I love the surprise of seeing what I’ve overlooked. One way I do this is through repetition, for example, Lake Ontario always offers something new. I enjoy seeing the effects of light. This week, I noticed the orange glow on the wall from a familiar lamp. Also, I can get in the habit of always looking straight ahead. When I deliberately look up or look down, I see things I’ve missed. Inspired by a friend, I made lists of all the things I love about my family members - the small quirks and habits and gestures that make them unique. I plan to give them a card with my list.
So. Something terrible almost happened to me this week. I lost my phone during an epic (social distanced) multi-hour walk with a friend in an unfamiliar area. It came out of my pocket at some point and we retraced our steps but to no luck. I retrieved it from a bench in a park we’d been sitting in, hours later, using geo-location technology. All is well, though I confess panic prevailed for several hours.
I realized on my way home (at the time, without my phone) how much I use the device. For everything. For communication (email, text, call); to listen to music and podcasts. I read on it. I write notes with it (so, so many 'notes to self.’) I take pictures with it, and edit and share them with others.
My use of the phone shouldn’t be a surprise as, well, many of us use our smart devices to varying degrees. But…
I currently take walks in my neighbourhood with my camera. Last night I took a look at the images I gathered over the past week. I photograph the fronts of buildings, often with people walking past them. And, when I looked at the images this week, I realized that in over 80 percent of the images, people I photographed were using their phones. Some were talking on their phones, some looking at them, and most weren’t stationary.
I see people with phones all the time, but I don’t think I realized, or paid attention to how many people use them while in motion. There may be a project in what I overlooked…..
I’m so glad you found your phone. Two important points jumped out at me from your post. One, how often we see things in our photographs after the fact that were overlooked in the moment. Two, like Christine said about how something we overlook can be important, maybe there are projects to be found when we start noticing the patterns in what we overlook.
Thanks for your thoughtful note, Kim. You're right, how often things become apparent in our photographs, overlooked at the moment but seen in hindsight. Some things call out to us, and some reveal themselves over time; two different things.
What a great idea to think about and explore, especially as most of are coming up on one year of living in a much smaller space and geography. Even though I have walked almost daily in the same park for several months, this week I've slowed down and walked different routes to discover things I might have overlooked. Yesterday I spent about 30 minutes at the picnic shelter that I walked right past many times. Watching the light and shadows change in the rock walls, the concrete floor and the giant wooden beams was lovely. And a good reminder how easy it is to overlook something that might not seem important.
LOVE this idea, very simple, useful and creative!! This helps remind me how simplicity can be powerful in seeing, getting rid of the clutter. Also, importance of pausing! We overlook so many things, some are less or more important, depending upon how you define it. Whatever we find, it will be a surprise with keeping it simple, no expectations, just seeing. Thanks for sharing and helping me reflect further Christine! Sounds like this was a very useful and interesting 30 minutes!!
Also overlooked: Over the past year, my wife Linda has turned our ‘second bedroom’ (Murphy bed) into an office. It’s a lovely space that includes a lovely thin, tall bookcase that sits at the back of the shoe-box-sized room.
We decided to put Linda’s work-related books in the bookcase, which meant gathering them up from four other bookcases that are in different places in our house (the house isn’t that big, nor are the bookcases, they’re just sort of spread out, and the books are a bit higgledy piggledy in the arrangement). In doing so, I had the chance to go through the books and move them around so they fit properly on different shelves. I’ve been doing it gradually all week and it’s been a true pleasure as I’ve rediscovered books I’ve walked past constantly, but which have become overlooked for me through their familiarity.
I’m making a bit of a project, now, to photograph clusters of books on the shelves. Books are tremendously important to me, as markers of past life and also inspiration. I'd like to see how the groups fit together (as their commonality tends to be the size (big books go with big books, little books go with little books) rather than content (I just discovered Pink Floyd living beside Gaugin and Van Gogh’s little yellow house). I’ve also started to photograph our home, which I’ve barely done since we moved in almost 15 years ago. It’ll be interesting to see what I’ve been overlooking here, too.
Another great example. I like the idea of “rearranging the familiar” in order to see it in new ways. You are discovering some great new projects in your retirement.
I love this quote about pennies. I have a quote book I made, and it is in the front. me it is a positive reminder to appreciate the small, but significant things in life. I think I will print copies to give to others. IT is very clever the way it is written, and makes the point clearly. Now I am interested to look at the book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. What Kim says about Robert Irwin in the writing is interesting. I would like to make the invisible more visible. It is like a mystery to be explored, being a seeing detective. Open to all possibilities. I appreciate the 3 ways of seeing discussed in the article.
Nothing, kind of a blank...overwhelmed with nothingness! I do find myself curious, but not really about what I see, but more about questioning what I hear,-- others thoughts and my thoughts, making connection with ideas, appreciating different perspectives. I have difficulty focusing on the seeing part. I love reading your articles, reflecting, and the resources. I become more curious, making connections, asking myself questions. But then seems to be a gap with the assignment on seeing? I have not taken photos for a lONG time. I lost interest by not making photos for awhile, then became longer and longer, and did not miss the photos any more. Maybe making photos some again might help my focusing.? That is all I can think of doing now. I read and appreciate other member's comments here, and find that enjoyable and inspiring! That could be another way to help me see more clearly possibly? In doubt, not sure about the lack of seeing. Thank you Kim for your inspiring articles and resources. No one can do it any better than YOU!!
I love the surprise of seeing what I’ve overlooked. One way I do this is through repetition, for example, Lake Ontario always offers something new. I enjoy seeing the effects of light. This week, I noticed the orange glow on the wall from a familiar lamp. Also, I can get in the habit of always looking straight ahead. When I deliberately look up or look down, I see things I’ve missed. Inspired by a friend, I made lists of all the things I love about my family members - the small quirks and habits and gestures that make them unique. I plan to give them a card with my list.
