OBSERVE WITH CURIOSITY
““I am not interested in shooting new things—I am interested in seeing things new.”
”
Images found while exploring with a curious eye in Hokkaido, Japan.
To be a photographer is to be endlessly curious. Not just about light, or composition, or the mechanics of the camera—but about the world itself. The more we observe, the more we see. The more we see, the more we understand. And with understanding comes depth, resonance, and meaning in our work.
It keeps us engaged, awake to the moment, attuned to details that others might overlook. The simplest shift in perspective, the smallest flicker of light, the most fleeting shadow—all can become compelling subjects when approached with a curious eye.
The Art of Seeing Begins with Noticing
The book The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker is a fantastic resource for photographers looking to sharpen their ability to see. Many of the techniques Walker suggests—slowing down, setting creative limitations, seeking patterns in chaos—are things I have naturally done for years to keep my eye fresh. For those less accustomed to creating their own visual challenges, this book offers excellent exercises to break free from visual autopilot.
Ellen Langer, a psychologist known for her work on mindfulness, has explored how noticing new things keeps us engaged and present. She discusses this concept in-depth on The Rich Roll Podcast, emphasizing that active noticing can be both mentally enriching and creatively revitalizing. For photographers, this practice is invaluable—it’s not just about what we see but how we see it.
Training the Eye: Exercises in Curiosity
If curiosity is a muscle, then it must be exercised. Here are a few ways to cultivate a more curious way of seeing:
“What Else is Here?” Exercise
Spend 10 minutes in one spot, actively looking for details you might have missed. Find five new things. Then five more. Then five more.Change Your Perspective
Switch your lens, your height, your angle. Get low to the ground. Shoot straight up. Flip your expectations and see what happens.The One-Color Challenge
Walk for an hour and only photograph a single color. This forces you to see beyond the obvious and find hidden connections.The “Unseen” Experiment
Look for what typically goes unnoticed—reflections in puddles, textures on walls, subtle shifts in light and movement.Sketch Before You Shoot
Before making the exposure, visualize the scene. Imagine how you’d frame it, where the light falls, what the mood feels like. Then take the shot.
Curiosity as a Lifelong Practice
The camera doesn’t just capture what is there—it captures how we see it. This is the ultimate gift of photography: it doesn’t just train us to create better images—it sharpens our ability to see, both outward and inward. It teaches us to recognize the world around us with greater clarity and, just as importantly, to understand ourselves more deeply. Because photography isn’t just about looking—it’s about seeing, in every sense of the word.
Whether we’re walking through a new city, revisiting familiar landscapes, or simply sitting with a cup of coffee and watching light move across a table, the practice of curiosity keeps us engaged. It keeps us looking. It keeps us feeling. And ultimately, it makes our photography more alive.
So, today, observe with curiosity. Bring attention to your attention. And see where it flows.
