Let’s play a little game. If I ask you to compare your brain to the focal length of a camera, would you say you tend to focus on images:
A) Way out in the distance
B) Somewhere in the middle ground
C) Right under your nose
In her book, “The Creative Habit,” Twyla Tharp discusses the concept of Creative DNA: the way we’re hardwired to view the world and the activities we pursue as a result. It’s a fascinating concept that can be used to inform the way we approach creative challenges.
Let’s take a quick look at the three “perspectives” Tharp outlines:
The Big Picture

Image by Ansel Adams
Do you see the world as a vast expanse? Perched on your mountain top, do you view everything and everyone from a distance? Tharp uses Ansel Adams as an example of a “distance” thinker. He took great, wide shots, packing the sky, the mountains and the ground into one tiny frame.
The Middle Distance

Image by Dorothea Lange via Wikimedia Commons
Are you both the observer and the observed? Tharp feels Jerome Robbins (choreographer and co-director of West Side Story) best defines a middle distance thinker:
“This way of seeing the world [consists of] controlling events from behind the scenes or above, but not so distant that you cannot maintain contact with the action on stage….Jets watch Sharks, Sharks watch Jets, girls watch boys, boys watch girls.”
The middle distance is about watching things unfold as they happen. Big events don’t happen offstage. The action occurs right there, right in front of you.
Close Up

Creative Commons Image by Vinoth Chandar
Do you press your nose up to the glass in order to get a better view? Tharp points to Raymond Chandler’s obsessive use of detail in his hardboiled detective fiction.
Here’s an excerpt from “The Big Sleep”:
It was about eleven o’clock in the morning, mid October, with the sun not shining and a look of hard wet rain in the clearness of the foothills. I was wearing my powder-blue suit, with dark blue shirt, tie and display handkerchief, black brogues, black wool socks with dark blue clocks on them. I was neat, clean, shaved, and sober, and I didn’t care who knew it. I was everything the well-dressed private detective ought to be. I was calling on four million dollars.
For Chandler, the story lives in the smallest details.
So, What’s Yours?
Determining your focal length can be an incredibly useful tool: if you know that your tendency is to see the bigger picture, then you already have a game plan when tackling a project. You know what to look for and you know how to look for it. And–big sigh–it lets you off of the hook if you feel like you should focus on the details because others are able to do it so well. Maybe that’s not your lens. You don’t have to be Jerome Robbins and Raymond Chandler at the same time. You just need to determine which one floats your creative boat.
One way to figure out your focal length is to look at how you approached creative tasks as a child. In elementary school, my stories started as lists (what the character was wearing, what her bedroom looked like) that grew into thematic adventures. As a teenager, I loved making collages: ripping images out of magazines, pasting them onto posters, creating my own vision of something bigger out of teensy, tiny pieces.
Applying the concept of focal length, I can see that my own style of working consists of taking the small, ripped up pieces of a landscape (zooming in) and finding a way to put them back together again, to create something thematically bigger (zooming out, Ansel Adams style).
I love exploring the universal: risk, change, adventure, awareness, our relationships with each other and with ourselves. But I struggle to write a thing until I’ve found something tiny: a detail, a hook. It is through this little keyhole that I find the images I need to create something bigger. I zoom in to better understand the way things (and people) are connected.
I recently saw a fantastic play, “Robert Lepage’s Far Side of the Moon” that summarized this perspective in stunningly simple terms: “How do you manage to reconcile the infinitely banal with the infinitely essential?” That is the question my creative brain strives to answer.
Tharps’s concept can help you hone in on your own creative style. Maybe you prefer sweeping themes to specifics. Maybe the teeny tiny details trump the universal. Or, perhaps you take a more immediate approach, fixated on that which is unfolding right in front of you, out in the middle distance.
What’s your focal length? Can you easily determine whether it’s distant, middle or close? Or does it take a bit of digging? Do you think this awareness can help you more effectively tackle creative (or even non-creative) projects at work and at home?
