Appreciating The Small Things

Perhaps the most unique and intriguing job I can think of having is a cinematographer who shoots miniature sets and models for major motion pictures. The Millennium Falcon, Helm's Deep, and and the T-1000 are just a few examples of props and sets in films that have been brought to the silver screen by the process of photographing miniatures. A miniature is a small representation of a certain character, vehicle, ship, or set, much like a toy!

One of my favorite things to shoot as a photographer are toys, or as I call them, “collector's items.” Maybe it's because toys don't cry or bark, and take direction very well, but something about shooting these "collector's items" is truly rewarding. The detail photographers take in everyday is magnified when shooting these objects, and armed with a decent camera, that detail can look extraordinarily realistic when blown up to a larger scale. A fun challenge is making these toys come to life in the way that they’re positioned, arranged, lit, and photographed. As a photographer, this can really teach you to see the detail in everything you shoot, because when you’re shooting toys, detail is key.

This serves as a good reminder to notice the details in all aspects of life, and to not let them slip by. Any artist in any medium will tell you that the details are often times the most important part of their work, and it is much appreciated when those details are noticed and appreciated. The same can be said for a chef, who works so very hard to mix the right ingredients in just the right way to craft a culinary masterpiece. Many times, it's the tiniest details that set apart the great from the extraordinary, and I constantly challenge myself to achieve just that. Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, you should too! Lovingly put forth an extra 10 percent, focusing on the details in your work, whatever it may be. Appreciate the smallest things around you, from a random act of kindness, to an individual brush stroke on a canvas.

Train your eye to see the most minute detail in the world you inhabit. See things others wouldn't. Appreciate the detailed craftsmanship that artisans put into their work and be one of the two percent who notices these things. You'll find beauty in the most surprising of places. This world is a beautifully crafted and detailed place to inhabit, so go soak up the details.