Steven LaChance Blog

When I walk into a place with a history, I let my senses do the work. I’m not there to gather evidence. I don’t need my face buried in a gadget. Passive equipment I don’t have to think about is fine, but anything that pulls my focus away from the space isn’t helping me. The most important tool I have is myself.

We’re taught early on about our five senses, but somewhere along the way we stop trusting them. We start looking for something extra, something external, when what we already have is more than enough.

Sight. Hearing. Smell. Touch. These things tell you far more about a location than people realize, if you’re willing to slow down and pay attention. Trust yourself.

Most meaningful moments don’t announce themselves. They don’t come with flashing lights or dramatic sound cues. They arrive quietly, almost unnoticed, and they pass just as easily if you’re distracted.

You don’t need special tools to understand a place. You just need to be present enough to let your built-in tools do the work. There is a lot happening around you, if you can quiet yourself and tune into it.