Being Observant

Capturing the many things and events that are around us every day that most overlook, that is what I attempt to do. If I can get you to stop and think about that little flower that you stepped over on your way down the walk or the insect that you consider a nuisance and look at them in a different light then I have accomplished a small thing that may one day be a big event in your life.

There is beauty all around us all we have to do is open our eyes and see it. It may be as small as a tiny flower or as big as a bull but it is there all you have to do is open your eyes and see it. I’ve had people drive down a road never seeing the raccoon standing on the side of the road or even something as big as a deer or elk. Yet I not only see them I capture them with my camera.

I capture that single moment in time that I gladly share with you and my other friends. I love capturing with my camera the flower, ant or bull elk and then showing you the world you miss everyday of your life by not taking the time to look for it. Yes you have to look for it as it is there for you to see as well as I see it.

I’m nothing special; I’m like most people in many ways. Other than I use my eyes better or should say I use my brain to translate what I see better than most do. A while back I wrote about a cousin of mine who taught me to use my eyes to see, truly observe the world around me not just see. Anyone can learn to use their eyes or train their brain to translate what their eyes capture as they go through their day.

It isn’t some great secret that only a few share. Some people naturally are more observant than others, I don’t know why but they are. When I was a police officer I would stop a car for running a stop sign or some other such violation of the traffic laws. Most never saw the sign or realized they were going ten miles over the speed limit or more. Yes, I know many lie about that but after a while of stopping people you learn who are telling the truth and who are not to get out of a ticket. Their minds were not on driving the car or truck but off somewhere else day dreaming or just blank.

My friend and I go for our “adventures” on the roads around where we live and see most times more animals than others may see in a month or even a year. Why do we see them? We are observant and we of course are looking for them. We see them even when we are not looking specifically for them but talking about some other topic. We have trained our eyes and brain to respond to the movement or shapes of the animals we know that are out there. We even see animals we have never seen before that day because we are aware of the area around us as we drive down the roads.

I had a saying when I was a cop, People get in the car turn the engine on and their brains off, why else would they do the things they do every day as they drive to and from work. Are you one of those who turn the engine on and your brain off when you start to work? Have you gotten where you were going and then thought how did I get here when you arrived?

So many go through each day nothing about where they are or what they are doing. I know, I had to work the auto accidents they were involved in so many times. I had to pick up the pieces left lying on the highways and tell their loved ones they were dead. It was not fun going into someone’s home to let them know their husband, wife, child or other relative had been killed in an accident.

So being observant can not only help you stay alive but you will see the things you have missed so many times as you travel through this world. You’ll not only see that car about to drive out into the road in front of you but the animals standing on the sides of the roadways as well.

No I don’t see every animal we pass when I’m out there but we miss very few of them. Even though sometimes we are moving too fast to stop safely we still see them. So as you travel do it safely as well as being observant of the animals and sights around you. I’m not saying be a rubber neck riding down the road as you will not be safe driving but all over the roadway. I am saying that even driving you can and will see the animals that are out there on the sides of the road.

I keep saying to those who ask use your eyes and brain to observe the world around you and you will capture some great shots. They don’t have to be of animals but can be great scenic shots. When you are doing scenic shots remember to frame you shot for the best view you can get. The camera is dumb, you have to be the brain. The camera is only going to take a photo of what you point it at, so know what you are pointing it at and frame the shot. It works for scenic, animal and portraiture.

Whenever and wherever you go to take photos have fun and be safe.