Looking left, right, up, down, rather than straight ahead - I learned a lot about that this week.
What a wonderful idea, your list of things you love about people close to you.
So. Something terrible almost happened to me this week. I lost my phone during an epic (social distanced) multi-hour walk with a friend in an unfamiliar area. It came out of my pocket at some point and we retraced our steps but to no luck. I retrieved it from a bench in a park we’d been sitting in, hours later, using geo-location technology. All is well, though I confess panic prevailed for several hours.
I realized on my way home (at the time, without my phone) how much I use the device. For everything. For communication (email, text, call); to listen to music and podcasts. I read on it. I write notes with it (so, so many 'notes to self.’) I take pictures with it, and edit and share them with others.
My use of the phone shouldn’t be a surprise as, well, many of us use our smart devices to varying degrees. But…
I currently take walks in my neighbourhood with my camera. Last night I took a look at the images I gathered over the past week. I photograph the fronts of buildings, often with people walking past them. And, when I looked at the images this week, I realized that in over 80 percent of the images, people I photographed were using their phones. Some were talking on their phones, some looking at them, and most weren’t stationary.
I see people with phones all the time, but I don’t think I realized, or paid attention to how many people use them while in motion. There may be a project in what I overlooked…..
I’m so glad you found your phone. Two important points jumped out at me from your post. One, how often we see things in our photographs after the fact that were overlooked in the moment. Two, like Christine said about how something we overlook can be important, maybe there are projects to be found when we start noticing the patterns in what we overlook.
Thanks for your thoughtful note, Kim. You're right, how often things become apparent in our photographs, overlooked at the moment but seen in hindsight. Some things call out to us, and some reveal themselves over time; two different things.
What a great idea to think about and explore, especially as most of are coming up on one year of living in a much smaller space and geography. Even though I have walked almost daily in the same park for several months, this week I've slowed down and walked different routes to discover things I might have overlooked. Yesterday I spent about 30 minutes at the picnic shelter that I walked right past many times. Watching the light and shadows change in the rock walls, the concrete floor and the giant wooden beams was lovely. And a good reminder how easy it is to overlook something that might not seem important.
It is lovely isn’t it? And for those of us staying close to home, a good time to practice with what’s most familiar.
Sitting and watching. It's a great idea. I walk a lot but don't often just sit and watch. I'll follow your lead, Christine. Let's see what I see....
I'm looking forward to what you see!
LOVE this idea, very simple, useful and creative!! This helps remind me how simplicity can be powerful in seeing, getting rid of the clutter. Also, importance of pausing! We overlook so many things, some are less or more important, depending upon how you define it. Whatever we find, it will be a surprise with keeping it simple, no expectations, just seeing. Thanks for sharing and helping me reflect further Christine! Sounds like this was a very useful and interesting 30 minutes!!
Also overlooked: Over the past year, my wife Linda has turned our ‘second bedroom’ (Murphy bed) into an office. It’s a lovely space that includes a lovely thin, tall bookcase that sits at the back of the shoe-box-sized room.
We decided to put Linda’s work-related books in the bookcase, which meant gathering them up from four other bookcases that are in different places in our house (the house isn’t that big, nor are the bookcases, they’re just sort of spread out, and the books are a bit higgledy piggledy in the arrangement). In doing so, I had the chance to go through the books and move them around so they fit properly on different shelves. I’ve been doing it gradually all week and it’s been a true pleasure as I’ve rediscovered books I’ve walked past constantly, but which have become overlooked for me through their familiarity.
I’m making a bit of a project, now, to photograph clusters of books on the shelves. Books are tremendously important to me, as markers of past life and also inspiration. I'd like to see how the groups fit together (as their commonality tends to be the size (big books go with big books, little books go with little books) rather than content (I just discovered Pink Floyd living beside Gaugin and Van Gogh’s little yellow house). I’ve also started to photograph our home, which I’ve barely done since we moved in almost 15 years ago. It’ll be interesting to see what I’ve been overlooking here, too.
Another great example. I like the idea of “rearranging the familiar” in order to see it in new ways. You are discovering some great new projects in your retirement.
I love this quote about pennies. I have a quote book I made, and it is in the front. me it is a positive reminder to appreciate the small, but significant things in life. I think I will print copies to give to others. IT is very clever the way it is written, and makes the point clearly. Now I am interested to look at the book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. What Kim says about Robert Irwin in the writing is interesting. I would like to make the invisible more visible. It is like a mystery to be explored, being a seeing detective. Open to all possibilities. I appreciate the 3 ways of seeing discussed in the article.
Maybe quotes are your pennies Sharana. What else have you see this week that you normally overlook?
Nothing, kind of a blank...overwhelmed with nothingness! I do find myself curious, but not really about what I see, but more about questioning what I hear,-- others thoughts and my thoughts, making connection with ideas, appreciating different perspectives. I have difficulty focusing on the seeing part. I love reading your articles, reflecting, and the resources. I become more curious, making connections, asking myself questions. But then seems to be a gap with the assignment on seeing? I have not taken photos for a lONG time. I lost interest by not making photos for awhile, then became longer and longer, and did not miss the photos any more. Maybe making photos some again might help my focusing.? That is all I can think of doing now. I read and appreciate other member's comments here, and find that enjoyable and inspiring! That could be another way to help me see more clearly possibly? In doubt, not sure about the lack of seeing. Thank you Kim for your inspiring articles and resources. No one can do it any better than YOU!!