I learned a new term last week on Kim Klassen’s blog- wabi-sabi. As I understand it, wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic embracing the imperfect, the incomplete- the natural, the simple and unaffected- the moment just as it is. The perfectly imperfect. The now. A philosophy for art, living, relationships- I could go on. I love it!
I used that new (to me) term in completing Day 52 of Beyond Beyond. This lesson gave us a new template for Lightroom and Photoshop and challenged us to print a photo- and use that photo in another photo. A picture in a picture- which reminds me of the opening of each episode of Modern Family, a show I’ve only discovered in the last few months. Kim’s example was a picture in a picture in a picture, so I did this too. I’d like to use this technique again with people- perhaps my favorite models, Miles and Henry.
I chose a Mason jar to photograph, this time with flowers, because of its wabi-sabi-ness! It is imperfect, utilitarian, and simple, and I love it.
You might have noticed that my blog has a new look. It’s been well over a year since I’ve made any changes, so it seems like time for an update. I went back to my original layout with a new header, and made some corrections on my “about” page (it still said it was 2013 and that I live in the San Francisco Bay Area- oooops!). The slideshow is gone, and I have my sidebar back. There are other little changes I want to make as well- after I figure out how to do them. So what do you think?

Oh, I adore wax flowers! Isn’t that funny – they are so simple… and the way you’ve paired them with your jar … fabulous! I think your blog is looking great – I love simple design, and easy navigation!
I love how you knew they were wax flowers- I had no clue!
Love it!! Wish we had flowers here….. sigh!
Trader Joe’s flowers! I buy a small bouquet every week!
So pretty Melinda, I love sweet little wax flower and the smell is always so clean and refreshing. Such a good choice for your picture in a picture.
nice !
So delightful, I love this Photo in Photo!
you stole my heart with this images, I am a aqua blue jar freak!!!
Brilliant……love this idea and you’ve done a great job.
[…] the more recent lessons included a preset called melancholy- and a suggestion to revisit the whole wabi-sabi idea, which I loved. I enjoyed creating this image, which is very different from my usual shooting […]
Nice series.