Have you ever noticed that some folks are 'big picture' people and some of us are 'detail' people? In all fairness there is a catch to leaning too heavily in either direction. For instance, the 'detail' folks like myself, have a tendency to get so wrapped up in the wonderful details we love so much, that we fail to be able to see the bigger picture. You're not able to see the forest through the trees, the old saying goes. And likewise, the 'big picture' people are sometimes so far sighted that they fail to recognize and appreciate the small details that make life beautiful. Of course optimally, we should all strive for a perfect balance between the two. In fact, that applies to everything in life. Balance is the key to happiness, fulfillment and success. But I'll save that for another post. Today I want to touch on the importance of the 'details'! Being a 'detail' girl myself, one might be quick to assume that I am taking sides here or showing some partiality. And you'd be absolutely right! But only for the sake of this one blog today and how we can apply that principle to photography.
So my challenge to you is this....first and foremost, find something that you find attractive or interesting and photograph it. And don't discount the simple things, as they often become the most beautiful when you pay them a little attention. When I was at my son's school for his Easter party, I went out to put my purse in the car. My car was parked across the street in a somewhat dry, grassy field of what looked at first glance to be dead grass, weeds and dirt. But as I was looking at the ground to watch where I was stepping, I noticed these delicate little daisy flowers. Okay...so most people would identify them as weeds true enough. And if I had only looked at the 'bigger picture' I might have never noticed the softness of the little daisy heads, or how they danced and swayed in the breeze. And for some strange reason they brought to my mind an image association of delicate feminine girls. So I decided to give them their 'shot'...to pay them a little attention, and see them through a lens of 'gratitude' for the beauty they possessed. I wondered to myself if anyone else would ever come along and photograph them or even notice them or admire them, let alone appreciate their beauty. I figured I was probably their only suitor, and that I noticed them for a reason and they were meant to be photographed. (I should also humorously note here that the teachers grew concerned as they spied me from the playground looking down into the grass. They asked my husband if I was okay, and had I lost a contact or something? Ha...I didn't even attempt to try and explain that I spent the last 10 minutes photographing their 'weeds'!)
Okay, so here is my first shot....
Pretty enough...a shallow depth of field focusing only on the flowers closest to me while giving a nice soft focus blur to those in the background. This shot speaks to me of Spring. An array of blooms wild, free and unkempt. This also has a bohemian vibe to me. But as always...I want to dig deeper, unearth more, and get closer to my subject. So I shoot again and this is what I saw next.
I'm beginning to get to know them better now. The room is not so crowded anymore. I'm starting to grasp some recognition, and those who aren't important are fading ever more into the blurry background of oblivion. The grass and leaves are starting to become a painted background. And I can now see some definition in their sweet little faces. Should I be reticent and stop here? Perhaps I've seen all there is to see I think. But sometimes....LESS IS MORE! So....I zoom in closer.
Oh wow...look what I've uncovered. That mass of weeds is looking more like ART to me. And one little lady seems intent on stealing the show does she not? And what about all that empty space you ask? Well space is at a premium these days and everyone wants more. A flower and a photograph are no exception. And did you notice how the green of the grass and leaves has faded into a lovely backdrop that now shifts the focus onto the 'star' of the show? Here is where 'cropping' comes into play and can become your friend or your enemy. If I'd left that flower in the center of this shot...the outcome would not have been nearly as effective, artistic or pleasing to the eye. When we shoot, we have a tendency to want to center everything right smack dab in the middle of the frame. But try to think outside of that box and shift things over a little.
What could be done with this image now that I've left all that blank space over there? Well, besides aiding the eye in focusing on what is the most important element in the shot....it also provides a space for something else. But what? A hand written sentiment of love or congratulations perhaps. For I see one of those enclosure cards you get at the florist when you send someone flowers, with the perfect place to sign your name. Or a place card perhaps, to adorn the table for Easter brunch. Yes...this is the shot that pleases me most. I feel I have captured the essence of their beauty as I saw it. BUT....what if? Yep! You knew I couldn't stop without pushing the envelope didn't you? There is a saying that I saw credited to Mick Jagger, but have since seen it attributed to many others as well...and that is "anything worth doing, is worth overdoing"! And I am a happy subscriber to that philosophy of life. So for good measure I zoomed in one more time. Just like the bear that went over the mountain. Do you remember WHY he went over it? TO SEE WHAT HE COULD SEE of course! Why else?
And here I finally get to know my subject as intimately as my lens at the time would allow. I can see her full regalia of petals....the layers of her petticoat, if you will. And I can see her core...her heart....the center of her aura! I can even observe where the 'cycle of life' takes place. Where she feeds the bees who pollinate the flowers and so on and so forth. I have an appreciation for this lovely flower (or weed) that I never would have had if I didn't take time to pay attention to the DETAILS! I uncovered a beauty in them that thereby allowed me to create yet another thing of beauty in a photograph and art. So in essence...I've come to understand this as the beauty in the world being multiplied by the small act of appreciation and gratitude for what each living thing uniquely has to offer. I could have discounted that dusty old field as an eyesore, something not worthy of being seen and appreciated, because at first glance it appeared to merely be plain and shabbily dressed. But the magical secret is that the beauty was in the DETAILS!
Warning: I love quotes and use them often. And I find two of my favorite "magic' quotes applicable here because magic takes so many different forms....
"The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper."
"That's the thing with magic. You've got to know it's still here, all around us, or it just stays invisible for you."
On an ending note, which of the 4 shots do you find to be most pleasing to your eye? As I'm sure you are aware...all art is subjective, so to me it's always interesting to know what others think. For the record, although I do love the intimacy of the final shot, my personal choice is still #3 for all the reasons I listed above and ones that I didn't include. Here's wishing everyone a weekend filled with magical details!
Truly beautiful words to express how to walk a little slower and look a little deeper. I really enjoyed seeing the tiny daisies in the perspective of this also.
It's kind of odd that you would write this tonight, as I had an experience myself. I was driving home today from an errand and along the way home in the well manicured median strip between traffic heading east and west was an area of concrete with a tall weed growing from the cracks. I was driving around 35 mph when I noticed this and then passing this 'weed' were the nicely groomed flowers & trees that were intentionally placed. I then had the passing thought of how that weed would be plucked from it's crack eventually- because someone would see it as a 'weed', however I saw it as life. I saw it as a symbol of life as well, that even in the barrier placed with no existing intention of growth for life, that life sprung forth. How beautiful yes? And even more beautiful was that I had noticed it.
Posted by: Melissa | May 22, 2009 at 03:37 AM
I am enchanted! This is a fabulous article and so utterly relaxing that I am inspired! I spend alot of time looking for the details...thank you for sharing what is obviously a refined and powerful process of yours! I look forward to reading a lot more! I love this blog...it simply speaks to me. Quite frankly, it's the other one that I always wanted to create...so whimsical and wonderful!
Posted by: Beth Schreibman Gehring | May 22, 2009 at 10:52 PM