purely text-based communication often lacks. These visual tools help convey meaning beyond the literal, foster emotional connections, and create a sense of shared experience and authenticity. By integrating visuals thoughtfully, individuals and brands can transcend the rigid, detached frameworks of left hemisphere thinking, building narratives that connect with audiences on a deeper, more holistic level while fostering trust and a genuine sense of community.
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