FP Update: Thanks so much for stopping by and adding your thoughts! I’m in Hawaii for a few days but I can’t wait to read all of your comments and say hello. It may just take me a bit longer than usual. Mahalo for your patience!
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The Art We Leave Behind
What a Great Post Concept and one that makes you think – love it! I am in the middle ground and knowing this helps with my creativity, especially since I take landscape photos. Have a Great One:)
Cool, I’m glad it’s helpful! And photography is such a wonderful (and straightforward) application of this concept.
This is fantastic! Great post and super interesting insight.
This is really interesting. Thanks for sharing!
I think that I am more ‘haywired’ than hardwired. Actually I tend to take the wide view, with bouts of middle-distance.
Thanks for sharing this with us. As I slog thru the rest of NaNoWrimo this month I am going to see where my focus lies in real-time.
NaNoWrimo would probably be a great test–no time to overthink or edit yourself. Good luck, I hope you get through it!
This was so interesting, can I reblog it?
Of course, glad you enjoyed it!
I am like you Riann, I hone in until I have to find a hook in order to create something bigger. Because I took up the commitment to blog every day of 2012, I am challenged to keep writing good posts! I have not regretted it but I am looking forward to being free next year. Love the post. Thank you.
Every day, that’s impressive! When the year is up, do you think you’ll continue blogging, but on a different schedule?
Hi Rian, I don’t think I could stop now that I’ve started! But definitely NOT every day. Perhaps twice a week or thereabouts.would be good.
I am definitely big picture. I can’t even see the trees for the forest most of the time. Great post!!
I love that you often examine big, global issues, Jennifer. You seem to understand your “lens” very well and are able to put it to good use.
:-) Thank you. I needed that compliment this week.
I definitely peg myself firmly in the “middle” category. I have difficulty with both the finest details and the biggest overviews, and my writing tends to stick into the middle-ground. I tend to focus on the relationships. For instance, in my NaNo novel I move from “Tori hates herself” to “Tori saves little girl” to “Tori shares a moment with Jacob” to “Tori fights to the death with Heln” and so on and so on. My work always seems to move from one relationship to the next as the footing of the story. I guess that’s okay? I don’t really know. lol
Hey Lynn, just when I was wondering how I’d go on about finding what my creative focus is, you pitched in. Yeah, I tend to have difficulty with finer details and big views. I move from relationship to relationship too. And then, get dissatisfied because I couldn’t put evrything in my head to paper. Writing can be a bitch sometimes. Sorry for my french.
Rian, what a lovely thought. You really come into your element when you decide to help others. You sure did to me! Fabulous post…just like you.
Love, XOXO
Me too! I like to write about insights that I have had about myself and apply broader themes to it. I am not good with either details or big picture, although I am attracted to people that are!
Oh… wow… you mean like here, there, everywhere? Whoa… heavy…
This is going to take some time…
Hey, you got any munchies around here?
:-)
M
You mean, like cupcakes? Sure do! It seems simple in theory, but applying it to yourself can be a bit tricky…
Oh yeah… *truth* and *cake*… I get it. Nice… pretty cool actually.
Theory? Applying it? Whoa… can I have that cupcake first? No? OK…
Mine is like… seems like a swirl of these (I’m not being a smart ass)… not mixed up, but mixed in. I’ll try to explain.
At a moment in time, I see something that sparks my interest. I check to see where it is — close up, middle, big? Then I sort of ping-pong around a little to see how it fits in… then, well, sometimes I just ‘touch’ it (minute), or polish it (middle), or work it (big system)…
Yeah… well…
cupcake?
:-)
M
As with many things, I believe myself to be a little of an enigma. I do focus hard on details. I will base an entire short story on the minutest of items. I do love lists. However, I also tend to see the big picture, though, now that I actually say it, I don’t very often. Guess we have figured it out. Details, it is…
Scott
Cool, glad you were able to suss it out. It’s tricky at first, isn’t it? I’ll pay more attention next time I read one of your posts ;)
Would love the opinion.
