侘寂 
Wabi-Sabi 
Nature Photography
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侘寂 
Wabi-Sabi 
Nature Photography
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The Portfolio is arranged according to the four seasons: Spring (Haru - 春), Summer (Natsu - 夏), Autumn (Aki - 秋) and Winter (Fuyu - 冬). 


Each season contains a unique aspect of 侘寂 Wabi-Sabi, subsidiary aesthetic principles and natural seasonal phenomena. 

Summer (Natsu - 夏)
Autumn (Aki - 秋)
Winter (Fuyu - 冬)
Spring (Haru - 春)

Summer (Natsu - 夏)

Deciduous forest in full summer bloom and sunlight shot in wabi-sabi style
Green Summer leaves with cobwebs in sunlight shot in wabi-sabi style
Summer sunlit leaves against forest backdrop shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Summer still pond with sunlight on trees shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Summer Loosestrife Flowers amid Reeds shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Summer Leaves after Rain shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Summer Elderberries in Sunlight shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Summer Lake Reflection shot in Wabi-Sabi style

Seasonal Inspiration Summer

Wabi-Sabi (侘寂) is expressed in the way Summer - its heat, sunlight, vegetation - facilitates the amnesiac feeling of being in the present moment. Limitation to the "now" is a form of restrained simplicity. 

Yūgen (幽玄) - subtly profound grace. Etymologically, Yū means "deep, dim or difficult to see" and gen means "darkness" - but the concept of Yūgen (幽玄) is abstract (akin to "mystery"), not literal. It describes a beauty that suggests stillness, an eternal "moment in and out of time". 

Shigeru (茂) - luxuriance of foliage in Summer. 


Natsu-Kusa (夏草) - Summer grass. Grasses that grow only in warm summer season and lack the winter hardiness of cool-season grasses. 


Samidare (五月雨) - Summer Rain. Downpour, a heavy fall of rain. 


Yuuyake (夕焼け) - literally "burnt evening". The Afterglow of sunlight on summer evenings. 


Hideri (旱) - Drought. A period of prolonged dryness. 


Katakage (片陰) - literally "One-Sided Shadow", a spot with shade from the sun in summer.  

Go to: Seasons Overview

Autumn (Aki - 秋)

Autumn Leaves and Branches during rain shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Autumn pattern of yellow Beech Leaves shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Autumn Foliage Colors shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Autumn yellow Birch leaves shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Autumn crimson Past-Peak Foliage Colors shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Autumn rain-swept Hawthorn Berries wabi-sabi nature zen
Autumn water reflection with yellow leaves and tree trunk shot in Wabi-Sabi style

Seasonal Inspiration Autumn

Wabi-Sabi (侘寂) is expressed in the subsiding, declining and dematerializing of flora and fauna in nature. The etymological roots of Sabi (寂) are connected with the verb sabiru (寂びる), meaning “to mellow". Autumn particularly expresses the appreciation of impermanence valued in Wabi-Sabi (侘寂). Endings are suggestive, suggestive of what has been.

Koko (考古) - Weathered Appearance. A sense of age derived from long exposure to the elements. Applies especially to Autumn as nature, amid cooler days and nights, shorter daylight and vegetation passing from bloom, reflects the accumulated influences of the preceding seasons. 

Shuuki (秋気) - Autumn Air. Gentle, crisp, calm. 


Momiji (紅葉) - colored autumn leaves, especially red and yellow. 


Uragare (末枯れ) - the withered twigs and branches of plants and trees in late autumn. 


Aki no kure (秋の暮) - Autumn twilight. Autumn evenings still contain enough light to observe a transition to dusk. Metaphorically, expresses feelings of melancholy. 


Kiri (霧) - Mist, fog. Traditionally associated with autumn, but also occurs in Winter. 


Ochiba (落葉) - fallen leaves.  

Go to: Seasons Overview

Winter (Fuyu - 冬)

Winter Frost on Branches shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Winter birches and Pines in Darkness shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Winter Morning Moon among bare Branches shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Winter Thicket of Bark Textures amid Low-Growth Trees shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Winter Reflections on a Snowy Pond shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Winter Deep Mist Forest shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Winter Lake-side Reeds Zen Nature Wabi-Sabi
Winter Branches on a Lake amid Sleet nature wabi-sabi zen
Winter Pine Crowns set against Sun through Clouds nature wabi-sabi zen

Seasonal Inspiration Winter

Wabi-Sabi (侘寂) is expressed in the simplicity that follows from the harsh conditions of survival that nature imposes in this season. The etymological roots of Wabi (侘) are linked with the adjective wabishii (侘しい), meaning “wretched”. 

Hie (冷え) - chill beauty, aestheticizing the natural effects of cold weather (such as snowflakes, sleet, frost, ice etc.). 


Shibumi (渋み) - Beauty in austerity, connected to the adjective Shibui (渋味) (lit. "bitter tasting"). Simple, subtle forms are more open to interpretation and imagination. Natural scenes in winter are often bleak, with sparse stimuli.


Fusoku-shugi (不⾜主義) - literally “lack or shortage principle”. The aesthetic experience lies in that which is withheld, the power of what is absent. 

Kazahana (風花) - Snowflakes (literally "wind-flowers"). 


Mizore (霙) - Sleet. 


Shimo (霜) - Frost. 


Koori (氷) - Ice, frozen water. 


Sayuru (冴ゆる) - clear and cold Weather. 

Go to: Seasons Overview

Spring (Haru - 春)

Spring Flowers of Garlic Mustard Plants shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Willow Catkins in Spring Sunlight shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Young Leaves surrounded by Darkness and Branches shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Branches in Spring Sunlight shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Spring Raindrops on Snowberry Plants shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Spring Cherry Plum Flowers in Soft Sunlight shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Spring Cherry Plum Branches against Cloudy Sky shot in Wabi-Sabi Style
Spring Sloe Flowers shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Spring young yellow leaves of Birch trees shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Spring young willow leaves shot in Wabi-Sabi style
Spring Hazy Sunlight across Forest Floor shot in Wabi-Sabi Style
Spring Willow Catkins in Sunlight shot in Wabi-Sabi style

Seasonal Inspiration Spring

Wabi-Sabi (侘寂) is expressed in the delicate, slow materialization (coming-to-life) of flora and fauna in nature. Beginnings are suggestive, suggestive of what is to come. 

Aware (哀れ) - an emotion felt in response to beauty, especially one of a subtle, ephemeral nature. Etymologically aware consists of two interjections, a and hare, both of which are used when one's heart is greatly moved. To convey sensitivity to the ephemerality of things, it is used in the expression Mono no aware (物の哀れ). 


Seijaku (静寂) - Tranquility. The Spring season is characterized by a particularly gentle interplay of multi-sensual stimuli, fresh and quiet.  

Shunkō (春光) - Spring sunlight. 


Wakamidori (若緑) - young green plants, fresh green. 


Tsuyu (露) - Dew -  moisture condensed upon the surfaces of cool things especially at night. A symbol of impermanence. 


Harusame (春雨) - Spring Rain. A soft, steady, quiet drizzle.  


Kagerō (陽炎) - Heat Shimmer. The warm sun of spring heating up cold surfaces, producing a shimmering air. 


Sakura (桜) - Cherry Blossoms. They scatter while at their peak, suggesting a combination of beauty and sadness. 

Go to: Seasons Overview

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 侘寂 Wabi-Sabi Nature Photography - All Rights Reserved.

Last updated: 15th August 2022

Lensculture Photography Network: Gregor Schoepf

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