The Calibrated Eye

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Sizing things up in everyday life, as a photographer I'm constantly using my calibrated eye. I will size up people, places, and things to make judgments about them.

I am constantly using a calibrated eye to size a subject up

Using the calibrated eye to see if something or someone are a potential subject of interest, or to determine if they are someone I’d like to get to know better. I may size up a place to see if it is image worthy, or to decide if it is a place I would like to photograph later. And I may use my calibrated eye to size up a subject to see if it is useful to photograph there and then, or to decide if it is something I like to photograph later with different lighting.

There are many different ways to use the calibrated eye and other senses to gather information about something, such as its size, shape, colour, and texture. I can also use my past experiences to make judgments about something. For example, if I’ve have had a good experience with a certain type of person, I may be more likely to size them up and photograph them again under different circumstances.

Optimising  the calibrated eye is an important skill that I use in many different areas of my life. It can help me to make decisions about my surroundings, my relationships, and my possessions. By taking the time to size things up, I can make better choices and capture images with a more fulfilling result.

Here are some tips for sizing things up with a calibrated eye.

  • Use all of your senses. The more information you have about your subject, the better equipped you will be to capture that shot.
  • Consider your past experiences. If you have had a positive or negative experience with something similar, that information can be helpful in sizing up your current subject of focus.
  • Use specialized tools when necessary. If you need to get a more accurate measurement, use the right tool for the job. I’m a Canon man myself.
  • Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you're not sure how to size something up, ask someone who is more knowledgeable.

By following these tips, you can improve your ability to watch and observe and size things up to make better decisions in your world of photography.


A photographers blog

Plan B, my photoblog, inspiration for anyone interested in exploring a photographers’ blogging space. This is the spot on the website where you can check out some of my random blogging topics and view all the things that I enjoy taking pictures of when I am not photographing weddings and the like. An informal weblog, it's not an educational blog, so don't expect too much in the way of expert photography tips and techniques or qualified reviews on cameras, lenses and the latest photography gear, it's more of an outlet to channel some latest activity or reflect on and recycle past images. 

I spy with my trained eye...

C W H A T I C, blog entries & image posts by John Gilchrist