So here’s an odd aspect of Photography: At some point, you will often take photos of someone else’s creations. Maybe you’re photographing of architecture, or a sculpture in a broad landscape. That landscape may have been man-made, created by someone hired to create such a landscape. Maybe in that landscape, there’s a brilliant example of Beaux-Arts architecture. It’s all a bit meta, isn’t it?
It’s actually an aspect of photography that I love. I love details. I love celebrating the little things that perhaps someone created for the enjoyment of others like themselves: Someone who pays attention to details. That is why I might point my lens at interesting and tiny facets of architecture, art, or even graffiti while I’m on vacation. My family will poke fun at me for it, but they’re pretty much used to it by now. In fact, I believe my kids are starting to pay attention to details more often themselves. Details matter. It’s what defines us as humans, and it should be celebrated.
Noticing details is the real struggle here. One has to train oneself to look for details. You can’t just look around; you have to train yourself to look for specific things. It starts with things that interest you. For example, as a Landscape Architect and Lighting Designer, I have quite an appreciation for interesting and well-designed lights. When I see them in the wild, I’m drawn to them, and I find myself capturing lights often in my photos. Sometimes they are the primary subject, but other times I make them part of a larger composition. Specific types of architecture may appeal to you. Or maybe you have a keen eye for tiles or signs. It doesn’t really matter what details appeal to you. But when you are noticing and photographing those details, give them the respect they deserve. After all, some detail-oriented individual like yourself created those nuggets for people just like you to notice.
