Seeing things in parts

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I have heard that it is very common for people on the spectrum to see things in parts rather than the whole picture. So how do other non-autistic people see the world? I know that is probably a very ambiguous question. If I am looking out into a field, I might notice a flower. Then another flower. Then a tree. Sometimes I might notice the leaf on a tree. Then a piece of the bark. Or a bug on it. How would non-autistic people see the world. Do they not look at the little parts of things like I do?

I was thinking of this recently while I was watching a movie. The scene was set at night outdoors ( Night of the Hunter) and I couldn't figure out what these long moving things were. Then I realized it was the ears of a rabbit. I usually zero in on details but not always so much that I can't tell what things are.

I don't know about the nature example, but I think I get a sense for the difference between NT and ASD perspectives when it comes to driving.

They see the whole picture somehow and easily and quickly know not to go down a one-way street the wrong way. If I'm lucky I see the sign that says "One Way" and points the way to go but then I miss all the other things that they apparently take in in one fell swoop (kids crossing the street, other cars to wait for at the stop sign, etc.)

Moral of the story: I have to work very hard not to go down streets the wrong way. For one example.

I asked some people about this, and they told me that they saw the whole objects before they saw the parts and didn't really focus on the details until they were interested in them. They saw the tree first, then the leaves, but went back to focusing on the whole tree. I don't know if their eyes naturally go towards the details in the physical world or if their brains prioritize other activities above that. Probably depends on interest.

I see the leaves on the trees first, then the whole tree. Or whatever the smallest discernible detail is from a distance. Sometimes, it feels like every single detail is coming in at once and none of them fade away either.

I have what I'd call "tunnel vision". I tend to see only what I'm interested in, and ignore most everything else. So there are definitely times when I miss the big picture or very large details.