Cool Creator Spotlight: Dave McKeegan

Today's cool creator, Dave McKeegan, specializes in two topics, so there is double the chance his videos might interest you! First, he's a photographer, and his content includes everything from photography basics to tutorials and gear reviews. Second, he is also one of the best presenters I have seen on the topic of Flat Earth and moon landing conspiracy theories, especially through the lens (see what I did there?) of his photography experience.

I know there are a lot of photographers on HIVE, and while I am definitely on the amateurish end of the spectrum, I'm sure even pros might find his reviews and tutorials useful.

I'll need a proper dedicated camera to fully make use of some of this info, but even understanding the basics might improve my smartphone snapshots.

More recently, however, he has shifted more and more to dissecting flat earth claims and related topics. His presentations are remarkable in that his attitude has none of the snide condescension most flat earth debunkers exude. Instead, he calmly states the argument, discusses the flaws in it, and presents a better explanation based on basic principles anyone should be able to follow. This kind of serious and civil discussion is absent across much of the internet, so I see it as a breath of fresh air scientifically and psychologically.

Are spacewalks really filmed underwater? Well, how do light and lenses behave in that medium, and does it match footage from space?

Why do colors of light mix differently to colors of pigment, and how do our eyes see color?

I think there are some people who have fallen prey to fast-talking intellectual con artists who carelessly (or with malicious intent) misapply and misinterpret explanations where they simply do not fit, and then proceed to insult anyone who critiques their assertions.

Science is always open to new discoveries and reinterpretation of data through new models. Beware of anyone who dismisses rational challenges or established principles out of hand. Instead, ask why would you expect a given outcome in the first place, how would you test it, and what can you do to ensure a good test with as few variables as possible? If you don't know, how can you find out? Keep an open mind, just don't let your brain fall out.