

An example of something that fascinates me from both art and AI perspectives was described in a recent New York Times article, When Language Can Hold the Answer. Several studies–more careful and convincing than previous ones–have shown a significant connection between language and visual perception. In this particular case, that translates into a different capability for color perception depending on the side of the visual field (left or right) of the stimulus, the reason being that some aspects of language are predominantly left-brain. One study found that Russian speakers, whose language makes a distinction between blues that English doesn’t have, are more sensitive to distinctions in blue in the right visual field only. Such a finding would probably not influence the way any “expressive” artist paints, but it might well lead to improving the effectiveness of an advertisement, which typically involves an image paired with certain “priming” words.


If it weren’t for artificial intelligence, I’d sometimes have no intelligence at all. Last Sunday I followed these bear tracks for miles, not exactly deliberately, but unwilling to give up my intended trail just because a bear was using it, too (and also hoping for a good sighting). I was evidently gaining on him or her, though not fast enough to catch up before the light began to fade and I turned back. On consulting several tracking books yesterday, I concluded that my quarry was most likely a grizzly out of its usual range, rather than the black bear I’d imagined. Not too smart, especially at this season.


Photographing tracks reminded me of Birgit’s duck dancing–letting animals make the marks–so I also photographed a set that I believe are bobcat, though the prints weren’t very clear in the shaded, looser snow. The black hole is the stream I had followed on the way up, and which had attracted most of my attention. Just as well.


In preparing the images above, I’ve been aware brightness and contrast and how the eye follows these cues. I experimented with slight color toning to influence the overall feeling, though in the end I preferred neutral shades of gray. These are things anyone with any background might do. In your case, does a theoretical understanding of perceptual psychology play any role in your working process? Or are you working entirely intuitively, or according to habits or methods you’ve acquired?