Often, what makes me go “Huh” has to do with juxtaposition. For example, a home with a cannon behind a white picket fence and a lawn treatment sign beside it. Another one, with vines covering every surface, with Chinese characters beside the front door, and two ceramic lions guarding the entrance.
Ah, thank you for this, Kim! I'm now seeing 'details' in a new frame, or back to considering how they lead to a "huh" earlier this week.
I've just posted a series of photographs to my instagram story, of zeroing in on a patch of bedrock. Earlier this week I used Konnikova’s steps to observe "Distant Thunder" by Andrew Wyeth. I wrote an ekphrastic poem on the painting about 10 years ago, and had recently revised the poem. It is of Wyeth's wife Betsy. After the first draft of the poem I'd relied on googled images of the painting, but for this week's exercise I pulled out a book of his work. The detail that made me go 'huh' was in Wyeth's own comment about the work. The floppy felt hat over Betsy's face had been one of my focus's. The artist notes when the painting was done (he'd found her napping and quickly sketched her while she was unaware) it was too much of her face, and so he added the hat. I'm looking forward to revising the poem to make more of this 'huh' and their relationship, and the relationship of an artist and his subject.
How interesting! I’m glad you brought up ekphrastic - writing inspired by a painting. The “Huh” seems to inspire further research, which leads to more huhs.
Today I began taking 25 photographs of a patch of boulders and moss, and then remembered an art show I attended this fall in my small town. It sent me looking for what the photographer, Hugh Blackmer, has on line. Has an eye for detail that I think is worthy of sharing here. http://oook.info/blog/ The photographs in his exhibit were created by mirroring an image on both the x and y axis. In a recent blog post I was inspired by what he saw in the rocks at our Drift Inn beach. http://oook.info/blog/?p=4157
Thank you Kim for another inspiring and thought-provoking writing!!!I agree Amy Herman's Ted Talk is fascinating with many articulated details included, small and big details, they all count! The inspiring Ted Talks speak to me in different ways with her 4 A's. She has much to say. I love her obvious, but not so obvious focus on what is left out that is equally important. Like those black and white trick photos, asking is this a beautiful lady or a witch? It is both, helps me look closer. They have been studies done with an odd object in the room, and people ignore the object for different reasons. It is funny, magical, and frustrating with details. Some people do have more of an eye for details, unsure why. I also like and appreciate Maria Konnikova on think like Sherlock Holmes. You have a talent for bringing together so many resources to encourage us to think deeper and wider!! Good exercise for my brain!! I want to read How to Think like Sherlock Holmes, reminds me of my fascination with the Nancy Drew series as a child. I am still drawn to mysteries with movies. In real life curiosity drives my observation of details. I like the "curiosity.
in motion. " I have read that intelligent thinkers notice details more, have good perceptual skills. Your Seeing Clearly Class will hopefully help me both think and see more clearly!!!
Often, what makes me go “Huh” has to do with juxtaposition. For example, a home with a cannon behind a white picket fence and a lawn treatment sign beside it. Another one, with vines covering every surface, with Chinese characters beside the front door, and two ceramic lions guarding the entrance.
Ah, thank you for this, Kim! I'm now seeing 'details' in a new frame, or back to considering how they lead to a "huh" earlier this week.
I've just posted a series of photographs to my instagram story, of zeroing in on a patch of bedrock. Earlier this week I used Konnikova’s steps to observe "Distant Thunder" by Andrew Wyeth. I wrote an ekphrastic poem on the painting about 10 years ago, and had recently revised the poem. It is of Wyeth's wife Betsy. After the first draft of the poem I'd relied on googled images of the painting, but for this week's exercise I pulled out a book of his work. The detail that made me go 'huh' was in Wyeth's own comment about the work. The floppy felt hat over Betsy's face had been one of my focus's. The artist notes when the painting was done (he'd found her napping and quickly sketched her while she was unaware) it was too much of her face, and so he added the hat. I'm looking forward to revising the poem to make more of this 'huh' and their relationship, and the relationship of an artist and his subject.
How interesting! I’m glad you brought up ekphrastic - writing inspired by a painting. The “Huh” seems to inspire further research, which leads to more huhs.
Today I began taking 25 photographs of a patch of boulders and moss, and then remembered an art show I attended this fall in my small town. It sent me looking for what the photographer, Hugh Blackmer, has on line. Has an eye for detail that I think is worthy of sharing here. http://oook.info/blog/ The photographs in his exhibit were created by mirroring an image on both the x and y axis. In a recent blog post I was inspired by what he saw in the rocks at our Drift Inn beach. http://oook.info/blog/?p=4157
An eye for detail for sure. I’m glad you made that connection and followed up on it.
Amy Herman's TED Talk is terrific! Thank you.
Thank you Kim for another inspiring and thought-provoking writing!!!I agree Amy Herman's Ted Talk is fascinating with many articulated details included, small and big details, they all count! The inspiring Ted Talks speak to me in different ways with her 4 A's. She has much to say. I love her obvious, but not so obvious focus on what is left out that is equally important. Like those black and white trick photos, asking is this a beautiful lady or a witch? It is both, helps me look closer. They have been studies done with an odd object in the room, and people ignore the object for different reasons. It is funny, magical, and frustrating with details. Some people do have more of an eye for details, unsure why. I also like and appreciate Maria Konnikova on think like Sherlock Holmes. You have a talent for bringing together so many resources to encourage us to think deeper and wider!! Good exercise for my brain!! I want to read How to Think like Sherlock Holmes, reminds me of my fascination with the Nancy Drew series as a child. I am still drawn to mysteries with movies. In real life curiosity drives my observation of details. I like the "curiosity.
in motion. " I have read that intelligent thinkers notice details more, have good perceptual skills. Your Seeing Clearly Class will hopefully help me both think and see more clearly!!!