What Helps Us See?
Objects become noticeable due to the following features: shape, shadow, silhouette, surface (or skin), placement in space, and movement.
Shape
We distinguish objects by their outlines or form, especially when they contrast with the surroundings. The human body, if not properly camouflaged, stands out sharply against a natural landscape.
Shadow
In sunlight, an object casts a shadow that remains visible even when the object itself is hidden. As the sun moves across the sky, the shadow shifts. An object standing in shade casts no shadow of its own.
Silhouette
A silhouette is the outline of an object seen against a uniform background—sky, water, or an open field. If the background becomes uneven or cluttered, the silhouette dissolves.
Surface
When the outer surface or skin of an object contrasts with its environment, it becomes clearly visible. Human skin, for example, is easily spotted against natural backgrounds.
Placement in Space
Look around you—natural objects are arranged in no particular order. Only man-made things are placed with regularity or symmetry.
Movement
We may stare at a perfectly camouflaged animal for hours and see nothing. But the moment it moves, our eyes lock onto it instantly. So when you are looking for animals, remember: movement betrays them. And it betrays us, too.
Kim's Game
Both scouts and soldiers play Kim's Game. It takes its name from Rudyard Kipling's novel Kim, which tells the story of an orphan boy growing up on the streets of an Indian city. He falls under the influence of a jewel trader named Lurgan Sahib, who is, in fact, a secret service agent.
Lurgan decides to train Kim as a spy. During one lesson, he invites Kim and a young Hindu boy to play a game. Sahib places fifteen gemstones on a tray, lets the boys look at them, then covers it. Kim and the boy must describe as many stones as they can. The Hindu boy wins.
" 'He is beaten,' said Lurgan Sahib, smiling.
'Ha! He knows the names of the stones—I do not,' Kim flashed back. 'Let us try again, this time with things we both know well.'
They placed on the tray various objects from the shop and even from the kitchen, yet the Hindu boy kept winning. Kim was baffled.
'Blindfold me—I will feel them all, and then at last I will win,' he declared.
But the boy won again, and Kim stamped his foot in frustration.
'If it were men or horses, I could remember them easily. But these little tweezers, knives, and scissors—they are so small!'
'That is not the point,' said Lurgan Sahib.
'Then how does he do it?'
'He has done it many times, over and over, until he made it perfect. That is how one must learn.' "
Kim was being trained as a spy, and this game taught him to observe and memorize fine details. In the British army, the name "Kim" was later reinterpreted as "Keep in Memory." Kim's Game is an excellent way to train observation. By repeating the same exercise again and again, you train your brain. After enough practice, you will find yourself remembering objects almost automatically. You will become as sharp-eyed as Sherlock Holmes—and in the field, this skill will serve you well.
How to Look
Kim's Game is a powerful tool for memory and attention, but in the wilderness, the task becomes far more complex. The field of view is vast, and the number of objects is overwhelming. Out in the open, there is no point in simply staring ahead—you will see everything and nothing at once. You need to master a method of "selective scanning" that surveillance operatives have used for centuries.
Imagine a still lake. A stone drops into the water, and concentric circles ripple outward from the point of impact. Now picture yourself at that very center. Scan the terrain along imaginary concentric rings.
Start with the nearest zone—roughly two meters around you. Sweep your gaze from left to right along an arc about three meters wide. Examine every small detail, keeping in mind the six clues: shape, shadow, silhouette, surface, placement, and movement. Train your eye to seek these specifically.
Now shift your focus to the next semicircle, slightly farther out, and scan it from right to left. Continue this pattern until you reach about fifteen meters from your position. Look not only horizontally but also up and down—study the treetops, scan the ground. Always examine the spot where you are standing; more often than not, people search frantically for something that lies right under their noses.
When you view the landscape from different angles, you notice things that were invisible before. That is why you should turn around from time to time and glance back—just in case.
If you are tracking footprints on the ground, remember: tracks are easiest to spot when you walk toward the sun. The low angle casts shadows in the depressions, making them appear deeper and more distinct. Of course, if you are following a trail, you go where it leads—but when you are actively searching for a track, this tip will give you an edge.
Trail Signs
Exercises like Kim's Game help you remember what you have seen, but first you must learn to notice things in a natural environment. Scouts have a game for this as well. One scout walks ahead, leaving signs along the trail. Another follows and tries to spot them.
These signs can take many forms: arrows drawn on the ground, twigs arranged in a certain way, blades of grass tied together, or stones placed in deliberate patterns. Combined, they can convey complex messages. Different people prefer different markings. Common examples are shown below:
By constantly training yourself to detect such signs, you will soon begin to notice them at a glance. Keep practicing, and you will find yourself seeing things that most people walk right past.
Next guide: Whose Tracks? How to Read Hidden Animal Signs Previous guide: The Art of Animal Observation and the Secrets of Trackers You can view the full list here: Survival Guides for the Mountains