I THINK I’m middle-distance, but it varies. As an introvert a lot of my energy (creative and otherwise) is exceedingly short-range: rarely am I so long distance that I lose myself from the perspective. Then again, I’m not so short-range as to be self-constained: my personal narrative is about the interactions between myself and others.
It’s actually quite difficult for me to separate my creative from my “non-creative” thoughts. I’m not sure where creativity ends and the mundane begins…
“It’s actually quite difficult for me to separate my creative from my “non-creative” thoughts. I’m not sure where creativity ends and the mundane begins…” I can very much relate to this, Claire. I think “creative” people tend to be creative in everything they do, even in the way they approach the more mundane aspects of life.
It’s rare that I sit down and think “Alright, gotta start being creative…NOW.” The creative thoughts just tend to happen by themselves. And I’m usually daydreaming when doing the boring stuff. ;)
I love this post – thank you! It’s interesting to think of myself in those terms.
I found myself thinking – I can see how it applies to photography, but it seems a little more difficult with writing. I think the very best writing has all of those perspectives. I can’t imagine a novel without delicious little details and yet, if it were all little details, it would be too much. We need the big themes and relationships too.
For me, I guess it makes sense to use the strength as a “hook” to get a project started, and then expand into the other perspectives from there. Which is maybe what you were already saying. :)
Thanks again!
I agree that this concept is not quite as straightforward as Twyla claims–she admits that she’s a very black and white thinker and likes to fit people into specific categories. As a person who likes to live in the grey area of life, I also found myself looking for a more flexible application of her ideas. I do think people can utilize all three lenses. But I think most of us initially gravitate towards one of these perspectives when we’re framing a project (a play that takes place in one room with two people vs an epic work of historical fiction, for example). Within the project itself, I think most people find it useful to zoom in and out and employ a variety of techniques to make the work more interesting. Thanks for your sharing your thoughts on this! They helped me to clarify my own.
I’m not completely sure but I think I’m more middle perspective. I’m very attracted to photography and writing showing tiny telling details. I always have to force myself to insert details but it’s worth it, it brings bigger ideas to life. I also have to step back to see the bigger picture. So I’m constantly zooming in and out from the middle perspective.
As you pointed out, it’s good to know where you stand to be able to work on it :-)
This is SO interesting. I’m not sure where I fall…I love to analyze things and of course be in control. It’s given me food for thought. How did you like J.K.’s book? I have to say I didn’t care for it.
I’m with you, Marsella–I wanted to like it, but I didn’t. Too many characters, not enough action. It just goes to show that even talented, beloved authors can have major duds. Hope the next one is better!
nice images :)
I’m definitely into the details. I make lists for everything! But I have a bit of the big picture in me too.
I’m trying to keep my focus way out in the distance, to see where I fit in and how I can help society through our present failures. Most of our nations focus is five years ago. The present focus of the U.S. fell off of the fiscal cliff almost four years ago.
Glad you are a fellow fan of Tharp’s book, which I recommend to everyone working in every field.
I’m def. a big picture person, always coming up with Big Ideas (currently for two NF books and a conference) and then hating the endless fussy details they take to bring to completion. I hire assistants whenever possible to free me to work on what I enjoy most and do best.
I definitely see you as a big picture thinker, Caitlin. But you’re pretty darn good at sprinkling in those concrete details. I love the posts where you focus on a place you’re visiting–they’re full of the most beautiful images and minute observations.
Thanks…Hey, congrats!!!!! on being Freshly Pressed. I’m so excited for you!
I fall somewhere between my 35mm and 20mm lens. Very insightful post…
This gives me something to think about, a new way to examine myself. My first inclination is to say that I am a bit of all of them, but deep inside some niggling little voice wants to scream, “You’re a middle distance because you like to be in control behind the scenes.” And yet, I know that I believe that small seemingly unimprtant details can affect the overall effect of prose, imagery, parties…. Um, I suspect I will be thinking about this for a while. Great post!
