Zen Flesh, Zen Bones : Learning Zen Photography

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

07/10/2006 05:39:23 AM · #101

Originally posted by fiverivers:

Does this fall into category? I liked it from recent challenge.

Yippie!!!! This thread is still alive :)

I honestly don't know the answer though. I'm myself here to learn on same subject. As many pointed out - zen is also about the process. Thus its only the photographer who can tell this.

Anyway, here is and thoughful comment from my favorite commentor on DPC on my submission with title "Zen" -

"Sometimes I think Zen may actually be an exercise in ascribing profundity to things that in fact have absolutely no significance at all. Like this. Is it deeply meaningful? Or is it just simplistic BS? Are the colours important? Are the shapes? It certainly feels satisfyingly heiroglyphic! Plus there's the tantalising fact that these leaves are kin to those that cast the shadows. All things considered I don't think this image means anything at all, but it does ask me a lot of questions, and that's far more than 99% of the images here can manage. So that must be true Zen, yes?"

amber

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

07/10/2006 05:40:11 AM · #102

This image seems to have gone down like a lead balloon, but I just feel a zen-like calm when I stare at it. Does that qualify?

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

07/10/2006 05:46:06 AM · #103

Originally posted by amber:

This image seems to have gone down like a lead balloon, but I just feel a zen-like calm when I stare at it. Does that qualify?

I guess "by defination" the drop highlights the leaf and thus this "might" be zen photograph (as product if not process :)). Moreover I think zen photography has more to do with your personal experience with the photo and not eveyone would be able to see it.

Never-the-less, this is lovely photo. Just the kind I like :)

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

07/10/2006 07:10:42 AM · #104

I thought this might be Zen-like.

xianart

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

07/10/2006 07:20:15 AM · #105

this nearly got the brown in 'straight from the camera', but i really like it. ah well.

Louis

Nikon D800

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

07/10/2006 09:48:37 AM · #106

I recently got a comment on this photo that it had a Zen feel to it, even though the environment does not necessarily highlight the subject. Unless the subject is structural balance. In that case, structural balance is enhanced by the Inukshuk, which is consuming the composition of this photo quite well. :) I agree with tejinder that personal experience with an image adds or removes "zen-ness" at the viewer's will. But beware: while you are looking at the photograph, the photograph is also looking at you.

KarenNfld

07/10/2006 10:13:47 AM · #107

I get a zen feeling from this one from the recent flowers challenge. I really love it and was sorry to see it did not even make the top 100.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

07/10/2006 12:42:25 PM · #108

Originally posted by KarenNfld:

I get a zen feeling from this one from the recent flowers challenge. I really love it and was sorry to see it did not even make the top 100.

This is an awesome shot. I love it. And if you really love it, it should not even matter what it scores :)

mreza

Nikon D50

07/12/2006 07:06:41 AM · #109

I love simplify too
When I look into a Zen-like photo , I just want to keep my eye on it for minutes .
Thanks for this great thread !

this is a photo from me

what do you think about it ? :)

Message edited by author 2006-07-12 07:17:24.

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

07/12/2006 08:58:07 AM · #110

Originally posted by mreza:

this is a photo from me

what do you think about it ? :)

I love your photo. I think the sense of disappearance is zen. As your eye travels upward, everything turns white and the boat becomes just another pebble.

Jason_Cross

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

07/12/2006 11:23:40 AM · #111

I felt this had a Zen quality to it. Turns out it has a crappy score zen quality about it...lol

3DsArcher

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM

07/13/2006 05:24:07 AM · #112

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

07/13/2006 08:56:41 AM · #113

Originally posted by boomtap:

I felt this had a Zen quality to it. Turns out it has a crappy score zen quality about it...lol

Zen does not seek to please the viewer, nor does it seek to be liked. Therefore it does not score well.

sherpet

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/24/2006 12:59:34 AM · #114

Thank you so much for choosen my one of my images for this example.....
I feel so honored.....

Originally posted by tejinder:

Anyway, I think I found out the best defination of Zen which does not limit it in any way. It simply is - "This is it."

Also, Bear posted the description for Zen Photography challenge on this thread.. Hope to see a challenge which is pure bliss :)

Message edited by author 2006-07-24 01:00:10.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

07/24/2006 03:42:59 AM · #115

Originally posted by tejinder:

For those who might be confused - Minimalism is the key to zen photography. So post the photos (and even ideas) related to minimalism (in photograhy ..and even beyond).

Check out this site for links to zen photographers and their sites. I personally liked this one.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm (looks familiar).

sherpet

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/24/2006 04:34:55 AM · #116

Yes, I see what you mean about the contact below, as is definately does look familar..... I wonder who that is.....

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm (looks familiar). [/quote]

Originally posted by faidoi:

[quote=tejinder] For those who might be confused - Minimalism is the key to zen photography. So post the photos (and even ideas) related to minimalism (in photograhy ..and even beyond).

Check out this site for links to zen photographers and their sites. I personally liked this one.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm (looks familiar).

Message edited by author 2006-07-24 04:35:24.

mycelium

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

07/24/2006 05:01:43 AM · #117

There are some decent pictures here in a livejournal community I've run for some time:

//community.livejournal.com/zen_photo/

UrfaK

Canon EOS-650/T4i Rebel

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/24/2006 05:10:12 AM · #118

Hurrah for the new challenge..

hmm.. infrared has amazing zen images..

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

07/24/2006 05:55:50 AM · #119

Arti-Elvi

Nikon D70

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6G

07/25/2006 04:45:03 AM · #120

Hmm, I uploaded some shots I took last night on the beach which I could have used for this challenge I think. *slaps herself against the head *

Interesting challenge by the way.

justin_hewlett

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

07/28/2006 08:42:13 AM · #121

Trying to find some that fit this from my port.

Am I even close?

Message edited by author 2006-07-28 08:45:39.

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

07/28/2006 09:02:36 AM · #122

I actually just borrowed the Zen Flesh, Zen Bones book from the library, as well as a book called Zen and Kyoto. There are lots of zen temples in Kyoto - too bad I can't go there this weekend and take photos.

trnqlty

Nikon D90

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

07/28/2006 09:08:07 AM · #123

I thought this picture from the lines challenge screams zen.

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

07/28/2006 09:11:18 AM · #124

Originally posted by justin_hewlett:

Trying to find some that fit this from my port.

Am I even close?

you sure are.