walking in a crowded city street, we learn to keep our gaze straight ahead; no eye contact. if we are constantly looking up, pedestrians around us get annoyed figuring we are just a tourist slowing them down in their busy day. if our gaze is always downward on a crowded street, passersby assume we are hard-up street dwellers, eyeing the ground for loose change. consequently, we often miss the interesting minutiae underfoot. social norms aside, I’ve created a habit of watching the ground in front of me as I move around town, usually walking or biking. it’s surprising how that habit coupled with an insatiable curiosity, brings to light some interesting and unusual objects. things we’d otherwise miss or take for granted. even a piece of trash has some beauty, in the right context. when we look (and I mean really look), we see.