I had to mull it over for a while too. It seems so straightforward but it’s easy to see yourself in all three perspectives. A friend who is familiar with your work may be able to give you an outside perspective. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m not sure what I am. When I write, I do focus on details, but only to make the story that much better. I see things as a movie in my head, so I have to pick out the important details from the scene in my head and then transcribe them onto the page. I don’t know if that makes me middle ground, or perhaps some strange combination of all three. What do you think?
Hmm, sounds like middle distance. But I do think we employ various lenses to make our work more interesting. I don’t think it’s all or nothing–just a way of seeing that comes the most naturally.
I like that answer. Thanks for giving me something interesting to read.
FP-ed again! You are a rock star, Rian and you totally deserve the hype.
XO, Tobi
Very interesting post! I’m definitely a big picture person in all facets of my life except my job. Since I’m a legal assistant I have to focus on details since the slightest mistake can screw up a case, but in my personal life I try to look at the big picture and see if what is worrying me is really worth worrying about. Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed.
Wonderful post. Enjoyed it. Just started following you
I use 50mm because I like to see my photos come out as close as possible to how I personally see them. 50 happens to be what I’m happy with. As for distance from subject… That varies. I do like to be close though.
Nice post! Enjoyed it.
about 8 inches.
As a photographer who is working on writing I found this to be very interesting. I tent to take tight sharp shots at unusual angles. I am finding in my writing that I am starting with some small visual detail. Great post!
Cool, sounds like you’ve definitely identified your lens! Sharp shots at unusual angles–I’d love to check out some of your photographs.
Here’s a post about my obsession with car parts – http://theeffstop.com/2012/09/10/chrome-sweet-chrome/
Since I was born severely myopic, most of my life was spent with a parallax view, seen through a rangefinder. Then I had Lasik, and functioned at 55mm (with a doubler) for about a decade. Now I need reading glasses, so I’m about a 28mm – wider angle, but also deeper focus.
I’ve never really given it much thought, but I know I’m a nose-against-the-glass kind of person. I find I enjoy big pictures, and I love the views in the distance, but all the details make me nervous.
I have never heard of this concept before… it is really insightful and makes sense. I believe I’m a middle ground thinker for sure growing into some “big picture” habits.
Cool, I definitely think our perspectives can shift as we learn more and refine our work habits. Twyla Tharp thinks we’re pretty stuck in one of the three, but I’m not as black and white–I think the concept of the lenses can also be a great way of tracking our creative evolution.
I LOVE this post, so interesting to think about. Thank you for writing about this and sharing :)
Thanks so much for stopping by and checking it out. Glad you found it useful :)
Great approach! I like to start things “big picture”, get them going with lots of momentum “middle ground”, and then find someone to take care of the details “close up”.
I think it’s wonderful that you’re so aware of your strengths and confident enough to source out the detail work. We can drive ourselves crazy thinking we have to do it “all.”
Thanks for the nice words. I never thought of myself as strong and confident! Much appreciated!
Great analogy!! Never really thought about the way I am or think compared with the way I shoot. Personality wise I am can’t see the forest for the trees type. Artistically I bounce around. When I started shooting birds I just wanted to get them in focus, wanted them to fill the viewfinder, get the whole bird, little else. As time went on I wanted not just the bird but pull back for the scene, the cypress trees around it, the reflective water, the drape of branches.Then I changed and wanted to get real close ups,, parts of the bird, the eyes and head plumes only etc…expression, portrait!! I think personality is harder to change ones basic focal distance, even if we morph creatively with our art.
Please right more like this, love it :) I don’t read allot of blog post, I like writing on mine, but yours cote my attention – and it was awesome.
I love your analogy. I think I like to focus on little things and see the big picture inside them. Working with ideals and essence–like in fables and fairytales.
