Subject: [Tweeters] Photography and Reality
Date: Feb 6 20:47:38 2008
From: SGMlod at aol.com - SGMlod at aol.com


Greetings All

A HUGE round of applauds for John Tubbs. His comments couldn't be more
accurate or cogent. I was amazed that, during a recent debate on Frontiers of ID,
many people asserted that photographs were "reality" and what observers see is
"biased."

We all know that we "filter" what we see and hear (or our brains do,
depending on how you wish to view it) .... and so do cameras. Photographs, being
something we can pass around, give the feel of being absolutely "real," but they
aren't.

And most of the participants in the Frontiers of ID debate seemed to be of
the opinion that photographs were vastly superior to written notes, but that
some written documentation is desirable.

My feeling is this. Both photographs and written notes can be exceptionally
valuable and exceptionally misleading. Photographs are best for birds that are
identified by plumage pattern or color. Birds in which structure and shape are
important seem to be very difficult to accurately depict in a photo which
captures just one (or 2 or 3 or whatever images).... our eyes put together a huge
number of images to form an impression of shape. Yes, I'd say the photographs
tend to be less biased than written descriptions, but the key here is
"tends."

So, for John's sparrow, his photos (being of excellent quality) made
identification exceptionally easy, and really, no written notes were necessary. On the
other hand, for an Empidonax flycatcher, I'd likely place more weight on
detailed descriptions from experienced observers who'd seen the bird for a goodly
period of time than on 5 or even 10 photos, even if good quality. Of course,
there are many variables and possible exceptions.

Of course, great descriptions and beautiful photos together are ideal.....
And finally, I must add, what IS reality, eh?

Cheers
Steven Mlodinow
Everett WA


**************
Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL
Music.

(http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp00300000002548)