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MA

Tronhard
VIP
VIP

The Japanese have a word (Ma), for the space or interval that gives shape to the whole.

 

In the West, the closest translation combines SIMPLIFICATION + EMPTY SPACE. It holds a major role in many aspects of Japanese culture, such as pauses in speech.

 

Visually, it is expressed in traditional open plan Japanese homes. Thus the size of a room can be changed by altering the partitioning. Large traditional houses often have only one ima (living room/space) under the roof, while kitchen, bathroom, & toilet are extensions to the house. Room dimensions defined by standard Tatami mats and moveable Shoji screen walls, featuring rooms without permanent furniture.

 

Creating MA in photographs is to create empty space - images without furniture - it is a challenge to create the right balance of empty space, when it is really tempting to "fill the frame" with a subject.

 

NZ Auckland Rangitoto & sky.jpg

The symmetrical volcanic cone of Rangitoto, in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf.

 

MA Cemetery 01 (2).jpg

A solitary tree guards the gap overlooking the city of Auckland


cheers, TREVOR

The mark of good photographer is less what they hold in their hand, it's more what they hold in their head;
"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow", Leo Tolstoy;
"Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase" Percy W. Harris
4 REPLIES 4

shadowsports
Legend
Legend

Below is Rick's MA...

 

Trevor, how did I do?

 

Ricks_Ma.jpg

~Rick
Bay Area - CA


~R5 C (1.0.7.1) ~RF Trinity, ~RF 100 Macro, ~RF 100~400, ~RF 100~500, +RF 1.4x TC, +Canon Control Ring, BG-R10, 430EX III-RT ~DxO PhotoLab Elite ~DaVinci Resolve ~Windows11 Pro ~ImageClass MF644Cdw/MF656Cdw ~Pixel 8
~CarePaks Are Worth It

Hi Rick:

Thanks for your post and image.

 - I'm glad to see other contributions, but I am no expert.

 

Your subject seems appropriately small, but personally I think it would conform more to the principles of 嗎 (Ma) if the sky and water were less dominant: they both have a strong, and thus competing, presence in the image.  Usually I would expect the sky and its reflection to be without strong texture or form, as per my first image.  This leaves the subject almost floating in isolation in the image.

 

In the second image the tree was obviously grounded, but that was kept to a minimum and was balanced out by the large area given to the sky.

 

i hope that makes sense! Smiley Happy


cheers, TREVOR

The mark of good photographer is less what they hold in their hand, it's more what they hold in their head;
"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow", Leo Tolstoy;
"Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase" Percy W. Harris

What would they say about this:

Untitled.jpg

 

This happened on one of our long range tracking cameras at the Tonopah Test Range. About the most exciting thing that happened during that test.


@kvbarkley wrote:

What would they say about this:

Untitled.jpg

 

This happened on one of our long range tracking cameras at the Tonopah Test Range. About the most exciting thing that happened during that test.


This definitely gives space to the subject!  I can see there are no flies on you!  (rather the window pane) {:-D)


cheers, TREVOR

The mark of good photographer is less what they hold in their hand, it's more what they hold in their head;
"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow", Leo Tolstoy;
"Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase" Percy W. Harris
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