The Thousand Words You Didn’t Even Know Were There

A picture is worth a thousand words, right?

Usually, we know what those words might be. We can look at a sunset and tell the story of its photo, even before the shutter closes. We know what to expect. And those expectations reflect the resulting image, more or less.

A couple of months ago I decided to take a photo of a shelf in my office. It didn’t look that bad, just a little cluttered, but I knew I could get rid of some things, maybe reorganize a bit. I mostly just wanted a “before” shot for posterity’s sake, before my husband and I started Project 365 x 2.

So imagine my surprise when, after snapping the photo, I brought it up on my camera’s view screen to discover the shelf was transformed. Gone was the moderately organized shelf of my real-world experience. It had been replaced by something much worse. This can’t be what my shelf looks like, I thought.

But it was.

That’s the photo, over on the right. I know it could look a lot worse, and believe me, I have places that do. But compared to the picture in my head, the way I perceived that same view, this is chaos. I can handle a little clutter, but that photo made me cringe. It was telling me a story I hadn’t even realized was there. Unlike that nice safe sunset, this picture’s thousand words caught me off guard.

I don’t know why a photograph instantly points out the trouble spots in a space. I only know that it does. Don’t believe me? Snap a quick picture of a mildly cluttered spot you’ve been meaning to clean out. How does it look through the viewfinder? On your computer? How does the photo compare to your mental picture?

Photographing a potential clean-out area is a great motivating tool. It makes you see a space you’re completely used to in a new way. After that first photo I went nuts, capturing every drawer, cabinet, and bookshelf I hoped to attack. I realized they were all overstuffed, overflowing, and chaotic. In real life, I’ve gotten so comfy with the clutter I don’t even see it. In pixel form, though, it appalls me. All I have to do is bring up my “before” photos and I find the motivation I need.

Try it for yourself. Then come back and tell me: How did the experiment go for you?

Some other posts you might enjoy:

When Logic Doesn't Cut It: Emotions and Stuff

What to Do When Clutter Gets Personal

How Do You Quiet the Fear of Cutting Too Deep?

Kim

Good point! Which is real? Very intriguing question!

share flag

spam
offensive
disagree
off topic

Haven't tried this on inanimate objects before ... but I've definitely noticed the difference between looking at myself in the mirror Self: Dang, I look good today and looking at a photo taken at that same time Self:WTF was I thinking?! Is this really what I look like to people?! (que tears and self-loathing) lol. But yeah. Photo hide NOTHING.

Erin

Ha, I totally didn't think about that. It's definitely happened to me too, though! But I've noticed it has happened in reverse, too...I'll think I look awful and then see a picture that's actually pretty nice. I wonder which one is real?? And if that works with inanimate objects too??

Karen J

Hi Erin! I've been tech-challenged enough that I haven't really played with my camera much, but I've found that the prospect of having somebody 'newly significant in my life' come over lends the same sort of "new glasses" to my eyes as your camera (or Amit's) does. Thanks for the wake-up call! (I just followed you home from Shanna's "iron fist, velvet glove" post - boy was *that* a good idea :) )

Welcome Karen! Hehe, I'm glad you followed me home :-) I find that's one of the best way to find new online places to visit! Oh, I bet having someone important to you potentially visit your personal space really does work wonders. "Company goggles," perhaps? :-)

Amit Sonawane

Hi Erin, First of all, I love the term "remakeable" (my autocorrect, not so much haha). I totally agree with the above post. I am a photographer and have experienced this first-hand many times. Photos make certain things look prettier than they appear in person, or uglier; happier or sadder. I never really thought about it until now. I believe that when we are looking at something through our eyes, we apply our past, experiences, perspectives and feelings to it. We view it through the glasses of emotions. However, as soon as it turn into a picture it somehow transforms the perspective from first person to third person. In your case, it is only a shelf with books, slightly scattered, that you have spent hours readings, highlighting, noting and cuddling with. Once in a photograph, however, they turn into a picture of a messy shelf and that is it. I could go on and on but I don't wanna scare you :P Love the blog and very glad to connect. Look forward to hanging out here more :) Amit

Thanks so much for visiting, Amit! I think you're dead on with your assessment of why taking a picture works in this case. Instead of looking through our own eyes at a space we're intimately familiar with, we're seeing a photo -- something we're used to looking at from an outsider's perspective. Maybe, too, we're used to photographs eliciting an emotional response -- joy, serenity, sadness, yearning, fear, disgust -- whereas the things we see everyday are just part of our environment. When I see a photo of my own space, emotions I'd never associated with that space kick in. Totally makes sense. No worries, I'm pretty hard to scare. I love connecting with people around the world on common ground, so I'm glad to have found a kindred spirit in you! Regarding autocorrect... I know! I guess I should've considered that before I picked my word, eh :-) Oh, and I love the image of cuddling with books. I do that! All the time!