Playing with Shadows & Light

Boon Manakitivipart. Western juniper debut with Jalaluddin Din. Bonsai Boon All the photos shown here were posted on facebook by Boon Manakitivipart. Boon is a well-known American bonsai artist and influential bonsai teacher. You can find more about Boon here. Shadows and light I like these photos. Not only are the bonsai quite intriguing, but the photos offer something you don’t see that often; bonsai photography with an artistic flair. The one possible downside is that the play of shadow and light sometimes makes it a little harder to see some of the details on the trees. On balance though, … Continue reading Playing with Shadows & Light

Bonsai Miksang

Photo by Morten Albek. From his Shohin blog. Miksang Miksang is a contemplative approach photography that’s about “uncovering the truth of pure perception… without the biases, filters and formulas often associated with photography” (from The Miksang Institute for Contemplative Photography). It seems to me to be a both disciplined and spontaneous approach to photography and to seeing; simply seeing without projection, with an open and unbiased mind. The photography of Morten Albek I have long been impressed by Morten Albek’s bonsai photography. Whether his photos are the result of a Miksang approach, I can’t say for sure, though it’s easy … Continue reading Bonsai Miksang

A Robert Steven Critique & Our Two Cents

Robert Steven’s simulation of a Pemphis acidula that was submitted (below) by Surmardi of Indonesia. Making our point Though Robert doesn’t mention it in his critique, he does remove the background clutter that you see in Surmardi’s photo. To my eye, this change has as much impact on the tree’s appearance as Robert’s other changes. Preparing and photographing trees is a topic that we have discussed in this blog; most recently, in our last post. Surmardi’s original begs the question: why not just raise the tree and photograph it with only the yellow background? The failure to do something that … Continue reading A Robert Steven Critique & Our Two Cents

Bonsai Evolution: Display

The two photos in this post were taken at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in Japan. You can view the uncropped originals and other photos from the Museum at Bonsai Network Japan. Evolution.? Has bonsai evolved as it has moved from Japan (and China) to the rest of the world? If you look at experimentation and innovation, I’d say yes, there is plenty of positive movement beyond Japan (and in Japan as well). However, if you look at display, you might draw a different conclusion. Laziness and neglect, or spontaneous freedom? I spend a lot of time perusing bonsai on … Continue reading Bonsai Evolution: Display

New Book from Japan: The Beauty of Bonsai

This sumptuously photographed new book is aptly named. In addition to numerous stunning color photos, it features a preface by Masahiko Kimura and a section on Kimura that includes thirty seven new photos of the master at work, as well as of some of his most daring bonsai. That and much, much more. Hardcover, 96 pages with 205 color photos. No matter how much we think… … that we in the West are catching up with the Japanese when it comes to the art of bonsai, we still lag behind when it comes to the art of bonsai display and … Continue reading New Book from Japan: The Beauty of Bonsai

Trunk Art

This rich and powerful, extraordinarily detailed old trunk sits at the base of a Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) bonsai (immediately below). It (and the others in this post) is from the recent Redwood Empire Bonsai Society’s 27th annual show. The photos are all borrowed from Bonsai Tonight. The complete tree. Superior bonsai photography My hat is off and my balding head is nodding in appreciation of Jonas Dupuich’s consistently superior photographs at Bonsai Tonight. If you can’t see a top quality bonsai in person, the next best thing is a top quality photo.

Maximizing Flowers, Miniminzing Distractions

This cheerfully bright bougainvillea (borrowed from Bonsaimania; Bonsái del álbum de Virgie Bambilla) illustrates the principle that: when it comes to flowering bonsai, the tree should be designed and displayed in a way that, first and foremost, shows off the flowers. Success! Is there a problem? This post is in no way conceived to criticize anyone. I understand that most people who post on facebook (or wherever) aren’t necessarily interested presenting highly finished professional type photos. No problem. However, in bonsai display, there are times when the quality of the photo is critical. And for good reason; a well thought … Continue reading Maximizing Flowers, Miniminzing Distractions

Photo Art Contest: Entry #2

Here’s what Mike Viljak has to say about his entry: “I found this tiny ‘planting’ while poking around in a river bed in Wyoming, near the Tetons. I don’t know what type of plant it is, but I was more intrigued by its choice of a beautiful, yet tiny driftwood planter. I call it ‘Microsai’. Formal upright style perhaps? I like how the red stem pops out against the background, asserting its presence.” In case you’re not aware Here’s the first entry and the specifics. Now, let’s see yours.

Another Bonsai Drawing by Patrick Giacobbe

If you paid attention to our recent Bonsai Art Contest, you’ll remember that Patrick Giacobbe won first prize with his Graphite on Bristol board drawing. Here’s another Graphite on Bristol board drawing that Patrick submitted (we only accepted one entry per person, which explains why you didn’t see this then). Stay tuned for our next contest We’re going to start a bonsai art photography contest soon. We’ll be looking for artistic photos of bonsai or of trees in nature. Stay tuned for details.