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| Fuji Film Square in Roppongi |
The reconstruction of Ise Shrine (伊勢神宮) is one of the biggest events which are scheduled in 2013. Emperor Tenmu (天武天皇) decreed that the reconstruction of the shrine should take place every 20 years, and the custom began in the 690s. (more than 1300 yeas ago!)
"The Beauty of Japan Ise Jingu" is a photo exhibition by Yoshio Watanabe, who took photographs of the reconstruction in 1953, 1973 and 1993. This wasn't a big scale exhibition, but very impressive to me. He captured how beautiful Ise Shrine was and loved it deeply. According to a brochure of the exhibition, he once said:
On the first photo session, I wasn't given permission to photograph the shrine's main entrance, so I took photos from the rear of the shrine. However, rather than the main entrance with its flight of stairs and pavilion, it was easier to appreciate the simplistic beauty of the shrine by viewing it from the rear.This comment reminded me of Steve Jobs. He loved not only Zen(禅) but a simplistic beauty. His design was always simple. Of course I don't think mac is similar to Shinto shrine, but the duality of the Japanese religion (Buddhism and Shintoism) always reminds me of the relationship between PC and mac.
Yoshio Watanabe thought "Fine, cloudless days are best for capturing images of the purity of architectural forms."
A cloud is an object of emotion. I prefer architectural photographs free from emotion. This is because when a cloud is included in an image, it somehow gives it the feel of a landscape photo.On this comment, I remember the episode of Yasujiro Ozu(小津安二郎). He was said to prefer a little cloudy day. On a cloudless day, he stopped filming and waited until clouds appear. Anyway, he wasn't a photographer. He was a filmmaker.
The exhibition by Yoshio Watanabe is held at Fuji Film Square(Roppongi, Tokyo) until Feb 28, 2013. By the way, Fuji Film Square is "precious" as a complex museum in Tokyo, because exhibitions are basically free of charge. Check out the official site of Fuji Film Square if you're living in Tokyo.
I enjoy clouds in photographs but they have to be the right kind of cloud with the right setting I think. I really enjoy clear blue skies when I photograph buildings.
ReplyDeleteThe right kind of cloud, that's right. I agree with you. Cloud is like a seasoning for the sky. Sometimes it'll be a great addition of rich flavor, when there's a right kind of cloud.
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