Zoom-in vs Zoom-out

Smart zooming

The other day, we had an amazing, almost divine, experience of sunshine outside, across the valley.

I took a photo with my mobile phone’s camera, it looked nice.

Understanding  these cameras have an intricate and complex photo apparatus, sometimes with multiple augmented cameras (2 in my current phone), but even more elaborate software for contrast compensation, light and exposure processing, I tried to zoom in on the actual horizon area.

The effect was astounding, see below.

Then I zoomed in even more. The colors are unbelievable.

My point is:

In life, it also makes lots of sense to zoom in or out to make the best of the situation.

It lets us become more efficient with our energy, our attention and effort we put on things.

Sometimes it is the former - zoom in will let you concentrate on the important things in your microcosm - the small picture: great family relations, stable economy, almost fantastic family life or similar at work.

Sometimes it is being a consultant and concentrating on a clear assignment within (hopefully quite) clear boundaries, even if these things fluctuate a bit. As opposed to being employed and helping out sculpturing the company, attending all meetings, contributing to a prosperous culture, and partaking in politics.

Sometimes it is the latter - the bigger perspective is much needed for making stuff useful for oneself (and for others too, if you are in a leading position, like a father of a family or a manager in a professional setting), since the smaller perspective (zoomed in) gives you too much of a detailed view but lets you miss the forest for the trees, i.e missing the bigger picture for too much details that are less than useful, due to a surplus of details with a lesser significance for the chosen goal.

Depending on what we aim to achieve.

In my personal perspective, I usually opt for the big perspective, the encompassing overview - as opposed to the detailed view of the small things. 

Both approaches are valid and the choice is highly determined by the context/ goal.

Personally, I often opt for the bigger perspective, since I have observed in my life that it has mor advantages, and think I can render such an overview with some ease (not to self acclaim superpowers).

The detailed Zoom-in view is often embraced by some people with the love for details Who tend to be pragmatic but also pedantic - a pitfall of the extreme.

As in many things in life - make a wise choice and try both.

The juicy cherry on the cake?

Or the salt on the steak?