Messenger photo by Joe Duty

Growing up, it seems we’re always told to look at the big picture.

But life is composed of the here and now. It’s a series of scenes, flashes and details stitched together. The big picture is immense and looming like a fog-covered loch. The absence of details makes it dull, even frightening.

Our roaming photographer exemplified this concept during preparation for a showing at the Wise County Youth Fair.

Young agricultural types were busy cleaning cows. The hair of a wet tail curled gold and white in moist strands. Pink sturdy legs spotted black framed the image. Reflective shadows grew underneath.

The care and concern of the scene was caught in a partial close-up shot. Sometimes we can see more when we look at less. The best way to avoid getting lost in the big picture is to analyze everything close up.