Question: Wabi Sabi (Page 2): Thank you...

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Fentons_X2 wrote:

Gorgeous Cardinal shot!

Thank you

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

User ID wrote:

Excellent taxidermy.

Definition of taxidermy: The activity of cleaning, preserving, and filling the skins of dead animals with special material to make them look as if they are still alive

Are you suggesting that the image I posted is of a preserved bird? I take that as a personal insult.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Imperfections aren't all created equal, and by its nature, impermanence doesn't have any enduring characteristics. How do we capture the essence of imperfection and impermanence? Do we have to limit ourselves to photogenic examples of imperfection or impermanence?

User ID

Curmudgeon wrote:

Definition of taxidermy: The activity of cleaning, preserving, and filling the skins of dead animals with special material to make them look as if they are still alive

Are you suggesting that the image I posted is of a preserved bird? I take that as a personal insult.

Im saying that the image is the equivalent of taxidermy. The lack of natural surrounding, the black background, looks like a museum display. Altho the bird doesnt look very lively, I just assume its a live bird cuz hawgsters are so often birders. Outside of this forum, some viewers may well assume its a static display.

Maybe I should have said "phototaxidermy" ? Ive never hesitated to coin new jargon.

OTOH, if some viewer does assume that its not phototaxidermy but is a sort of still life of a preserved bird, HOW does that insult you ? You made an image that does have a frozen static removed from nature aspect about it. The final verdict does belong to each viewer.

Head & shoulders looks like a finger puppet !

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Curmudgeon wrote:

With regard to photography, what exactly is Wabi Sabi ? Is it a single image with a lot of negative space ? Is a Saki bottle on a black background Wabi Sabi or does it have to be on a white background ? It seems that a lot of us have been doing this kind of photography/post processing for a long time without ever giving it a name.

Wabi Sabi

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Curmudgeon wrote:

Concern? Me neither but sometimes labeling things can be fun. I wonder if this is Wabi Sabi?

tcthome Loc: NJ

Curmudgeon wrote:

With regard to photography, what exactly is Wabi Sabi ? Is it a single image with a lot of negative space ? Is a Saki bottle on a black background Wabi Sabi or does it have to be on a white background ? It seems that a lot of us have been doing this kind of photography/post processing for a long time without ever giving it a name.

I thought it was imperfection. Different, not worrying about tack sharp photos. Could be wrong.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I, too, have wondered about this wabi sabi thing. I have seen the photos, read the explanations, read the philosophicals here, and come to a decision. First, I still don't understand it. Second, I am not sure others do either. Third, I think it is a fleeting fad. Fourth, I shall ignore it henceforth. That's my take on the entire thing.

cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

Curmudgeon wrote:

Thanks for responding. Zen was en vogue in the mid 60's to the mid 70s. A lot of us played around with the concepts. Most of us gave up on the idea because it didn't reflect the realities we saw in our world. Young people generally, my self included, didn't understand impermanence. Even for Buddha it took time to understand.

Leaving he philosophy aside, I still fail to see how Wabi Sabi relates to photography.

Perhaps my album will illustrate: https://www.flickr.com/photos/samyaffespix/albums/72157713297046548/

Some may question the "beauty" in some - or perhaps all - of these images, but they are my attempts to use the concept of wabi-sabi as I understand it.

yorkiebyte Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR

Curmudgeon wrote:

With regard to photography, what exactly is Wabi Sabi ? Is it a single image with a lot of negative space ? Is a Saki bottle on a black background Wabi Sabi or does it have to be on a white background ? It seems that a lot of us have been doing this kind of photography/post processing for a long time without ever giving it a name.

“kemo sabe”

Sorry, my mind went elsewhere quickly in this posting..... totally need my morning espresso......

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Curmudgeon wrote:

... Now I am being asked to accept the minimalist approach to photography as something called Wabi-sabi...

You're not being asked to accept any label of any particular thing.

I don't know why you thought UHH's Man Discussion section was the place to educate yourself on this subject, Jack, given that 50% or more of respondents couldn't care less. However, in addition to ctbsam's, Ed Shapiro's and R.G.'s thoughtful comments, try this idea:

"beauty can be found in the old, the everyday, the imperfect."

Minimalism is not the defining aspect of Wabi Sabi photography, although ctbsam's work showcases that unique exquisite beauty.

Other ideas for photos, from a google search:
Nothing lasts (look for crumbly things, decay, withered bits of nature)
Nothing is perfect (look for cracks, broken things, flaws)
Nothing is finished (things being made, but go beyond that and think more abstractly too – how about a book mid-read, or a car half washed, or river stones which are forever changing due to the flowing water)

And some of mine:

Clearing Fog by Linda Shorey, on Flickr

Discarded irrigation equipment by Linda Shorey, on Flickr

Dinosaurs by Linda Shorey, on Flickr

In Shadow by Linda Shorey, on Flickr

Discards by Linda Shorey, on Flickr

Weathered by Linda Shorey, on Flickr

photoman43

Curmudgeon wrote:

With regard to photography, what exactly is Wabi Sabi ? Is it a single image with a lot of negative space ? Is a Saki bottle on a black background Wabi Sabi or does it have to be on a white background ? It seems that a lot of us have been doing this kind of photography/post processing for a long time without ever giving it a name.

I love wabi sabi photography. The goal is to see beauty in imperfection, the last stages of life, or even in death, like a withered leaf or some other natural element that shows beauty in its last stage. It is often a separate category in photography competitions, or in photo challenges, photo courses, etc. One goal is to help the photographer "see" and capture creatively what he is seeing. More here:

https://52frames.com/albums/2022/week-47-wabi-sabi/challenge

https://52frames.com/albums/2023/week-38-wabi-sabi/challenge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkkuW1ZPtXw

https://www.discoverdigitalphotography.com/2016/wabi-sabi-photography-the-art-of-the-imperfect/

https://www.lomography.com/competitions/2799-wabi-sabi#:~:text=The%20Winners,%2C%20tzutzuliao%2C%20ciggiesonbikes%20%26%20montagu.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

Curmudgeon wrote:

With regard to photography, what exactly is Wabi Sabi ? Is it a single image with a lot of negative space ? Is a Saki bottle on a black background Wabi Sabi or does it have to be on a white background ? It seems that a lot of us have been doing this kind of photography/post processing for a long time without ever giving it a name.

The definition I found was: "An aesthetic or world view characterized by finding beauty in imperfection, impermanence, or simplicity"

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

User ID wrote:

Im saying that the image is the equivalent of taxi... (show quote)

Simple and straight forward... I like it

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Curmudgeon wrote:

With regard to photography, what exactly is Wabi Sabi ? Is it a single image with a lot of negative space ? Is a Saki bottle on a black background Wabi Sabi or does it have to be on a white background ? It seems that a lot of us have been doing this kind of photography/post processing for a long time without ever giving it a name.

To simplify: "Perfectly imperfect"