DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Zen Flesh, Zen Bones : Learning Zen Photography
Pages:  
Showing posts 76 - 100 of 130, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 05/28/2006 09:08:43 PM · #76


Message edited by author 2006-05-28 22:32:43.
 05/28/2006 11:33:19 PM · #77
Originally posted by TNCameron:
Thanks for mentioning my photo, quite an honor.

I think this one is pretty zeny


Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

..and look what I found from DPC treasure -



Message edited by author 2006-05-28 23:39:06.
 05/28/2006 11:59:08 PM · #78
Zen is not always minimalism. Here's a few natural patterns as a source of zen contemplation:






05/29/2006 12:59:27 AM · #79
for me, a Zen photograph does not have a subject. this can be achieved in a number of ways. in xianart's picture, the subject does not quite surface enough. in tmhalling's picture, the bird is so far to the left that he is more observer than subject. In emorgan49's picture, the dresser and the pictures are more shape than subject, and each have equal compositional weight. Having a subject ends the contemplation.
 05/29/2006 01:34:03 AM · #80
Originally posted by posthumous:
for me, a Zen photograph does not have a subject. this can be achieved in a number of ways. in xianart's picture, the subject does not quite surface enough. in tmhalling's picture, the bird is so far to the left that he is more observer than subject. In emorgan49's picture, the dresser and the pictures are more shape than subject, and each have equal compositional weight. Having a subject ends the contemplation.


I agree to most of the part but I feel there is sometimes subject in Zen Photography but it is there to represent its in-significance in the "Whole". The purpose of the subject is more to highlight the enormity of the subject's environment. This might not strictly be true for "Zen Photography" per se but it is much evident in Zen paintings. Most the the portion of such paintings is either "negative" (strictly in photograhy terms) space or background.



All these pictures won't be able to communicate the message (like "Loneliness" in last picture) if the significant part is not covered by background.

And for sure, as posthumous said - there does not necessary be a Subject in composition. I feel the idea is to represent "background" (or "The Whole") with or without Subject.

Any thoughts?

Message edited by author 2006-05-29 01:39:58.
 05/29/2006 01:48:40 AM · #81
ah but in your examples, surely the lamp is not the "subject" of the picture. Would you be satisfied calling that picture a "picture of a lamp"? And the balloon is so small and so offcenter that it also resists being called a subject. I would go so far as to say that the middle picture is less zen because the ripple-like formation and complementary colors cast too much attention on the "subject."

I realize that the definition of subject is important here. Let me just say there can be an object in a Zen photograph, but not a subject. :)
 05/29/2006 01:51:13 AM · #82
Originally posted by Rikki:


Would this be Zen? It was taken in Japan :P


Lol. I took a picture in the house and no one sees "Architecture" in it :(

And I wish Zen had "Made in Japan" label. It would have been easy to come out with potential-challenge description :)
05/29/2006 01:57:01 AM · #83
Originally posted by posthumous:
ah but in your examples, surely the lamp is not the "subject" of the picture. Would you be satisfied calling that picture a "picture of a lamp"? And the balloon is so small and so offcenter that it also resists being called a subject. I would go so far as to say that the middle picture is less zen because the ripple-like formation and complementary colors cast too much attention on the "subject."

I realize that the definition of subject is important here. Let me just say there can be an object in a Zen photograph, but not a subject. :)


Sound reasonable. Let me rephrase based on your inputs - The "Environment" ("The Whole") is the main "Subject" in Zen Phototography and there could be "caviar" (objects?) to hightlight it.

I think we are reaching more photography-lingo defination of Zen Photography ... are we? :)

Btw, there is no advanced challenge listed for this week (till now). Is it going to be "Zen Photography"? :)

Message edited by author 2006-05-29 02:03:51.
 05/29/2006 06:55:37 PM · #84
I've enjoyed this thread. I was looking at kosmikkreeper's profile and ralized a lot of his photos are zen-like.




05/30/2006 11:37:58 PM · #85
Bumping up with this one from Karen's portfolio -



Message edited by author 2006-05-30 23:43:12.
 05/30/2006 11:42:14 PM · #86
do these qualify ?
05/30/2006 11:44:40 PM · #87
Originally posted by gaurawa:
do these qualify ?


I dont know if they fit into technical defination (if there is any) of "zen photography" but they surely have "stillness" reflected :) Very nice pictures.

This one from your portfolio is might also be a fit -



You can also check this Thread for more abstract defination of this style of photography.

Message edited by author 2006-05-30 23:49:54.
 05/30/2006 11:50:37 PM · #88


Two new ones...outside and in.
 05/30/2006 11:52:10 PM · #89
Originally posted by RKT:



Simple. Beautiful. Zen.
 06/01/2006 08:44:15 AM · #90
I just got a "the subject is uninteresting" comment. The danger of zen photography!
 06/01/2006 12:35:05 PM · #91
Originally posted by posthumous:
I just got a "the subject is uninteresting" comment. The danger of zen photography!


Well... Simplicity is not simple to get for most :) And by now I'm sure Zen photography is for no one but the photographer. Hope you "enjoyed" clicking it :)
 06/01/2006 01:53:09 PM · #92
Originally posted by tejinder:
Originally posted by posthumous:
I just got a "the subject is uninteresting" comment. The danger of zen photography!


Well... Simplicity is not simple to get for most :) And by now I'm sure Zen photography is for no one but the photographer. Hope you "enjoyed" clicking it :)


I did! It was blissful. Thank you for reminding me of that.
 06/01/2006 01:54:58 PM · #93
06/01/2006 02:08:17 PM · #94
Originally posted by tejinder:
Bumping up with this one from Karen's portfolio -



Wow, thanks....that was actually one of my lowest scoring challenges, glad you think it is zen-like.
 06/01/2006 02:10:48 PM · #95

06/01/2006 02:32:22 PM · #96
Here the subject contains its environment:
06/02/2006 12:13:02 AM · #97

06/02/2006 03:17:16 AM · #98
Originally posted by posthumous:
Originally posted by tejinder:
Just quoting Bear from another thread -

"You Are Not Your Camera"

"When our mind is bounded by the technical stuff of apertures and film speed, it’s almost certain that our intended subject will never come into artistic focus. The fundamentals are important in the beginning stages (and it’s always good to go back to them periodically), but as we progress, they should become second nature.

Instead of letting the camera consume us, we want it to be an extension of our very beings––snapping the perfect picture can be as easy as blinking our eyes. Robert Kato, Photoworkshop.com member and photographer, recently mentioned this phenomenon in the PWS message boards: “There is a methodical process that cannot be hurried, almost Zen-like, in that you physically, mentally and spiritually become one with the camera and the journey becomes as important as the visual destination. Shoot more see less. Shoot less and see more.”

//www.photoworkshop.com/double_exposure/publish/ZenPhotog.shtml


This brings up another problem with a Zen challenge. One can say that Zen is the process, not the product. It would be much like seeing where the arrow hits the target and deciding if it's Zen archery... (but I am not against this challenge. All challenges are problematic in one way or another)


Zen is both in the process and, in the product...
 06/05/2006 05:49:23 AM · #99
Just checking if there is any steam left :)
 07/10/2006 05:29:35 AM · #100
Does this fall into category? I liked it from recent challenge.


Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/12/2025 09:50:40 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/12/2025 09:50:40 AM EDT.