How to apply Wabi-Sabi to your photography. | Japanese Philosophies For Photography.

[@frankyfarset]

Absolutely love this. A beautiful combination of history, philosophy, and photography. This is amazing.

[@wilfredo-teyrosalesfotos]

If photography had a sensei, Yukawa-san would be the first on the list!

[@samkongphotography]

"everything is fading..." captures how I feel when I take a photo. It won't be the same the next time I see it or photography it.

[@christianrobold8790]

You have, at a young age, a great insight into the world and it’s ways. And you tell your stories in a beautiful way. I will be following you. For the photography part. And for listening to your story telling….

[@cachaoni]

湯川さん。ベネズエラ人日本に長く住んでいますが、写真における“侘び寂び”の概念について学ぶのは初めてでした。この動画は、不完全さや儚さの中にある美しさを見事に捉えていて、とても感動しました。新しい視点を教えていただきありがとうございます！これからも素晴らしいコンテンツを作り続けてください。応援しています！

[@orangebetsy]

I walked around nyc tonight saying “ichi go Ichi e” it’s my new mindfulness photography mantra 😊 📷

[@reinholdmaximilian214]

Danke für deinen tollen Kanal. Er bringt Ruhe in diese hektischen Welt. 🇩🇪🇯🇵

[@easypete5231]

Thank you for this. You've just inspired me to do a project with this mindset. Great work. Keep it up!

[@mancamerashakuhachiscooter8941]

A Photography teacher once told my class, " It is not the camera, it is the Photographer that makes the photo" Thank you for this video.

[@keithnisbet]

This video certainly had a very useful message. But, more than that , it was a true work of art. Beautiful and mournful. Verrrry artistically done. A breath of fresh air. Keep going. Thank you.

[@39exposures]

My Wabi Sabi is my old Japanese film camera and BW film. I couldn't simply do it with digital. When I hear "lack and imperfection" it's film fro me. Digital would instantly put me into a paralysis of choice with all of the reach and fancy options it provides. Great video, thank you!

[@liminaltart]

"There is no should or shouldn't in photography." - love this

[@AlOne-xg6dv]

Excellent. Humble and interesting words, no demonstration of any kind. Wabi-Sabi attitude goes straight to the point. I learned something i wish to practice now. Thank you. Nice photos by the way.

[@distomos8118]

Being a perfectionist I tend to pixel peep. I recently bought an affordable manual 50 mm f0.95 lens out of curiosity as to what kind of images I might achieve with it. I must say, as it’s optically far from perfect (vignetting, soft or blurry edges and corners, distortions, time consuming focusing), it has a special charm. It actually has me appreciating the imperfections, as they lets the images come alive, so to speak. I encourage you to try it out, it’s rewarding, as it slows you down to appreciate more the scene, boosts creativity and offers new perspectives.

[@IvoIvanov-imagefactorystudio]

I really enjoyed your way of explaining the philosophical matter into something more tangible. Thank you!

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

Glad you enjoyed it! More to come！

[@saidiharun6948]

ありがとう、Yukawaさん。奥深いお説明でした。考え方がすばらしいです。もっともっとこうゆうビデオ作ってください。

[@terraincognita2765]

It is the "beuty" of understanding the videp written narrative amongst the imperfection while remembering that perfection is unknown in evanescent beings as ourselves.

[@ras____elijah]

Beautiful illustrations bro, love the soothing sounds of your background instrumentals captures a person attention. Elegant guidance.❤

[@Shirley86200]

こんにちは、イギリスで写真家をしている中国人です。今日、偶然あなたのチャンネルを見つけまして、すごく面白いと思って、かなり刺激を受けました。言葉で正確に感じたことを表現するのは難しいけれど、とにかく感謝の気持ちをお伝えしたくて、ありがとうございました。

[@normapadro420]

I like your video. This is exactly what I thought about when I first began shooting photography. When digital cameras came out I was so happy, because there were too many things I wanted to photograph. It was very expensive to shoot on film. Digital was quick, and the developing was quicker. I have been into photography since I was 8 years old. I'm 57 years old now. I have been in love with this form of art for many years. Your information is very important. Thank you for your video. I even shot photos with a $5.00 dollar camera once. Cameras don't have to be expensive.i've shot on cheap film too. I've tried many things. I just enjoy the image. I enjoy photography.

[@VictorReynolds]

This video resonates with me. Here in New Jersey one will find many abandoned structures. The rapid “progress” of “development” makes these structures stand out in my photography in light of the fact they will soon be history. Thanks for sharing!

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

Welcome!

