I guess you could call me a hyper-aware person. I always have been, but being a visual artist only encourages the tendency to analyze things from all different angles.
As we are walking, my wife is used to me stopping suddenly to look at something peculiar. I even stop and pull over the car to take pictures of these curiosities. I always have my camera.
Most times, I am thankful for it. It certainly aids my artistic career and passion. Because I’ve studied some subjects and circumstances so often, I smile (and hopefully capture it) when it seems different. After all, the only way to tell that it is different or out of place is to obsessively examine something so much that it becomes part of your permanent visual vocabulary.
It could be the way the sunlight ricochets off carefully placed clouds to cast an amazing tone on the ocean surface.
It could be the ever so subtle hue in a flower that makes it alluring.
It could be a tiny leaf that landed just in the right spot to create a compelling color combination and composition.
It could be an unordinary glowing reflection.
It could be a perfectly timed reunion of elements that come together, and I'm a thankful witness.
I must admit, however, the attention it requires to discover these things and capture the moment can sometimes get in the way. Always focusing on the fine details does have its consequences. Sometimes, analyzing things to death may even stop me from experiencing the intended positive events happening right in front of me.
A perfect life is a perfect balance, allowing our obsessions to keep us engaged, yet not take over. I hope in my case, if it does happen to take over for awhile, something visually stimulating comes from it to make it worthwhile.
