Tanzaku style - A tree

[Elines]

Taking my lead from Glenn, I thought I’d have a go at producing an image in the tanzaku format of 7.5 : 36.4, and try to include some Japanese aspects as well.




(My understanding may be all wrong) but I see the cutting off of the tree at the base of the image mirroring the cutting off of the branches; and both types of cut-offs indicate an imperfection (= wabi sabi vibe).

I also wanted to break the convention of having the subject away from the edge of the frame - thus achieving two objectives with one aspect. Plus not having it on ‘the thirds’.

The yellow(ish) toning reflects that of some/?many of Miho Kagioka’s images.

Technical info:

Shot with iPhone, using vertical ‘panorama’
Cropped to tanzaku ratio
Tinted using Ian’s tints plug in
Mount from Ian’s latest mount plug-in

Additional comment: I found it very relaxing producing this image, and landscapes are not usually my thing.

 

[Glenn]

Great to see someone else give this a try.

I have been doing doing a course recently where Stephen Shore's primer "The Nature of Photographs" was extensively discussed. The tree is interesting and might be seen as being 'active' in that context, the frame being cut by part of the subject to add tension to the photograph. Now you come to try it, the frame is prominent in photographs presented in the tanzaku aspect ratio and as such might be a prime candidate for active framing. You have me thinking now.

Nice choice of toning reminiscent of Kajioka's work.

 

[Elines]

Thanks Glenn- not sure I understand what you mean by the tree being ‘active ’ and ‘active framing’, but might all become clear when you post your next one

 

[Elines]

I copied this image to a friend and she gave me - what I think- are very useful comments.

As some folk on here are developing their thinking on this (tanzaku) format - especially me -I thought it could be useful to give my response, which includes an indication of the original comments.

MY REPLY:

Tanzuku format as a prayer .....

Hadn't actually thought of that, if I'm bright enough, thinking about that could add an extra dimension when looking for subjects

Also adds to philosophical aspect

Presumably prayers can be bleak (not something that currently I think a lot about)

Amount of sky .....

Mathematically it results from the size of the frame and the deliberately small size and positioning of the tree.

Artistically it is a matter of taste and personally I like it

Extent of wabi sabi ......

To me (my simplistic view of) wabi sabi is beauty in imperfection and impermanence and both are there (to me)

Tree to take up more of frame.......

This would make it more standard/western and 'safe' - which is not what I want in this case

Sky is permanent.......

Disagree - skies and clouds by their nature are transitory. The standard photographic way to show movement in clouds is to have a long exposure which gives a very smooth effect - and - perversely in this case - make the sky more uniform, which again I don't want in this image.

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NOTE: contrary and additional views and interpretations welcomed and encouraged