Slowing Down the Pitch

When a baseball batter becomes more proficient and increases his batting average, it is said that the pitches have slowed down or that the ball looks larger. I think that this is a left brain (analytical) / right brain (holistic) thing.

As a novice, the batter always has to rehearse fundamentals as the pitch is thrown. Are my feet in the right place? Is my left elbow high enough? There are so many left brain things to consider that there isn't enough time during the pitch. The analytical thoughts are not finished as the pop of the ball hitting the catchers mitt is heard.

When the batter becomes more proficient, the fundamentals have been practiced so much that they become second nature. The left brain does not have to consider them, so they become a right brain function. The left brain has time to recognize a fastball or curve ball and the body just knows what to do.

I feel that a part of my photography has become right brained. When I got my first DSLR 3 1/2 years ago, I photographed a Great Blue Heron just standing, not moving. The images were blurry. I was told to focus on the eye. The eye? Are you kidding me? I felt lucky to get the bird in the frame!

Now I am happy to say that when I photograph birds, I see the eye. Almost always.





When I photographed this cooperative Red Winged Blackbird, I immediately saw the eye. In fact, I waited to depress the shutter release until a saw a catch light in the eye. I think that this means that I am familiar enough with the fundamentals of the camera that my left brain has time to compose a decent shot. Sometimes.

For an accomplished bird photographer, this is kindergarten stuff. For me, it is a step forward.

Now, if only the birds would slow down, like the pitch...

Bob