Lance Lewin  

Intimate with Nature Series: The Yugen found in Nature by Lance Lewin

January 2025 - Intimate with Nature Series: The Yugen found in Nature

About the Image(s)

This is a Digitally registered photographic image; central Florida, 2024. (Though seen here as a single image, often, deeper contemplation can be enjoyed when viewed as a series of like-works, e.g., in an exhibition, for one example).

Associate Professor Nancy G. Hume speaking from her book on Japanese aesthetics and culture … 'we see how East-Asian culture viewed ... ‘allusiveness over explicitness and completeness’ ...

A lot of my recent work explores some of the characteristics defined with oriental aesthetics in an attempt to bring attention (and experience) our World we often pass by in our hurried pace as we move from one point to another, while hopefully inspiring viewers to explore alternative semiotic meaning of what lay before them.

The featured work was cropped (42x14) to represent/present the art in more traditional Japanese style: often used in Woodblock prints.

Lance A. Lewin
PSA Global B&W Photography Mentor
lance.visualizingart@gmail.com

10 comments posted

Will Korn   Will Korn
This image is interesting but I find the crop ratio to be difficult to contemplate. As you say it may be an entirely different as part of a tryptich! The impressionistic effect is pleasing. I would suggest making it either more surreal or more realisting.   Posted: 01/01/2025 14:59:09
Lance Lewin   Lance Lewin
.. these are valid points to ponder, indeed.

Perhaps this is a good example in "less understanding" (and thus, less engagement) in a single photographic composition: alternatively, seen within a group (or series) of like compositions ... or as a Triptych, for example, beauty hidden within the works obvious ambiguous aesthetic would find more attraction.

As always, thank you for your thought provoking critique.   Posted: 01/01/2025 23:29:15
Dale Yates   Dale Yates
Very nice image! I like the details and the introduction to the Asian concept of yugen. My eyes do look throughout the image and to focus on the details. It is interesting the beauty we see if we only take the time to look! Thanks for sharing this.   Posted: 01/01/2025 15:29:00
Cindy Smith   Cindy Smith
I could sit and look at this image all day. It is very relaxing. The clouds floating behind the plant almost looks like it is in front. I am trying to see it as part of a series of prints. Well done.   Posted: 01/01/2025 21:38:26
Chan Garrett   Chan Garrett
Lance, you just will not allow me to settle comfortably into what I already know. You continue to stretch me. I now feel I must learn more about Japanese art philosophy. Will you give the full title of the book that you mentioned?
Due to my lack of understanding of Yugen, I feel unprepared to comment other than to say, "I like it, I think."   Posted: 01/01/2025 23:01:34
Lance Lewin   Lance Lewin
  Posted: 01/01/2025 23:34:07
Comment Image
Lance Lewin   Lance Lewin
Here is the book, but I must suggest, it is not easy reading for beginners.

A more appropriate entry is an essay on Japanese Aesthetics on the
Stanford University website: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/japanese-aesthetics/   Posted: 01/01/2025 23:39:28
Chan Garrett   Chan Garrett
Thank, Lance. I will look it up.   Posted: 01/02/2025 01:59:02
Steven Jungerwirth   Steven Jungerwirth
I find the subject/colors and varying focus interesting. It has a surreal feel - almost like gazing through a pane of glass. I think it would be more compelling as part of a series or one panel of a Triptych. As presented - it feels like an incomplete piece of a larger scene - and I'm left wanting to see the rest. I suppose that might be good . . .   Posted: 01/02/2025 16:20:21
Lance Lewin   Lance Lewin
You and Mr. Korn make very important remarks/suggestions: in this regard it will help to steer my creative intentions, and including the presentation of this type of work.

Absolutely agree, viewing this type of work (and the unusual narrow framing) will work best within a series, indeed.

As always, thank you for your detailed critique!

  Posted: 01/02/2025 17:34:53

 

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