colours and memory

[jackdiamonte]

with reference to colour perception and memory is there any factual info into which colours are the least remembered for the likes of an operatives clothing or car/van. any help appreciated. should the saying grey man be taken literally.

[isstraining]

Jackdiamonte,

It depends what you are trying to be ‘grey’ for and I presume that it is for Surveillance?

A good friend of mine explains that the way you want to dress for surveillance is in clothing similar to a young bachelor: remember when you first left home and didn’t have your mum to wash your clothes? Well, you shove everything into a washing machine, (blues, reds, whites and blacks all mixed in together), throw in a ton of dhobi dust and crank it up on boil. What colour does everything come out? Yes, you guessed it and that is the way you want to be dressed for surveillance….. or maybe not…

If you are on your own, maybe, then there is no problem, If you are working within a team, you should all be dressed differently (not all dressed in the grey boiled clothes!), If all the team were all to wear a dark fleece, blue jeans and black trainers we may as well put on a uniform – get different.

By ‘grey’ we say that you have to fit in with everyone else in the same environment, it is as simple as that but there are a few things to keep in mind.

The first thing is to understand is why we get noticed to a target and the main two reasons are multiple sightings and unusual behavior. If we forget about the un-natural behavior bit for now and concentrate on Multiple Sightings. If you are seen once, you are probably forgotten about, seen twice – it’s a coincidence, and seen a third time – more than a coincidence. Remember, being seen is not the same as being noticed. Being seen 3 times will get you noticed and so it is our appearance, manner and clothes that we have to be aware of to minimise these sightings.

You can carry out a Surveillance in a bright yellow jacket and a red hat but you can only let yourself be seen wearing them once. The hooks in our subconscious memory will hook straight into it again the next time you are seen and you will become noticed after only two sightings (not good). It is these sightings that you want to minimise by blending in with everyone else around you which is why we say avoid bright colours and more importantly contrasting colours. Don’t wear a black jacket over a white shirt – it screams out especially if you are driving a car behind a target.

Don’t forget to dress according to the car you drive - dressed in rag order driving a new BMW will also get you noticed. Get neutral or even fashionable as well! Remember if you are ex’ police or ex’ military leave your civvies in the G10 store and throw away the key. If I thought I was being followed, I would force the team out on foot and then have a good look at what people are wearing even before carrying out any anti surveillance drills. Look for: trainers, outdoor chukka boots, divers style watch, gore-tex jacket (probably with a North Face or Berghaus logo on it), cargo pants and observe their gait – the way they walk (and that's your typical guy on the Circuit). For heavens sake don’t wear sunglasses unless everyone else about you is also wearing them, it puts a contrasting band across your face and if the whole team are wearing them – standby, cos’ the Men in Black are in town! Surveillance isn’t about looking good which is a good excuse for being so ugly.

Keep it simple folks: take a look around you - fit in with everyone else in the same environment as every situation and place is different.

In respect of vehicles, treat with the same caution. Avoid black cars, especially with blacked out windows – they look too sinister or too diplomatic. Definitely avoid white ones (although you would get away with a small white van). You see a white car in your rear view mirror and what do you do? You automatically slow down and take another 2 or 3 looks at it in order to identify whether it is a police car do you not? Don’t give a target a free look at you.

If you want to learn more – come and see us in Yorkshire or if you are in London, come and do the foot surveillance course.

Cheers

Peter

[No, the other North!]

Jackdiamonte:

What Peter said,

PLUS:

It's not just the effect of colour upon the perceptions of your subject/target. Once you know you've got the hang of it (an understanding), it has an effect upon your own perceptions and emboldens your confidence for close-quarters work. Look good, feel good becomes look grey, etc.

(Technically, the average of colours and shine is what is known as 40% Grey, the rear colour of a photographer's colour test board. The colour of five-year old tarmac on a dry day. The wife's hair. Weatherspoon's mashed potato.)

[mickworldwide]

well put peter, outstanding advice.

Sometimes the best way to un noticed is to hide right out in the open... for instance how often do people actually take notice of road surveyors , construction, etc.... it is more likely you will stand out if you are trying to be too sneaky.

The advice reference the civvies is sound mate, after all we all have a tendancy to wear such things and in fact I had a good giggle when reading Peters comments as it almost describes to a tee my daily garb!!!