How Small Things Sometimes Make the Best Images

Photography is often about the grand scenes—the sweeping landscapes, the dramatic city skylines, the powerful portraits. But sometimes, the best images come not from the obvious, but from the overlooked. As photographers, we see the world a little differently, trained to notice the details that others might pass by without a second glance. It’s in these small moments that true storytelling happens.

I learned this lesson early on. My very first photography assignment at school was to go out and photograph tree bark. Not a wildly exciting subject, I admit, but it taught me something invaluable—the importance of looking closer. What at first seemed like a dull exercise quickly became fascinating as I began to see the intricate textures, the deep lines, and the subtle variations in colour. That assignment changed the way I approached photography. From then on, I understood that the magic often lies in the details.

Fast forward to last year, when I was on holiday in Rome. I took what, at first glance, seemed like a fairly standard image: a young, smartly dressed couple standing close together, gazing out over the city skyline. It was a beautiful scene, but what made it truly special was something far less obvious. Just seconds before I pressed the shutter, the man had proposed. That tiny, fleeting moment—one that could so easily have been missed—transformed an ordinary image into something much more powerful. The subtle post-proposal glow on their faces, the way their hands gently touched, the almost imperceptible shift in their expressions—all elements that told a much deeper story.

This is why photographers see the world a little differently. We look beyond what’s immediately visible, searching for the small details that elevate an image from something seen to something felt. Whether it’s a shadow falling just right, a fleeting expression, or the texture of something as simple as tree bark, these are the moments that make an image sing.

Great photography isn’t just about capturing what’s in front of us—it’s about seeing what others might miss. And sometimes, it’s the smallest details that make the biggest impact.