[@VanessaPipiripingo]

Just discovered your channel. Love it. Your videos and pictures are very elegant. You have such a good taste and it's clear you can see beyond what it's happening in front of you, you are also kind of feeling it. This is much more about feeling than just technical tips. I often say this about dancing too. There is people who just learn the steps and they do it really well, but there are dancers who also feel the choreography and music inside and that's something you can tell when you see. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I am going to be so happy to see you grow here on KZbin.

[@davidfitzgerald4559]

Wonderful example of the photographers eye expanded into the flow of a video. thanks

[@8vRocco]

I’m very happy you brought this topic up. When I first stumble upon one of your videos, that was the day I mentioned about wabi sabi and how it influences my photography. You’re absolutely correct, we all experience wabi sabi different in our own ways. This is the reason I did subscribe, because I also don’t have to prove anything to anyone. We just want to be out there not only taking photos, but also to live this imperfect world with our imperfect selves. Once again, I may not make any sense to some of you, but in any day and whatever time you’ll feel wabi sabi yourself.

[@acheekymonkey]

Wonderful explanation, feeling and music. Thank you. I'm so glad to see Montreal again. It's been 35 years since I lived there so I have my own wabi sabi about your photos. I lived at ave Parc and ave Mont-Royal :)

[@grain_eyed_photography]

I’m a new follower. I really love your captures and the philosophy that goes with it. I’m glad I found your channel. Keep up your wonderful art and mind.

[@bdcooper5855]

Wabi-Sabi. Life is Art-Art is Life. Well done , thank you for this video.

[@garyverstick1620]

As a young graphic designer I was greatly attracted to aspects of some Japanese design. Those qualities were wabi, sabi and shibui… ideas not easily translated to English and applicable to many aspects of the quality and values of our life. Thank you for the reminder!

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

Thank you ！

[@louhautdavid6451]

Yes, I believe that seeing beauty is mostly a state of mind. Embracing this philosophy should make life much more interesting in all its aspects. Maybe us, photographers, are we Wabi Sabi searchers whithout knowing. Did William Eggleston knew that ? Thank you all lot for sharing this. It's the most interesting video I've seen for a long time. I subscribe, of course !

[@andrewgallup3890]

I was unsure how to describe my photographic interest, I did not have an English term but now I have a Japanese term, thank you.

[@danilovic]

Thank you Toshiki, again, for making this video, and inspiring us to take a look to things in a different way!

[@Bahman.t.a]

I loved everything about this video, the music brought me back to life again. Thank you so much for these beautiful less than ten minutes that contained so much love. Subscribed

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

Thanks!

[@JacAlexandru]

Just returned from Japan ... still coping with not havin Japan wabi sabi around. But at least now I know what I need and what I want to show for the world. The flow of life in its imperfect ways. Thank you so much for this video! ❤

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@louvega8414]

When everyone around the world quotes 'Wabi Sabi' more confidently and liberally than stockbrokers quote Warren Buffet, this young man (more familiar than most with the ways of Japanese culture and phylosophy) says, "What is Wabi Sabi.....hmmmm...I dont know". Humility, not confidence, is the great precursur to both learning and teaching. Thank you for reminding me this, Yukawa San.

[@anastasiafua]

Another gem of a lesson. Brilliant. Your videos always make me stop and reflect. And take notes. Thank you 🙏🏽

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

Always!

[@davidrachlin3557]

This was the best introduction of wabi-sabi I have ever heard. I will use your ideas in my next haiku workshop. Domo arigato gozaimasu.

[@iteachtime]

Very excellent videos you make. Thank you for sharing your thoughtfulness. I look forward to your next lesson for light and for life.

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

Thank you!!

[@pauljenkin297]

Having been a keen photographer for 50 of my almost 63 years, I can say in all honesty that I got out of the habit of even trying to create perfection early. When digital arrived, the novelty of being able to see a representation of what I'd taken on the back of the camera started me "chimping". However, doing that drains your batteries and, if you're able to rely on a histogram in the viewfinder to aid exposure and, importantly, learn to "embrace the suck" of many shots not being 100% perfect, it takes so much stress out of the process. I recently attended the Daido Moriyama retro at The Photographer's Gallery in London and that reinforced the "ari, bure, boke" philosophy I read about many years ago. There are times when it's important to get the photograph as technically correct as possible but I believe that "delivered is better than perfect" on most occasions when it comes to street and documentary photography.

[@zheyabgav]

"especiarry, naturarry" ;) interesting explanation on your philosophy. thanks.

