Observation

Set up the standard on the walls of Babylon; Make the guard strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes.  For the LORD has both devised and done what he spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon.   Jeremiah 51:12

In preparing for battle with Babylon Jeremiah describes the actions to take place, specifically saying to establish watchmen.  The art of observation is one of the hallmarks to fieldcraft and as we can see here as been so for a very long time.  Why is it important though?  Observation is the main source of information we rely on for information. 

To simply say “look and you will see” is an oversimplification, it is better to have a process.  To begin with your attention must be focused on the task at hand, it is an active process to see.  Something as simple as walking will affect your ability to focus, which is why frequent pauses to observe are required.  Talking, playing on a phone, navigating, or any number of other tasks can degrade your attentiveness to the observation task.  Just be aware no one can multitask well, no matter what they think.  They can only improve with practice, but you are always going to perform a single task better than multiple ones.

Next when we scan an area it is best to scan from right to left, the opposite of the direction you would read.  Have you ever done one of those word puzzles where the first and last letters are correct, and the middle letters have all been jumbled up?  We are able to read those fairly easily as are minds are accustomed to filling in the blanks.  Unfortunately this works against us when we are looking to find something out of the ordinary, so we scan “backwards”. 

Next, we want to scan the areas close to us and move further out from there.  As we scan, we are going to overlap the area observed, remembering we are going to observe more detail on the right to left arcs of observation, I make a conscious effort to slow my scan on the left to right arc down, remembering our mind is accustomed to filling in blanks in this direction.  I continue this pattern out until the whole area has been scanned. 

If am moving on foot I remember each step forward will offer a new view of an area, and to look behind frequently as it is easy to pass by sometime worth seeing. 

If I am in an observation post, deer blind, etc. I will give another detailed scan with low powered binoculars.  An 8x or 10x is a good starting point, offering a decent field of view without needing a tripod to stabilize.  Having too much magnification often means observing to small of an area and missing something moving through rapidly.  Higher magnificated optics, either binoculars or spotting scopes are good for further investigating something discovered with binoculars or doing detailed scans of terrain that is a long way off, after you have identified the likely locations your quarry may travel.

During the first scans I try to identify the places where I expect to see activity, the places where trails are located, where water, food, and bedding sources are if I am after game. Or where points of interest for people are if I am trying to observe them.  If I know someone will be watching for me from such and such location, and they take a particular path to get there I will watch this location more frequently than the side of a seemingly impassible cliff face.  Or the windows of a house than looking at the second story walls of it.  By identifying the areas where things will likely be located, I can cut down the area to be scanned and increase my odds of seeing the activity I hope to see.  Now that being said I do believe it is good practice to give the entire sector of observation a through scan on a frequent basis. 

We have two basic modes our eyes operate within.  A wide angle and narrow angle vision.  Most of the time of people spend in a narrow angle focus, looking at a specific point and shifting their gaze from point to point.  This narrow focus is very good for seeing detail but has the same disadvantage as looking through high magnification optics, in that if your field of view is limited.  The other way of looking to use your wide-angle vision.  Wide angle vision is to not focus on any one point and attempt to see everything within your field of view which is close to 180 degrees.  While observing in wide-angle or are seeing as a prey animal would, not really focusing on any one point but able to perceive more of the movement occurring within your field of view.

Switching back and forth between a wide and narrow focus is the best approach I am aware of to see instead of merely looking.  While in a wide angle you observe something, switching to a narrow focus to investigate further, then moving back to a wide view.  Followed periodically by a narrow focus scan.

Movement is the most commonly observed factor and is a point to remember if you are attempting to remain hidden.  You have the Ss (shape, shine, silhouette, and shadow), color, contrast, and patterns.  Many people will try to see a deer or a person but depending on the environment you may only be able to see part of a person or animal. 

Like every skill out there developing the powers of observation require training and practice.  They also are a perishable skillset.  In the beginning you will develop eye strain if you look through optics for to long of a period.  As your practice increases the longer you will be able to observe. 

No matter your desire to study fieldcraft and enjoy the outdoors improving your observation abilities will be just as important now as they were when they  were recommended by the good book.

-Joe