kmc,
One of the best exercises that helped me in this same area was one from Tony Buzan's book. Not sure which one. It goes like this:
Take a scene, or an area (could be anything at all). Just observe it for about 10 minutes. Then close your eyes & recall as much detail as you can. Then open your eyes & see what you missed & then close your eyes again & add the additional details in. Only do this whole exercise for 15 minutes.
Listen to the paraliminal Memory Supercharger once a day at different times. Sometimes in the a.m. & other times in the p.m.
I also agree w/ Michael, that if you want it enuff----you'll succeed. 
And, taking one additional from Michael's post, if you do find detail oriented people around you, you can model them w/ the New Behavior paraliminal tape.
What do you have against detail? Answer that question & you'll really catch a fish
