First Ikebana
When I started building the ikebana vase, I didn’t realize how much fun I would have using it. Mom and I played with it a bunch yesterday. The fun of ikebana was seeing how many different looks we could create with flowers and stuff we found outside. When I say ‘stuff’, I mean weeds. We did one arrangement entirely with weeds. It looked pretty good too.
History is interesting. The ikebana or “arranged flower” is the art of Japanese flower arrangement. There are those who say that the art of ikebana is to bring nature and humanity together, and they would be correct…except for seven things. Fine, they are right, and I don’t really have a list of seven other things, but I was feeling a bit silly.
My taste tends to run towards minimalism and ikebana is all about creating interest and beauty from just a few items. Mom picked the flowers for the first few arrangements, as I set up the camera and lighting equipment. Because it was easy, I only brought a couple of basic lights, with one white umbrella and one reflecting umbrella. That was all I needed to add a small amount of highlights to the shots.
Here are the first few. You will notice that the first image, which is probably my least favorite, is taken with the blank wall behind it. Normally I like a simple background, so the subject really stands out, but I found that it didn’t look natural or humane. It wasn’t the ikebana photography way.
I decided that a more interesting background would better suit the photo.
Mom and I were having a good time playing with the flowers and the ikebana, but I thought a different background might be nice. So we move the equipment to the deck and took some more shots.
I liked the above photo, as we made it from weeds and a dead branch from a tree.
And then one more from inside.
From this experience a couple of things became obvious, one mom has a really cool kitchen island counter top. The second revelation was that one is only limited by their imagination, when it comes to making ikebana art.
Brian, I have to admit, I haven't taken the time to sit down and read your AWESOME blog lately, so I took a few minutes, and shopped around to see what I have missed. And, what do I find but your Ikebana! And of course, my ears pricked up, my mother, your wonderful aunt, has taken MANY Ikebana classes. You could say, that is her "thing". So, I am going to forward this to her, and let her judge your (and your mom's) arrangement creations! And, as soon as you put these on etsy...let me know!!
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LikeMethinks you a Great Man, Brian Meeks! Beautiful photos! I'll have to look into the wood-working soon.
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LikeThanks Sherri. I always appreciate comments from my Lisbon/San Francisco friends, especially one's with a professional background in photography. Woodworking is a delight. You could build a hulu hoop rack! Unless of course, you already have one.
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Likehi brian,
these are some incredible shots! just fantastic photos, really! enjoyed very much.
read through 2 of your stories as well. i liked the 80 year war one. should probably go there and comment!
thanks for sharing your process and using storytelling as a medium to share the craft of woodworking.
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LikeNice! It's amazing who one can do with so few flowers. My favorite is the one with the 2 pink roses. Good geometry. And the one with the grasses inspires me to go pick some grasses for some of my next arrangements.
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LikeI am pleased that you like the photos and the arrangements. My mother will be pleased too. :-)
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LikeBrian, I have to admit, I haven't taken the time to sit down and read your AWESOME blog lately, so I took a few minutes, and shopped around to see what I have missed. And, what do I find but your Ikebana! And of course, my ears pricked up, my mother, your wonderful aunt, has taken MANY Ikebana classes. You could say, that is her "thing". So, I am going to forward this to her, and let her judge your (and your mom's) arrangement creations! And, as soon as you put these on etsy...let me know!!
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeMethinks you a Great Man, Brian Meeks! Beautiful photos! I'll have to look into the wood-working soon.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeThanks Sherri. I always appreciate comments from my Lisbon/San Francisco friends, especially one's with a professional background in photography. Woodworking is a delight. You could build a hulu hoop rack! Unless of course, you already have one.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Likehi brian,
these are some incredible shots! just fantastic photos, really! enjoyed very much.
read through 2 of your stories as well. i liked the 80 year war one. should probably go there and comment!
thanks for sharing your process and using storytelling as a medium to share the craft of woodworking.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeNice! It's amazing who one can do with so few flowers. My favorite is the one with the 2 pink roses. Good geometry. And the one with the grasses inspires me to go pick some grasses for some of my next arrangements.
- spam
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- disagree
- off topic
LikeI am pleased that you like the photos and the arrangements. My mother will be pleased too. :-)
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LikeBeautiful! I think my favorite is the last one. Maybe because of the lack of greenery, the colors of the flora really play nicely off the wood.
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LikeThanks Steve. I like the last one best. It surprised me when I saw it. When we were picking the stuff, I sort of grabbed the red leaves on a whim, not knowing how they might be used. I like the one with the weeds too.
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LikeThanks Steve. I like the last one best. It surprised me when I saw it. When we were picking the stuff, I sort of grabbed the red leaves on a whim, not knowing how they might be used. I like the one with the weeds too.
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