[@BogdanGrigore]

Thank you for this video. I really like your perspective on the wabi sabi approach to life and photography. Greetings from Romania. I’ve been two times in Japan already and i am an admirer of your culture and country.

[@pablojcarranzafernandez4413]

Beautiful approach to such a meaningful Zen tradition, in the midst of the high-tech, post processed current state of art. Greatly appreciated for your effort in blending those concepts, specially considering the deep connection one can find to portrait photography. Thx a lot

[@pablojcarranzafernandez4413]

Toshiki, do you think is possible to find a common ground between Kintsugi and photography? If not as a compositional bonding of the concepts, maybe as a philosophical approach to the art of shooting…🧐 Really eager to hear about your insight on it. Have a great day!

[@gregalee]

I have been interested in the culture of making since I took art classes in high school. There, our teachers encouraged us to explore Japanese Zen and Chinese Taoism. These were not presented as subjects to incorporate into our art. We were not given prescriptive rules about the media, no sumi-e (brushwork paintings) or other traditional Zen modes of working. Instead Zen and the Tao were offered as ways that could influence how we interpreted the world and if that influenced what we produced as art, then that was enough. It was at that time, working in ceramic art, photography, and drawing that I discovered wabi sabi. As a westerner looking from outside the Asian cultures, I interpreted wabi sabi as a sweet sting, like a pang, that the observer experiences in the presence of an object. The feelings that follow from the wabi sabi experience arise in the observer as their emotional, non-verbal (Zen-like) reaction to the object based on something the object triggers in the observer. The more powerful the wabi sabi object, the more universal the reaction is in many different people who observe it. An object might have a wabi sabi feeling for just one observer, and that might be a personal nostalgia or other feeling. But a powerful wabi sabi object triggers feelings that are more universal to all people, to our existence, our lives as people. For me, the wabi sabi experience is not intellectual. Like the Zen experience, the effect of an object that has strong wabi sabi is poorly served by words and language. Its effects on people are emotional and intuitive, not rational and intellectual. Having said that, there are some things that trigger wabi sabi for me that have to do with philosophy in general, and existential philosophy specifically. Wabi sabi objects can remind us of the finite length of our lives, our limited time here in this place. They can demonstrate the inevitable conversion of an object from its original purpose into an object whose time of purpose is in the past but its form still reminds us of that purpose. For example, if we see a new military rifle, oiled and shiny, it has a singular purpose. But that same rifle, discovered old, weathered, and rusting in the wet sand, incapable of its original purpose, is a powerful object of wabi sabi. It reminds us that all things have their time and that time passes. It has a certain poetic beauty that it did not have when new. Similarly, the example of moss, a symbol of life, growing and alive on a rock that has no life becomes a symbol of the struggle of life itself. The moss (or lichens!) teach us about overcoming adversity through patience and time, breaking down the rock. Another wabi sabi effect can be seen in Japanese building construction. In some buildings, the boards are chosen for their grain pattern and then torched with a flame to burn their outside. This develops the grain pattern and also reminds us that wood is not forever. Being inside a space made from such wood produces a strong wabi sabi effect. In the United States, we will use building materials that are reclaimed from older buildings that are torn down. Old bricks and old wooden beams that are reused in a space bring a strong wabi sabi effect. One 20th century Italian architect, Carlo Scarpa, was very skilled at using wabi sabi in his built works, even if he did not call it that. Here is an example of how he added modern building elements to the old castle, Castelvecchio, to create a modern art museum. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZuwhnRtab16hcksi=VgMrMhFOFR4Z5kxs You can see wabi sabi everywhere here! I like what you said about embracing the imperfection. For me, wabi sabi also requires us to surrender to our own imperfections. If we were perfect our art would be boring. What makes us unique as individuals comes from our imperfections. When we capture what we see as wabi sabi in our photography, our goal is for others to see as we have seen, to give others the opportunity to relive the moment we experienced wabi sabi through the act of image making. In this way, it is very much like haiku. The haiku is the length of a single breath and in Zen, the haiku is an attempt to capture the moment of that breath and freeze it in time for others to experience. It is a transmission of consciousness through the medium of words. Photography then is the transformation of consciousness through image making. Thank you so much for making this video. It is very well made and I think you have done a great service by sharing it in English to a western audience.

[@rajxvier]

Life would have been more joyful if i had applied "Wabi-Sabi" concept 20 years back during turmoil in the pursuit of phd education. However minimalism comes naturally through my self conscience.....appreciate Zen Buddhism and its impact on Japanese thought processes and culture.

