Taken by surprise

“When you’re looking at a scene to photograph it, do you see the final picture in your mind or are you ever surprised?”

This was one of the thoughtful questions people asked me during my talk on the Art of Observation at the #Vid19 Conference.

I am constantly surprised by what my camera captures that my eye didn’t see. Like this leaf. I was intrigued by the running water after a storm. I took lots of photos but don’t remember seeing this leaf.

It was the best shot of the lot, because it is open to so many interpretations.

I see stillness and serenity amidst the rush. A spot of colour amongst the muddy tones. A strong sense of self in an environment over which there is little control. Holding lightly amongst chaos.

What do you see?

In my world, this leaf could be a facilitator, following the flow of the group.

Was it luck, chance or serendipity? I like to think it’s a combination of all three. 

Louis Pasteur said that chance favours only the prepared mind. Luck, chance and serendipity go hand-in-hand in science and in photography. David Gibson, argues that ‘street photography is controlled luck with the camera held to the eye to give you at least a chance.’

What we see through the view finder may not be what ends up on in the photo. 

Everyone can get better at noticing and observing. Like any skill, it takes practice. That’s why I shoot and post at least one photo everyday.

Noticing has strategic advantages. A daily photo might be just the ‘routine’ organisations need to increase their ability to notice unexpected information, as discussed in a fascinating article, Serendipity as a Strategic Advantage.

If we look, we see only the expected. If we look to notice, we have a greater chance of finding the unexpected. Even if our eyes don’t at first see it.

Shoot from the hip with this week’s #Facilitography exercise*. Here are your instructions:

📷 Step outside, set the timer on your phone to 1 minute and start walking.

📷 Hold your phone in your hand.

📷 When the timer rings, stop and take a photo. 

📷 Do not put the phone camera up to your eye. Shoot from wherever you’re holding your phone.

📷 Walk for 24 minutes (for the 24 frames in a roll of film).

Look at your 24 photos. How many surprises are there in the set? Did you capture anything that you didn’t actually notice? Do you like any, all or none? 

*this exercise adapted from one by Lewis Chaplain, Lessons Learned from a Failed Attempt, in The Photographer’s Playbook, Jason Fulford and Gregory Halpern (eds).  

If you’d like to learn how to look deeper, join me at a Virtual #Facilitography Walkshop on the last Tuesday of every month. Book here.

See what people say about my #Facilitography Walkshops. Watch here.