Finding the right lens
This week, a local camera shop inserted a terrific flyer in our newspaper. Rather than the usual talk about great prices, advanced technology and all the gee whiz features of the latest cameras, it took different approach.
It simply told us, if you want to take a picture of that bird on a tree far away, there's a lens for that. Or if you want to focus on a beautiful person and blur the background so she stands out, there's a lens for that. Or if you want to squeeze a whole group of people into one picture, there's a lens for that too. And don't forget that funny lens that makes it look like you were in a fish bowl.
...And by the way, we have cameras that work with all the lenses.
Brilliant.
The message was simple, unexpected, engaging and told us about all the kinds of pictures we could take. ...And by the way, we have cameras that work with these lenses. They weren't selling product, they were selling possibility and opportunity. They were selling a result that you and I could easily understand. They were selling inspiration.
As I walked along the park this morning, (btw: at 6am, it always feels like there's only 10 people in the entire universe. And they all smile and say good morning, isn't that awesome?) I though about that ad, and about framing. How photographers have a great eye for framing a picture, using the right lens to take a picture that conveys the right message.
Made me think about how we forget to frame our lives, our moments, our activities with the right lens. Because we are gifted with great eyes that can see far and near pretty much at the same time. We always see the big picture, the periphery. Sometimes it's just too much information.
Often we forget to use the right lens to frame our lives. To focus on far and beyond when planning our goals and lives. To widen our arms to encompass our family and friends. To focus on special moments and blur our surroundings to make it special. And sometimes to take a really wacky perspective on the world because it's fun and makes us laugh.
The frame isn't the picture, but it sure helps us figure what the picture should be and what we should be looking at.
Using the right lens in life is about defining the moments, understanding why they are important and their context relative to our entire lives.
It simply told us, if you want to take a picture of that bird on a tree far away, there's a lens for that. Or if you want to focus on a beautiful person and blur the background so she stands out, there's a lens for that. Or if you want to squeeze a whole group of people into one picture, there's a lens for that too. And don't forget that funny lens that makes it look like you were in a fish bowl.
...And by the way, we have cameras that work with all the lenses.
Brilliant.
The message was simple, unexpected, engaging and told us about all the kinds of pictures we could take. ...And by the way, we have cameras that work with these lenses. They weren't selling product, they were selling possibility and opportunity. They were selling a result that you and I could easily understand. They were selling inspiration.
As I walked along the park this morning, (btw: at 6am, it always feels like there's only 10 people in the entire universe. And they all smile and say good morning, isn't that awesome?) I though about that ad, and about framing. How photographers have a great eye for framing a picture, using the right lens to take a picture that conveys the right message.
Made me think about how we forget to frame our lives, our moments, our activities with the right lens. Because we are gifted with great eyes that can see far and near pretty much at the same time. We always see the big picture, the periphery. Sometimes it's just too much information.
Often we forget to use the right lens to frame our lives. To focus on far and beyond when planning our goals and lives. To widen our arms to encompass our family and friends. To focus on special moments and blur our surroundings to make it special. And sometimes to take a really wacky perspective on the world because it's fun and makes us laugh.
The frame isn't the picture, but it sure helps us figure what the picture should be and what we should be looking at.
Using the right lens in life is about defining the moments, understanding why they are important and their context relative to our entire lives.
posted by The Idea Dude at 8:45 AM
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