ARTS: Zen photography

[Meitou]

Re Sugimoto: When I had first seen a few of his horizon photos in a magazine, I found them interesting. I bought the book, and they really are tedious. A half dozen of them are interesting; 200 of them are not. Sorry. :-o


Gassho,

Kirk

sat

In your opinion of course. I never tire of looking at them, I feel a strong connection to them, so let's remember how subjective this all is.
Gassho
Meitou
Sattoday lah

[Ryumon]

I enjoyed your photos Kirk. What strikes me as an interesting photo is a narrative or story that’s being conveyed in a single photo. I did not get that sense looking at your photoS, while I enjoyed them I did not feel a sense that a particular moment was being singled out and expressed. Rather a sense that the object was taken just as it is using many rules of photography. The symmetry of angles you used did give me a sense of “zen”

That's a very interesting point; I'd never thought about that. It's true that many photos present "story" and that I've read many books and taken courses where the idea of story is important. Of course many don't present story: most portraits, landscapes, and still life photos. What I try to capture is mood and feeling, the "thusness" of objects and scenes. But many photographers who shoot other types of photos also do that: what else is a landscape photo other than capturing a feeling?

But I think this is a good point:

"a sense that the object was taken just as it is"

I'd never considered that, but perhaps that is part of what I'm seeking. Though I would disagree with the idea that they use "many rules of photography." I'm one of those who thinks that there are no rules, especially those that are generally presented as "the rules" of photography.

Gassho,

Kirk

sat

[Ryumon]

In your opinion of course. I never tire of looking at them, I feel a strong connection to them, so let's remember how subjective this all is.

Indeed.

BTW, I'll be interviewing Michael Kenna on my photo podcast again in a couple of weeks, talking specifically about his new Buddha book.

Gassho,

Kirk

sat

[Heiso]

Indeed.

BTW, I'll be interviewing Michael Kenna on my photo podcast gain in a couple of weeks, talking specifically about his new Buddha book.

Gassho,

Kirk

sat

Excellent, I've subscribed so look forward to that one.

Gassho

Heiso

StLah

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[Kyotai]

That's a very interesting point; I'd never thought about that. It's true that many photos present "story" and that I've read many books and taken courses where the idea of story is important. Of course many don't present story: most portraits, landscapes, and still life photos. What I try to capture is mood and feeling, the "thusness" of objects and scenes. But many photographers who shoot other types of photos also do that: what else is a landscape photo other than capturing a feeling?

But I think this is a good point:

"a sense that the object was taken just as it is"

I'd never considered that, but perhaps that is part of what I'm seeking. Though I would disagree with the idea that they use "many rules of photography." I'm one of those who thinks that there are no rules, especially those that are generally presented as "the rules" of photography.

Gassho,

Kirk

sat

Well, your photos have many pleasant leading lines and 1/3's, which are certainly rules. But I've always believed that you must first learn the rules before you can start breaking them. True in photography, true in martial arts too.

Gassho, Kyotai
ST

[Ryumon]

Well, your photos have many pleasant leading lines and 1/3's, which are certainly rules. But I've always believed that you must first learn the rules before you can start breaking them. True in photography, true in martial arts too.

I certainly don't consider the "rule" of thirds, which I call the "rule of turds," because there is no justification for it, other than the fact that early DSLRs had 1/3 grid lines. If you look back at the history of photography, it's not something that existed. And there are too many exceptions to make it useful. (If you browse my podcast PhotoActive, you'll see there's an episode where we discussed it.) As for other elements of composition, the "rules" for photography are no different from the rules for painting and other art. I very much like looking at Japanese woodblock prints from the 17th - 19th century, the classic ukiyo-e, for inspiration; their composition was similar to what "works" in photos.

Gassho,

Kirk

sat

[Jishin]

I certainly don't consider the "rule" of thirds, which I call the "rule of turds," because there is no justification for it, other than the fact that early DSLRs had 1/3 grid lines. If you look back at the history of photography, it's not something that existed. And there are too many exceptions to make it useful. (If you browse my podcast PhotoActive, you'll see there's an episode where we discussed it.) As for other elements of composition, the "rules" for photography are no different from the rules for painting and other art. I very much like looking at Japanese woodblock prints from the 17th - 19th century, the classic ukiyo-e, for inspiration; their composition was similar to what "works" in photos.

Gassho,

Kirk

sat

Hi Kirk,

Your podcast is very cool.

Although artists want to do what they want to do without interference, the audience needs to be considered.

The audience likes the rule of turds. :-)

Gassho, Jishin, __/stlah\__

[Kyotai]

I certainly don't consider the "rule" of thirds, which I call the "rule of turds," because there is no justification for it, other than the fact that early DSLRs had 1/3 grid lines. If you look back at the history of photography, it's not something that existed. And there are too many exceptions to make it useful. (If you browse my podcast PhotoActive, you'll see there's an episode where we discussed it.) As for other elements of composition, the "rules" for photography are no different from the rules for painting and other art. I very much like looking at Japanese woodblock prints from the 17th - 19th century, the classic ukiyo-e, for inspiration; their composition was similar to what "works" in photos.

Gassho,

Kirk

sat

Very interesting perspective and podcast as I am about 2/3 the way through it this morning. As a newer amateur photographer, I certainly appreciated learning about rules of photography in the online course that I took as previously I would simply and always place the subject in the center of the photo. I think learning about what is widely and generally considered a pleasing photo (I emphasize generally) is helpful, before going along your photography journey.

Gassho, Kyotai
ST

[Meitou]

Indeed.

BTW, I'll be interviewing Michael Kenna on my photo podcast again in a couple of weeks, talking specifically about his new Buddha book.

Gassho,

Kirk

sat

Gratitude

meitou
sattodaylah

[Jishin]

I don't know if this is Fukinsei or Zen. They are grapes though.



Gassho, Jishin, __/stlah\__

[Gareth]

Perhaps this?

sunset.jpg

I took the picture on an evening run a few years ago.

Gassho,
Gareth
Sat today

[Jishin]

Perhaps this?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6765[/ATTACH]

I took the picture on an evening run a few years ago.

Gassho,
Gareth
Sat today

Great!

Gassho, Jishin, __/stlah\__

[Gareth]

Great!

Gassho, Jishin, __/stlah\__

Thanks - I liked the grapes picture too!

Gassho,
Gareth
Sat today

[Tai Shi]

Gassho
sat / lah
Tai Shi


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[Jundo]

I have moved a couple of the older photo threads into our new "Photography" space, where these beautiful images can have a new home.

Gassho, Jundo
STLah