This post is part of Tina Schell’s. LAPC #125 – You Pick it, Tina S. wants us to choose our subject and to share whatever it is about it that we find interesting.

She explains about Wabi-Sabi, an interesting Buddhist concept popular in Japan.

Life is beautiful only when it’s imperfect!

As per Definitions.net

WABI-SABI

Wabi-sabi represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection.

The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete“.

It is a concept derived from the Buddhist teaching of the three marks of existence, specifically impermanence, the other two being suffering and emptiness or absence of self-nature.

Characteristics of the wabi-Sabi aesthetic include

• asymmetry,
• asperity
• simplicity
• economy,
• austerity
• modesty
• intimacy and
• appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes.

My thoughts

How to incorporate Wabi-Sabi in photography?

As a photographer, we are supposed to get the best shots, proper exposure, suitable aperture/shutter speed, perfect camera angle, and no blur, and portrait photos should include a compulsory ‘Cheese’ smile…I can go on.

We are allergic to imperfection and most of the clicks we take keep the DELETE button busy!

On many occasions, we curse ourselves for not being able to get the best shot.

We always look for the Ultra best clicks of whatever we take and in the process, we ignore what is around us in the form of imperfection and incompleteness.

“The word Imperfect actually spells ‘I’m perfect’ because everyone is perfect in their own imperfect ways”  unknown

As Photographers we forget the fact that there exists an art of imperfection.

In other words, we should look for ignored beauties, asymmetries, broken items, old items, or even decaying and dying items.

Simply put…it’s looking at a photograph with a different eye

All of us love to take Moon photography on full Moon day or Super Moon day. We hate if the sky is cloudy and blocking the Moon.

 

How about taking a click when the Moon is hidden by clouds?

 

How many of us (Photographers) show interest in those things that are broken or rusting or decaying?

 

What about motion Blur?

In this photo, I see the Letter V- a sign of victory.

Life is a Blur. Why don’t you enjoy the present?

Wilted

The majority are not interested in taking photographs of wilted flowers, leaves, or dead trees, since these things have lost beauty! What is the definition of beauty in the first place?  Who decides that something is ugly and on what basis? Unanswerable questions!

Worn Out Wood Art

Why can’t we appreciate wood art of a different kind for example the image below?

Please share your thoughts on what you think is UGLY & UNACCEPTABLE as far as Mother Nature is concerned.

Thank you.

Namaste🙏🙏🙏

Philosophy Through Photography

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