It’s all in the Details

On the Art of Observation

“The secrets of life are often revealed through small details. Small details can reveal big things.” ~ Amy E. Herman

This week, we’re going to focus on those small details. We’re going to practice the art of observation, of looking closely. And, it is an art. Honestly, I have to work at paying attention to small details. I’m more of a big picture person. But sometimes a minor detail can turn out to be incredibly important. Ask Sherlock Holmes, or Amy Herman, who teaches about visual intelligence. In her book on this subject, She defines visual intelligence as: 

“the ability to see what’s there that others don’t, to see what’s not there that should be, to see the positives and the negatives, the opportunity, the invention, the upside, the warning signs, the quickest way, the way out, the win.”

While working as an art historian at the Frick Gallery in New York City, Herman created a course called The Art of Perception, designed to train FBI agents, Police, CEOs, ER docs, and more to perceive and communicate better through closely observing famous paintings. Her seminar teaches skills important for all of life; how to identify the most important information, as well as the threats and possibilities in every situation. In other words, how to see clearly. 

Visual intelligence is about seeing what matters. 

Herman invites us to not just see, but to observe closely and consciously. Her process for close observation comes down to four A’s: Assess (separate facts from assumptions), Analyze (notice patterns), Articulate (communicate what you see), and Adapt/Act (change your behaviour accordingly). Before practicing this week, I recommend watching Amy Herman’s 12 minutes TED talk to see this in action.

Be Like Sherlock Holmes

Another good book on the theme of visual intelligence is by Maria Konnikova, Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes. Konnikova describes how Holmes used the steps of the scientific method – observation (pay close attention), imagination (a play with possibilities), deduction (get to what’s most important), and education (beginner’s mind) – to solve his crimes. 

He had a single-minded focus, looking closely from all angles, deciding to remember what he saw. Sherlock Holmes is usually thought of as someone who is logical and rational, not necessarily imaginative. However, Konnikova says that Holmes would take in all the facts and then use his imagination to see possibilities that others might not see. 

Holmes impressed everyone with his brilliant deductions. The difference between Holmes and the rest of us is that we reach our conclusions way too soon. We use too few, and not the crucial, observations. And, we let our own experiences play too big a part in our deductions. Holmes knew how to separate crucial observations from incidental ones. He deduced from observations only. 

Of course, Sherlock Holmes sometimes made mistakes, but he considered them a learning experience. He figured out where he had gone wrong in the process. While he brought his past experiences to the table, he was always open to changing his conclusions based on new evidence or understanding. 

Notice the “Huh”

Craig Mod is a photographer/writer/walker I discovered only recently. He walks across Japan, writing and photographing along the way, and reporting to those who follow him through newsletters. Recently, he introduced a new project called “Huh” where he’s posting a photograph each week, something that made him stop and say “huh.”

“The closer you look, the more details you notice, and with each detail, a little: huh. Huh is the unassuming sound made by curiosity in motion. To get good at the huh is to get good at both paying attention and nurturing compassion; if you don’t notice, you can’t give a shit. But the huh is only half the equation. You gotta go huh, alright — the ‘alright,’ the followup, the openness to what comes next is where the cascade lives.”

Practice

Practice slowing down to closely observe and absorb the details of at least one thing or person or event this week. Write down the details of what you see, without interpretation. Leave it for a while and then come back and see if there’s more. 

“Slowing down doesn’t mean being slow, it just means taking a few minutes to absorb what we are seeing. Details, patterns, relationships, take time to register. Nuances and new information can be missed if we rush past them. Slowing down just a little can change a lot. And in many cases, it’s the small, purpose-filled moments that make all the difference.” ~ Amy Herman

Or, you can photograph what you see from different angles. I recommend at least 24 images. You will get bored at some point and think there’s nothing left. If you wait, new possibilities will emerge. 

Study a photograph or a painting using Konnikova’s four elements of observation below. You can choose a famous painting from an online gallery or a piece of art in your home that you see every day or a recent photograph you’ve taken.

1. Be Selective – State just the facts - what, when, who, where, why. What stops you? Be as specific as possible, for example, instead of the word “car,” say “black SUV.”

2. Be Objective – Which details are most important? Which ones are not necessary? Notice when subjective filters come up (biased interpretations and assumptions). For example, instead of saying “the girl is frowning,” that’s interpretation, say “the girl’s mouth is closed and the ends are turned down.

3. Be Inclusive – Pay attention to all of your senses, not just your visual one. What are you experiencing/feeling? What’s missing or unknown? What have you overlooked? What relationships do you see?

4. Be Engaged – Be active, present, and interested in what you’re seeing. Notice when judgments. assumptions, opinions, and feelings creep in. Write those down too. 

What makes you go “huh” this week? Describe what you see by doing these practices in the comments here or share a photograph and your writing on Instagram, adding the hashtag #seeingclearly2021.

Resources 

Snowball Fight from 1897 by Sam Anderson via New York Times

Looking Closely is Everything - this long-form essay by Craig Mod is a gem that expands on the concept of “Huh.”

Visual Intelligence: Sharpen your Perception, Change your Life by Amy E. Herman

Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Homes by Maria Konnikova