Number 34, 2015

Number 34 delves into the intricate interplay between optical perception and photographic representation, utilizing the quintessentially American sport of baseball as its rich metaphorical and analytical backdrop. This exploration centers on the dynamic relationship between the pitcher, the batter, and the baseball as it hurtles through the air, focusing particularly on the complex visual cues and mental calculations a batter employs to predict the ball's trajectory and ultimate destination.

The project investigates how the human visual system processes the speed and spin of a baseball, and how this perception is both mirrored and challenged by the unique properties of photographic vision. For instance, a batter's ability to discern the ball's path relies on a sophisticated array of sensory inputs. These include the characteristic blurring pattern that a rapidly moving ball creates against the backdrop, which provides crucial information about its velocity and direction. Furthermore, the batter meticulously observes the pitcher's body language, from the initial wind-up to the subtle nuances of their release point. This observation, combined with the anticipation built from previous pitches in the game or even from an entire career of facing similar pitchers, forms a complex cognitive framework that allows the batter to make split-second decisions. The project aims to illuminate how these diverse visual and contextual cues contribute to the batter's remarkable ability to predict and react to a pitch, offering a profound insight into the mechanics of human perception in a high-stakes, fast-paced environment.