[@SlotCarNewsOfficial]

Wow. I’m blown away by this video and your perspectives on photography. Thanks so much for this work.

[@Driven2Develop]

I enjoy your lessons and your interpretations. It is very interesting to me since I wasn't taught much about Eastern Culture in school.

[@davecostello8537]

"Everything is imperfect, everything is fading. That's why it's worth shooting." As part of my photographic journey, I've always been drawn to that which is old, fading, falling down, rusting away, and such. I've not been able to put words to it except to say that these types of things attract me. Thank you for the phrase, it fits so well. Thank you as well for the video.

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

Thanks！

[@MWood-b8i]

Toshiki this was another video I liked as much as the other I watched the other night. I want you to know that I am in the middle of trying something new for winter and you have made me rethink everything (great and a lot of money spent already) lol. These 2 videos have made me rethink so much about how Japanese Philosophy can help in the new genre journey I am taking due to losing the ability to use my hands in the slightest cold temperatures causing pain, and here I am living in Northern Canada, but both Jasper and Banff being only 4 hours South of west I would never pass up. If you have any suggestions on what I may look for or to read about Japanese Philosophy for Photography I would really be thankful for pointing me in the right direction. Again thanks for the response from you on the last video and for both videos I have seen and to start watching others on your channel and well back to watching both as soon as I send this to you. Sorry for writing long books but I have to say you have opened my eyes and now see what my senses can bring to making Photos .

[@alancoligado8540]

Thank you, Toshiki, for showing the beauty of accepting things as they are, imperfect though they might seem.

[@Siputification]

your channel remind me Ian Wong, the dude from DigitalRev who also used to make content gearing towards photography philosophy, even with similar vibes lol. sadly he stopped posting a few years ago, so I guess you're filling the gap nicely. keep the photo philosophy vids comin'.

[@AngelDíazGonzález-l1y]

Gracias Toshiky,🙏🏼🍂🍃🇵🇷🇺🇸🇯🇵

[@_H_2023]

Nice video Toshiki, the 78 was an interesting choice at the beginning of the video, well done.

[@PuthtikMony]

Love really these type of videos, always eye opening to learn more about Japanese background and culture. Thank you for sharing❤️ありがとう

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

Thanks!

[@jacqueshervieux5112]

Many thanks Toshiki, I've listened to quite a few videos on Wabi-Sabi, yours stands out. I really enjoyed your explanation and your take on the subject. Really love your work. Am sure I'll enjoy the next video. Take care.

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

So glad!

[@alainriverin8460]

Hi Toshiki. Great video. I like this philosophy and the way you link it to photography. Wabi-Sabi !

[@ohjajohh]

Interesting! I will start trying to find the beauty in imperfect things. I did really like that tea cup :)

[@EmmaLovesTheWorld]

More nuggest of wisdom. Keep up with your amazing content!

[@farbik]

Yo Toshiki... im glad i found your channel a few days ago.. incredible good content!! love it! continue with that and this will blow up, im sure!

[@weebler]

Thank you for your great video! I feel so lucky to have this show up in my feed. Ive been studying philosophy and I shoot too. How cool to blend to amazing subjects together!

[@BenMisirkafa]

I do understand myself better. Thank you for this video.

[@soethan.1349]

Absolutely love video. Toshiki, I an seeing at this time from Myanmar. I like your street video and learn it. There's very cool in Japan.

[@thetalkingfly]

Very nice Toshiki that was very good to watch and learn and think.

[@justinng1285]

More videos like this! Beautifully done

[@rgarlinyc]

Once again you both inspire and educate me - thank you immensely, Yukawa San!

[@martinlawrence8427]

Great video dude! It reminds me of my favourite KZbin film maker, a Swedish fly fisherman called Rolf Nylinder. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@AdrianRichmond1]

I love your description and explanation of Wabi Sabi as it applies to your photography. どうもありがとう。

[@maxens_is_here]

I had an opinion similar to yours, it's great that there is a word for this. Your video made me feel really peaceful and maybe even awed.

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dangilmore9724]

Imperfection is what makes somethimg unique - imperfectly perfect. Or, the other way around.

[@rajkerkar9432]

Hi. Thrilled to stumble across your channel. It is refreshing to see a young man with such clear thinking, tackling the undoubtedly difficult terrain bridging Japanese philosophy and photography. I love your thinking and honest storytelling. Keep up the good work 👍 🙏

[@johnbarben]

Excellent and enjoyable video which is beautiful in itself and motivational- thanks and I’m loving your videos.

