Once You See It: The Frequency Illusion and the Art of Noticing

 Written by Dan Burkey

Have you ever bought something thinking you were the only one that had it only to start noticing it everywhere? For instance, you buy a car that you don't notice on the road often. Then after you make the purchase, you see it everywhere. Another example is when you learn something new and then you see representations of it everywhere. The examples are endless. This is called the frequency illusion or the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon.

  It's not that it becomes more frequent all of a sudden, it's that you are now aware of its existence, so you pay more attention to the fact that it's there. Our minds selectively notice things once they become relevant to us shaping our perception of reality. Anyone who has ever hunted for morel mushrooms or asparagus in the wild before can attest to this. Once you see one in the wild, they become easier to spot. This is a truly remarkable phenomenon and once you become aware of what this is, you can use it to your advantage.

"It's not what you look at that matters. It's what you see.." -Henry David Thoreau

  In my personal experience when I am hiking in nature and I see a bird I've never seen before; I snap a picture of it and do my research on it as soon as I get the chance. Now when I hear its call or see it, I am more likely to recognize it. It is no longer just a bird. It's no longer just overlooked. The same thing happens when I see a plant that I have noticed for the first time. I do my research on it and I will suddenly see it everywhere but now when I see it, I know the name, whether it is toxic or not, and its value to humans and the environment.

  In photography, we play the color game. What is the color game and what does this have to do with the frequency illusion? The color game is when a color is assigned to a photographer and that photographer has to go out and photograph subjects featuring that color. No matter what kind of photographer you are, this can help train your eye and mind to see the specific color. This is a great way to see the world and your surroundings deeper than just the surface.

Here is a great way to put this into practice:

Educate yourself on one native plant in your area, then go out and find it in the wild. Now that you know it exists and you have seen it in the wild, you will more frequently be able to spot this plant. The same works for many things. The more you learn about your surroundings and life, The more you will become aware of the things that often get overlooked.

“The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.” -William Morris

 Loggerhead Shrike sitting on the treetops in Circle B Bar reserve Florida.

  The next time you go out, make it a point to learn something new about your environment. A color, shape, plant, or animal. You will find that these things have always been there. You're just learning how to adjust the lens you view the world through.