It’s hard to take a picture of Traverse City that tells the full story. You can snap a hasty shot of the Boardman as it snakes along in the early morning, wearing a collar of mist — evaporating snow in the new heat. But that’s not the city, it’s the river. You can shoot a beautiful sunscorched shot of West End Beach, with boats bouncing fuzzy in the middle ground, blue above and blue below. But that’s not the city, it’s the beach. Four coiled kids with broccoli haircuts deciding next steps outside The Coin Slot. Three toothy grins above energetic arms on striding women around the lake trail as the week’s news is hashed again. Red fingertips poking through gloves clutching a sign “Homeless Vet, Please Help.” A busy shot. Straight down Front Street during Cherry Festival, moments before the parade (I’m told — I have yet to enjoy this). Sure that’s part of our story, but not the whole scene by a long shot.
Try to pull back, reframe to capture it all. A drone out over the West Bay grabs a shot of the marina, with the Park Place Hotel dominating an otherwise relatively low-slung skyline — no Manhattan — kind of sleepy and not at all an accurate representation of the vibrancy on the ground. No pulse. Move back.
More than once I have pressed my cheek against a plastic airplane window to marvel at our coastline from 5,000 feet and tried to capture the silent awe with my phone. Up that high, you can really see how fortunately flung we are, surrounded by blue, punched with lakes, rivers and fields, rolling vineyards, vast industry at the edges … a true city in a truly beautiful spot. That’s part of the story as well, but you can’t walk around all day thinking of yourself from 5,000 feet.
Perspective. A skyline shot of New York City instantly feeds you a feeling of frenzy and expectation, but that’s not accurate either. I’ve lived it and trust me, fun is something you make. Mostly it’s metrocard malfunction and expired produce.
In the rambling capturing of human existence, perspective and placement are important. Where you plop yourself determines what you think of the joint. Did you choose a battle at the bar or luck into a booth? It determines how you’ll review. Whether contemplating data, forming opinions, or engaging with the wider world, the lens through which we view things profoundly influences our comprehension. The essence of perspective lies in its ability to reveal one thing; truth is, indeed, subjective — a multifaceted gem with each shimmering facet shaped by the observer’s unique viewpoint.
Other people can alter this. Imagine standing on a stage, where the play of light and shadow transforms the scenery. Here a scrim becomes a magician’s tool, capable of concealing or revealing entire worlds. Much like a scrim, our perspectives can be shrouded or unveiled and our realities changed. And this prompts us to recognize the fluidity of perception and the paramount importance of acknowledging the diversity of viewpoints that surround us and the power of others to change them.
In every realm, from data analysis to the finely knotted lace of personal opinions, perspective and placement reign supreme. The observer’s angle of perception, like the source of light in a theater, can alter what is visible and what remains hidden. So it’s pretty darn important for individuals to assess where they stand and who is screwing with the lights. The uncertainty of it all is also why we seek out art of all kinds. Whether it’s the story in a song and the strum and slap of the singer, or the quiet calm of a sunrise in considered layers of oil paint … Art is perception controlled and focused so we can reset our perspective.
Trying to frame that perfect shot of TC is like trying to capture a true moment, where the interplay of perspective and color can shape the perception of a scene. It takes an artist. Trees, once towering and imposing, now recede into gray fringes at the horizon. A dirty brown ditch zoomed in becomes the beautiful brittle geometry of expired Joe Pye Weed. This underscores the malleability of reality — how the same elements can appear vastly different based on the lens through which they are viewed.
A front-row seat promises you will feel the heartbeat of the performance. Retreat to the first row of the balcony (my favorite spot), and the entire stage is digestible in one broad panorama. The immediacy may be sacrificed, but in return, an understanding of the grand narrative emerges. Control and safety over the neck-craning sweaty pump of experience. Maybe I’m getting old. The dynamic between proximity and distance echoes the delicate balance between detail and context that perspective affords.
Challenging yourself to consider alternate perspectives is a crucial exercise in broadening your understanding of the world. Live arts assist in condensing this challenge into one evening. By participating in concerts, plays, gallery exhibits, really any art with and in your city, you not only enrich your own comprehension but also contribute to a more engaged and empathetic society. Deep, eh?
What can we learn from trying to snap the perfect shot? Participation is the only way to capture the true essence of anywhere. To be, you have to do. See you at the theater. 🙂