Great post! I like things ‘up close and personal’…it’s how I roll!! :)
Nice digital picture by Vinoth Chandar. Any ideal what type of Black & White Flower it is? I got to be honest, I have no ideal what my focal length is but your blog gives me something to think about.
I’m not sure–the photographer says she didn’t know what kind it was when she shot it. Looks a bit like a dandelion?
Hard to tell with it in black and white! http://www.segmation.com
This is a fun game for some, an irritation to others, a who-cares to most. It is just another way of forcing someone into a pigeonhole. You end up with are square blocks forced into round holes. Few people fall into one category. Most bounce between the three and may even stay in one for a long time before moving on,. And, it probably doesn’t really matter. It is psycho-babble with a bit of truth to it.
What an interesting way to consider creative focus. I think generally I am middle focused and then from time to time zoom in to look into the close up. I like being in an environment where I can experience whilst exploring at the same time. I like the potential tactileness of the middle focus.
The “potential tactileness”–what a great observation. Middle distance does allow you to be more involved with your surroundings than the other two, I think.
Great post :-)
Great blog! Love your posts!
Thanks for visiting :)
Love your site!
I hover between middle and close up. I like to have a grander scope, but at the same time not forget the small details. A finite detail here Andaman there can really add an awesome insight into a character.
Great post!
Interesting concept. I’ve never considered my own approach to the creative, just that I was, at least, some of the time. I have much to unpack… Thanks!
I shoot at f/11 for most of my digital photography work. I love f/138 for my pinhole work. But I am always attracted to very narrow depth of field in other peoples works…wonder what this means for m? :)
My focal length depends on the mood of the day. On some days I see the big picture, on others I focus on the heart of a flower or bug. Most of my work involves close up photos. I love the intricate detail of life that is exposed by a very close look.
Nice perspective in you post.
Great Post. I think I will keep this in the middle of my mind :) for the next few days and see if I can make any observations of any details that might help me make a decision. Have a great weekend!
Cool, glad to hear it got the juices churning! You may find yourself using one, two or all three. Some people really gravitate to one, which I think is so interesting. But just thinking about how we employ the various lenses may be useful while working on a creative project. Hope you had a nice weekend!
i love shallow Depth of Field and can see how this applies to alot of what i do in my life… good AND bad… too narrow minded, unable to see the bigger picture or long-term… on the other hand… very focussed, settle my tasks/chores really quickly, very effective time-management… great stuff!
thanks for putting imagery into words…! be blessed.
Wow! I just loved your blog.
Reading for the first time right now.
It’s really nice how the post is so long and I loved reading it till the end. ;)
Loved your top photo though.
I was a photographer. Not anymore, Camera sold.
And I love the big picture. I’m probably like that.
Keep writing, loved reading!
big hugs
eu
Nice post … :-)
You are freshly pressed for the third time!!What a nice vacation gift you got!!:) Kiddos Girl..you so much deserved it!!I am the silent follower following your blog from the start..but making my presence felt just today!!Happy Vacations:D
Hi Tanvi, it’s so nice to meet you! I’m flattered that you’ve been reading my posts from the start. Stop by and say hi anytime–I’d love to hear more of your thoughts.
Brilliantly explained! Thank you so much for writing this! :D
And yes, I loved making collages as a child too – apparently I have 3 Britney Spears’ collages lying around at my parent’s place! LOL :)
Would I be revealing my old ladyness if I told you my collages weren’t of Britney Spears, but New Kids on the Block? ;)
Excellent blog, just excellent.
I keep thinking my focal length is big picture but my writing homes in on the details of things like a person’s spectacles or their shoes. I’m interested in giant concepts (my book is about saving the world) but I find the personal details of people an interesting way to paint the picture – because you can’t paint a concept, you can only illustrate the facts and people around it.
