Posted in from the dark room, photography on April 28, 2011| 2 Comments »
When I look through my camera lens, I don’t just notice what the lens is pointing at. I notice what lies around, in front of, or behind that object. It’s the whole image which I find satisfying. Not just a photo of a leaf, or a flower, or a whatever, but a photo of it in it’s context….the emergent object within its environment…..a holistic photograph?
Take a look at these photos of acer leaves and see what I mean?
Posted in from the dark room, photography on April 28, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Just around the corner from the hotel where I’m staying in Kyoto is the Higashi-Honganji temple where they are currently celebrating Shinran’s 750th anniversary.
One of the amazing things to appear there today are these wonderful murals made from tulips….
and, finally…….a close up….
Posted in from the dark room, from the living room, life, perception, personal growth, photography on April 27, 2011| 1 Comment »
As I wandered today I wondered……don’t we all perceive the world differently? If our stories, our personal stories, shape our selves, which is how it seems to me, then our experiences will frame our present reality. We experience today in the light of our past experiences and our imagined futures. Stories all have this movement….from the past, to the present, to the future – a beginning, a middle and an end I suppose.
So one of the most powerful ways in which memories and dreams can create our present is how they frame our perception and our interpretation of today’s experiences.
What frames are you aware of? Which memories, which dreams or fears, create the frames of your present?
The other thing I wondered about today was about the uniqueness of our individual perspectives. We can only experience the world as a subject, as this subject, living this life. So, how does the world look from your unique, subjective perspective?
(this is a view from the tatami mats, across the strips of carpet, towards the Japanese garden – this is a view from where I was kneeling)
Finally, how can we share these ways of seeing? How can we develop our inter-subjective experience? One way, for me, is through the sharing of our stories. You can share your experience by telling me it. I can share mine, by telling you…..or by showing you what I caught with my camera…..(I’m sure you can think of other ways too)
Posted in from the dark room, photography on April 26, 2011| 5 Comments »
It strikes me there’s something thin and impoverished about a purely materialistic culture. If it’s possible to imbue meaning into the everyday then I think life shines more brightly.
It’s hard not to be impressed with how the Japanese people have coped with, and continue to cope with, the aftermath of the 11th March quake, tsunami and nuclear leaks. I’m certainly no expert in Japanese culture or people, but as I stroll around Kyoto this week, how could I fail to notice how much belief, and the symbols of belief are everywhere. The temple next door is having a 750th anniversary celebration and there are bus loads arriving every day. There isn’t a temple where there aren’t queues to say a short prayer, pull the bell rope, and ring the bell.
It’s not just impressive. It seeps in. I feel the better for just mingling…..
Posted in from the dark room, photography on April 25, 2011| 1 Comment »
As April, the month of transience, draws to a close this week, so the cherry blossom, such a powerful symbol of the power of transience, is falling in the temples.
Posted in from the dark room, photography, tagged travel on April 24, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Yesterday while walking to the Kyoto Museum (which turns out to be closed for refurbishment just now, by the look of things) we stumbled upon the Kaleidoscope Museum of Kyoto. Why not? Let’s pop in and have a look.
It’s a small museum, with a lot of staff, and a completely amazing range of kaleidoscopes for you to pick up and peer through. The staff don’t speak much English but when they discovered we were from Scotland we became VIPs – apparently, the kaleidoscope was invented by a Scot! There on the wall was a plaque dedicated to Sir David Brewster, the 18th century scientist who invented the kaleidoscope. And I came all the way to Kyoto to find that out?!
What a wonderful way to pass an hour or so playing with all the kaleidoscopes. Just beautiful. Before we left, we bought one, too. Here’s my attempt to take a photograph through the spy-hole of a kaleidoscope….
Posted in from the dark room, from the living room, photography, tagged travel on April 24, 2011| 1 Comment »
What on earth is this? Look carefully….leaves and sky reflected in leaves on stone in the rain.
Strikingly beautiful. Leaves and trees engraved onto marble glistening in the rain.
This next one makes it look like I’ve just teleported from Scotland to Tokyo. (I didn’t teleport, by the way, just the regular AirFrance flight)
This was a striking experience……the combination of multiply different environments, natural, artistic, built and cultural…..suddenly, here I am, in a different, floating world.
Posted in from the dark room, photography on April 20, 2011| 3 Comments »
Posted in from the dark room, photography on April 19, 2011| Leave a Comment »
I started today outside Physio in the garden of hospital where I work
then I saw this gorgeous orange tulip
and a natural bouquet outside one of the consulting rooms
Next my walk stumbled into the dark
Have you ever seen a tulip like this?
Posted in from the dark room, photography on April 17, 2011| 2 Comments »
Heroes Not Zombies 