[@jean-paulrederik4203]

Thank you for this video in which you try to explain Wabi Sabi. I think it's more of a concept... (And I should to shoot more in Wabi-Sabi again)....., Wabi-Sabi is a aesthetic concept that discovers beauty within imperfection, transience, and humility. It highlights the beauty that arises from embracing imperfection and the natural fleetingness of things. Wabi-Sabi values simplicity, rusticity, and irregularity, appreciating the beauty in objects that are old, weathered, or incomplete.

[@mohsensaneei6757]

I really like your mindset and your videos are boosting me to keep going. Thanks mate. Keep up the good work 🙌🏻💪🏻

[@MYoutube8]

What a discovery this channel! Love the editing, music and Japanese everything. Subscribed!

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

Thanks!!

[@timnewby1546]

Appreciate this imperfect world, and take photos. ❤️

[@rene1008]

Wonderful video and message to photographers

[@stuartbaines2843]

Thank you for Japanese insights 👏

[@EmanuelVlasev]

Such a nice piece of content, that is. Super enjoyable

[@Momo85421]

J'aime beaucoup tes vidéos ❤ les thèmes et l'apport de ta culture nous enrichissent. J'aime voir la ville de Montréal aussi.

[@PS-nv2qp]

Brilliant and beautiful! You're a genius

[@Scum8ag]

Love this channel! It shows very few shots and rather explains the point philosophically which is very refreshing and just makes me want to go out and shoot!

[@FlashesOfTime]

Wonderful! So happy this popped up in my feed.

[@quantchannel9922]

Thanks, wonderful video. Liked and subscribed 👍

[@louvega8414]

Anyone who wants to expand their mind must, even just once, visit Japan and engage with the people there. It will enrich your life...

[@takayamaproductionsfinland]

Thank you for your video! I’m really happy that I found your channel at this point of my photographic journey. I’ve started photography (and videography) some years ago during Covid-19. I heritaged my fathers old camera and got carried away. I’ve always wanted to do photography but before that it wasn’t possible. I’m also searching my connection to my japanese side (I’m hafu) in the aesthetics of Performing and visual Arts. I have done Contemporary Circus before so much of my topics are from that world. I hope to see much more content from you! It’s really refreshing and intriguing style you make your content that is really welcomed to this hasty world

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed. I'll make more!

[@tonyq1691]

Thanks for the video, Toshiki!

[@barryburns911]

This video is very helpful to me at this time. Doumo arigatou!

[@HenrikoMagnifico]

Please tell what music was used in this video, it's gorgeous!

[@LyndonPatrickSmith]

Thank you for this excellent video. I was first introduced to the Wabi Sabi aesthetic many years ago by the amazing fine art landscape photographer Courtney Milne. Courtney has since passed on, but I remember our conversations quite fondly.

[@Bourboneros]

Another fantastic video. Thanks again.

[@terryjones6049]

An excellent video, thanks for sharing.

[@tashihishey34]

My old Leica M240and the 50mm 1970 Ver2 1.4 lens - the blackpaint has faded and the brass is showing. The vented lens hood is dented and scuffed. But, perfectly imperfect for me. It has taught me Wabi - sabi.

[@HenrikoMagnifico]

Maybe "rustic" is a suitable english translation?

[@djcassidy810]

The video I needed to see today.

[@ronnisullivan9794]

Yes, very helpful. Thank you

[@douglasfink131]

Amazing translation thank you for this.

[@Guillaumesphotography]

Konnichiwa Toshiki san, Just the other day I was thinking about wabi-sabi applied to photography. But because I am not Japanese (although I live in Osaka), I wasn't sure my understanding of it could have anything to do with photography. And now you just made a video about it! What a coincidence!

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

You don't need to be Japanese to feel it! Btw I'm from Osaka!

[@monster_bbq]

Perfect... Thank you for teaching me this.

[@billpanuska5775]

Thank you for the profound video. You helped me identify my underlying affinity for the imperfect. I learn much from you.

[@mkhl9]

im so inspired by ur video! it looks so simple but we need an effort to get it! thanks

[@rogertebb1997]

Thank you for this delightful video. I will have some dedicated wabisabi camera days from now on to train my wabisabi senses.

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

Wonderful!

[@markielinhart]

Toshiki, you opened a door for me and I’m going through it. Thank you, I’ve subscribed 🙏🇦🇺

[@ToshikiYukawaphoto]

So glad! Thank you!

[@markielinhart]

@@ToshikiYukawaphoto I think that perhaps this is why I’m shooting black and white almost exclusively as I used to with my Pentax/Kodak Tri-X combo…✌️