What will you choose, Selective Focus or Tunnel Vision? Tunnel vision is a good term to explain what is happening in today's blitz of social media that leads to anxiety and loss of concentration and thus barriers to seeing.
A good example of tunnel vision in today's photography market is to look back at the evolution of stock photography. In the early days of stock photography image creators focused on the idyllic images of travel, nature, portraits, life style, adventure etc... These were clean, sharp, colorful and the lighting was pristine. These images represented the ideal travel locations with smiling happy people.
Today we want something a little more authentic, a naturalness to the people and to the models. But if you look closely the images have just put on a more casual costume to make the models more contemporary but the smiles and props are just the same.
Real authentic imagery doesn't hide behind props with pats on the back and happy people enjoying moments of ecstatic materialism. Authentic imagery comes from the heart with all the ugly exteriors shown for self realization.
Selective focus brings forth in a scene the main subject the image creator wants to present. This is after his diligent examination of the scene and he has decided to show this detail rather than the infinite chooses available.
In using selective focus the subject of interest in the photograph is sharp (or blurred for juxtaposition and mystery) and the surrounding environment is blurred. The viewers eye will naturally be drawn to the focused area of the image. We do this constantly in our own lives, ignoring the environment and focusing on details or ignoring the details and focusing in on the entire environment.
When we train ourselves to react to certain stimulus and not others we have confused selective focus with tunnel vision. Our minds need for selective memory hinders our ability to really see a new open vision of selective focus. Selective focus becomes tunnel vision if we don't seek new and contrasting views to our daily routines. If you approach a scene already determined to take a picture a certain way with out examining the whole scene then you have tunnel vision and are just putting different clothes on the same process and trying to make it look like something new.
Selective focus in photography can make the difference between an OK picture and a good one. But you will need to go into the scene with an open mind and through that openness you can make a deeper connection with your subject. And in that relationship you find yourself connecting to surprising elements in the scene you have missed previously. Maybe you decide to put on a longer lens to isolate your new subject or maybe even a macro lens to blur further an interfering background. You came to these decisions through reflection and purpose. By isolating your subject you have created a new vision that represents what you worked for.
Tunnel vision before and during image creation dulls your mind to life's undercurrents and the possibility to see new relationships. Tunnel vision undermines creativity. Use your unique vision to find subjects that can surprise the viewer and even yourself.
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