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Life has been a whirlwind lately. It's hard to believe that Chris turned a quarter of a century yesterday... that makes him sound almost archaic doesn't it? ;). We've had a lot of fun exploring the dessert here in Palm Springs, dreaming together and talking about life's beautiful moments of clarity and peace, and also talking about the not-so-beautiful moments that may seem less than perfect to most but to me they are just as beautiful.
I've personally been thinking a lot about the beauty in imperfections. There is a japanese principle called wabi-sabi which values character and uniqueness over a shiny facade. It encourages embracing the scratches and dust and finding beauty in the real and authentic. I've been thinking about my personal work and the "poetry" that resides within it. Leonard Koren, the author of a book on wabi-sabi gives this advice, "pare down to the essence, but don't remove the poetry. Keep things clean and unencumbered but don't sterilize." I love that and it really spoke to me. There is a poetry in what each of us create as artists.... for me it is important for me to remember to leave the poetry there.... when something becomes too symmetrical, too polished, too perfect, it looses it's soul... it loses the poetry.
My work is filled with imperfection. Filled with technically "incorrect" compositions. Filled with photos that never make the cut. Filled with dust and scratches.... but at this point in my journey I am learning that there is a real beauty in those seeming imperfect moments. I'm learning that there is a perfect poetry to the imperfection and it is important to leave room for the poetry.
Off to a shoot where I'm going to try something I have never done before.... excited about this one, we'll see how it goes... I'm going to do my best to remember wabi-sabi :)
Thoughts
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WOW, crazy, the Robert Geller Sunglasses, I love that you guys have those, I shot his wedding in Brazil 2 years ago. HE is a really cool guy. Rock on.
your hair is amazing! (oh, + i dig your pictures too!)
*Sigh* Love it!!
If you look closely at a tree you'll notice it's knots and dead branches, just like our bodies. What we learn is that beauty and imperfection go together wonderfully.
"Matthew Fox"
Great last shot Sarah!! My Favourite :-)
lol, great last photo - perfect depth of field + great emotion! :)
What a great concept. As photographers we tell stories, and stories are real, and real life is full of imperfections, with the occasional moment of pure, remarkable perfection in amongst it. Thanks for sharing. :)
awesome read lady. i tried a few things i hadn't done before this past weekend at a wedding and i must say it was tough. i thought 'only 998 more times to go'.
Yes, I have really had to learn the wabi-sabi concept the hard way. Life is so much more enjoyable. :)
I'm a big fan of the concept of wabi-sabi.
Last photo is awesome! :)
Ahhh..... You will do well "Grasshopper" (I knew that is chinese not japanese) But you will do well due to your desire to embrace the Japanese culture and beliefs.. I have always embrased their culture and beliefs since I was a kid. I grew up with many japanese and really love them as a people. My stepson grandfather is Japanese. I respect him a lot and we are very close. The lessons you can learn from them and the Wabi-Sabi thoughts are in measurable.. Also the "Yin & Yang" Its nice to see others are embracing it as well or recognize its value.. Love the crazy hair shot was that 220? or 110? plug in? LoL. Either that or you need to put a bounce sheet in your dryer every now and then.... LoL.
I love this! I love you (not in a weird psycho-stalker way)! You know how to say exactly what I am thinking or want to say. I know I am imperfect, my images are imperfect... but it is me and they are me.
Here's to wabi-sabi!
Brilliant. Thanks for sharing this.