I have been watching people and events my whole life, watching was a form of participating when I was a child. Games the older kids played seemed fun even though I was to young for them. So I would just watch. When I grew older and started taking an interest in girls, I watched what the other teens did, how they spoke, stood, walked, joked with their girlfriends and how the girls responded.
This is not some strange fetish, we all did it, I was just aware that I was doing it. Why? Because I watched other kids doing the same thing. I watched the watchers.
I learned for myself and by watching others learn how to fit in. Back then, I learned to put my back against the wall so I could concentrate on the 180' view before me. It became the first step in my quest to watch everything. From peripheral view to peripheral view, my side view idea of horizon to horizon. I would take it all in and take a picture of it in my minds eye as well as real time, absorbing it. Movement, color, shadow. All mixed with sound to form a sort of play I was watching from my own front row seat.
A bit extreme? Yeah probably but no more then any of us do every day of our lives. The difference? I consciously know I'm doing it.
Have you ever seen the look on someones face when they have just mastered a new skill? The detectable and unmistakable look of someone that just "got it". I can spot it a mile away and so can you, if you know what to look for. Being present is a gift few of us understand how to use. People in the business of observing others don't need to "find the zone" they are living in it.
Being a professional observer means mastering many things. Having a working knowledge of things like body language, human nature, emotion, physics (action and reaction), culture, crowd dynamics, not to forget environment and situational awareness. Some times it is things we ourselves cannot detect, subtle yet tangible at some intimate level.
A seasoned hunter can tell when something is coming long before he sees it. The forest changes in ways hard for him to explain but detectable to him none the less. The birds may change their tune or fall silent, small animals like squirrels are suddenly missing or take to the trees, a warm scent may test the nose. Taken collectively they tell the story and he readies himself. I have heard it described as tossing a pebble in a pond. The rings reach out across the surface ever widening and effecting the entire pond. In some ways it is very impressive how such far reaching effects can be heralded by such a small thing.
Scene watching is taxing if you are not practised. Only time and practise can teach you to scan large areas efficiently. We can study large area scanning on another page later for now lets look at people. It is the safest place to start and is after all what your primary concern will be.
When I see a person for the first time, I start at the top of their head and work my way down their body to the foot. I put together a physical description and post it in my mental Rolodex.
As fast as you can, do the following exorcise using the first person you see, be it in person or even practise while you watch Television.
SEX male / female
COLOR, Black, Asian, Caucasian etc (we may not be able to discern an Italian from an Arab or Peruvian particularly at a distance, so we use completion NOT nationality to describe individuals).
AGE you really need to look well here, clothes can throw you off.
HAIR COLOR/TYPE
BUILD Body type/shape/height/weight
DRESS start with the color of the garment on the torso, for this example lets imagine it's WHITE
Followed by the garment on the legs if applicable. Let's say BLUE
If the subject is carrying a purse, bag or item that can be readily described it should be added to the description.
If the items on the feet are distinctive they are worth mentioning as well.
DIRECTION or LOCATION
ISSUE, why am I looking?
So lets look(and listen)to how a quick description-collection and radio call might look and sound like.
All units stand by for description and watch for the following individual:
Male,
Light Skin,
Heavy,
Mid/late Forties,
Balding,
Waring White over Blue,
Subject is acting strangely and is wanted for questioning.
Scan the area quickly eliminating or culling as many as possible until the only persons fitting that description is found. learn to collect this amount of information in two seconds, as you walk your favorite mall, or sit waiting in your Doctor's office, on the bus. With little practice and a new in site on how to describe people, you will remember details better then the casual observer. Do it all the time, a wise man once told me anything I do for thirty days straight, I'll do for the rest of my life. He was right. Practice Practice Practice.
Almost every trial attorney will tell you the weakest evidence is almost always eye witness testimony.
RJ MOSCA
