Japanese Sensibility in Photographic Practice

Module II: From WABI-SABI to MONO-NO-AWARE

with George Nobechi

Wednesdays from August 2nd to 23rd, 2023

and Mondays from July 31st to August 21st, 2023

4:30 PDT / 6:30PM CDT / 7:30PM EDT (Asia: Thursdays at 8:30AM JST)

DETAILS

4 x 120min lessons live on Zoom

Limited to 8 students

For Intermediate to Advanced Photographers

While Module I is recommended, it is not a prerequisite for Module II

Those who take Module I will receive a $100 off coupon for Module II

OVERVIEW

Back due to popular demand and reimagined, explore these oft-misunderstood, oft-misused Japanese concepts with George Nobechi and find a deeper understanding of your potential as an artist, of the world around you and discover meaning beyond the literal in your photographs. These concepts can potentially be seen and photographed anywhere, and you do not need to be in Japan or be in a Japanese garden to identify them.

Each weekly session will consist of a 50-minute lesson and a 60-minute feedback session, with a 10-minute break in between.

Students will be given three weekly assignments to help them practice the techniques taught in class.

At the conclusion of the class, students should expect to have a basic understanding of these four essential Japanese artistic and emotional sensibilities and begin to incorporate them into their work. Mastery of these concepts takes many years and thousands of hours of practice; students should be both realistic about their goals, but also happy to reach an understanding of these concepts that can help them in their own artistic practice going forward. George Nobechi himself is on this path and claims no mastery over these subjects.

SCHEDULE

There are two streams for this class - Monday nights and Wednesday nights. Please select your preference from the payment page. All participants will have video access to both streams and will be invited to join a private group on our social media platform Ibasho for sharing images and giving each other feedback and encouragement.

Monday July 31 & Wednesday August 2nd

Lesson I Part I: Participant introductions and group discussion of recent work (please prepare 3 recently photographed images). 

Lesson I Part II: Introduction to the four lesson concepts: Natsukashisa, Setsunasa, Mono-no-Awa-re, Wabi-Sabi using examples. A deep dive on Natsukashisa. Homework assignment I will be discussed.

Monday August 7th and Wednesday August 9th

Lesson II Part I: Looking at homework assignments from week one and having a group discussion (safe space forum).

Lesson II Part II: A deep dive on Setsunasa. Homework assignment II will be discussed.

Monday August 14th & Wednesday august 16th

Lesson III Part I: Looking at homework assignments from week two and having a group discussion (safe space forum).

Lesson III Part II: A deep dive on Mono-no-Awa-re. Homework assignment III will be discussed.

Monday, August 21st & August Wednesday 23rd

Lesson IV Part I: Looking at homework assignments from week three and having a group discussion (safe space forum).

Lesson IV Part II: A deep dive on Wabi-Sabi. Final wrap-up.

Lesson Concepts

Natsukashii - “not quite nostalgic”

Setsunai - “not quite bittersweet”

Mono-no-Awa-re - “the pathos of things”

Wabi-Sabi - “wabi - lamentable decline, sabi - beauty from aging and the feeling derived from it”

THIS workshop is now COMPLETE. TO BE Alerted when GEORGE TEACHES AGAIN, please fill out the form below.

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