Scrolling through everyone’s comments, it seems like most people start out from the middle but invariably end up somewhere closer to being big picture or close up (I feel like I just made these phrases into new adjectives…). For myself, I think I tend to go for the big picture most of the time but like to focus on the details first. Occasionally I get stuck there so it helps when other people can pull me out from time to time. This post was very different from the usual FP fare and I so appreciated it because it made me think outside the box (cliche, but hey, it works in this case). So glad you shared this!
Interesting.
What happens if you feel like you’re all three?
I’m somewhere in the middle I believe. What a great post, thanks for sharing and congrats on FP!
Congrats Rian on being Freshly Pressed (again!)
Thanks, L! What I love most about it is all of the cool people it’s introduced me to–like you :)
Freshly Pressed again! Rian, you’re the best :-)
Aww, no you’re the best! And your time is coming. It’s only a matter of time before they stumble upon your funny, sassy, well written posts.
Congrats on being freshly pressed again!
Thanks, Talia!
great post!
http://fullbloomphotos.wordpress.com/
As with any photo essay, variety of focal length is the spice of the written life, isn’t it?
I read this when you posted and was stumped. I have since been mulling it around for a bit. I feel I go between big picture, little picture… repeatedly ending up a bit lost, like a pinball wizard. Only after settling a bit-perhaps even taking a break from the project- can I flesh it out and polish it up in finding the in-between. Congrats Rian!!! What was it that Twyla Tharp said in the Creative Habit something along the lines of “It’s not luck, it’s opportunity meeting preparation”. While I know you’ve mentioned jumping into the deep end of blogging and figuring it out as you go, there’s a steady voice coming through and that’s a wonderful thing to witness as a reader and fellow blogger :)
It’s cool to hear your perspective on this, Kristy. I had to mull it over for a while myself. Some people are very obviously big picture thinkers or middle distance dwellers, and it’s easy to see that in their work. But many of us “ping-pong” around, as you say. And that’s cool too. I thought this was an interesting and useful concept and wanted to share it in case it was helpful to others–but there’s no need to feel like we have to define ourselves so stringently (which is where I disagree with Twyla). We should use these tools to understand ourselves better and work more confidently–and if they don’t serve that purpose, then we’re free to choose another, more useful tool instead. Thanks for your unwavering support on my blogging journey–I really appreciate it :)
Congrats on being FP-ed, long overdue! Enjoy your vacation!
Thanks, Lena! I’m slowly coming down from my Hawaii high–what, no pina coladas for breakfast?! What is this, real life? ;)
This post really gets you thinking……
This is so cool! I”m not sure which category I fall into — I like to shoot a little bit of everything — but I think I’m most creative in the middle distance area. Your blog is awesome by the way, so many interesting things to read!
Hi Ahmed, thanks for checking out some of my posts. It seems to be the trend that we all dabble a bit in the various perspectives. I think it’s cool that you feel “most creative” in one–maybe that’s where your brain likes to hang out the most. Take care!
My focal length is dependent on what I had for breakfast
I never eat breakfast
This post has such depth and beauty, it’s inspiring.
The content is really engaging.
‘Far Side of the Moon’ is definitely a stunning piece of work.
Reblogged this on beginwithinhere and commented:
Loving this blog for the visual thinkers out there
Tried to position my self in any of the 3 categories but soon found out that I’m a little of everything. Might say 20% big picture and an even split 40% for middle and close up. %)
But then if I add sub categories like leisure, personal, family, love, friends and work. Then it gets even more complicated… :/
This is an excellent post. I’m definitely a close-up type of of person. I have to work very hard to leave the details in order to fit them into a well structured big picture. Thank you for your post. I’d love to repost it!
Thank you – made me think and remember that I approach life in the ‘landscape’ and maybe sometimes it would be a good idea to focus on the details. You have made my day.
“I love exploring the universal: risk, change, adventure, awareness, our relationships with each other and with ourselves.”
I wish this blog were still running. I haven’t found another blog whose perspective and interests so closely mirrors my own.