Wabi sabi is a Japanese 'philosophy' and refers to a typical type of beauty. It's the beauty of the imperfect, the old, and the common. The opposite of slick and seamless. The term itself can't be translated literally, but it roughly translates to "rusty" or "imperfect beauty".

What does this mean in the context of photography? It means that we're going to photograph everyday objects and environments that typically go unnoticed by most people. By being mindful and noticing everything around you, you can often find fascinating details with a real story behind them.

Look at ordinary shapes and colors, get up close and notice details. Find impermanent or decaying subjects and think about what the story behind them could be. Find imperfect patterns in nature or on walls,...

You can also purposely move your camera a little to create a motion effect, use uncommon camera settings, and even add imperfections to your scene on purpose to tell a story.

Obviously, this topic is quite broad, so it's going to be a personal interpretation of what you consider 'wabi sabi'. If it's not immediately clear to the viewer, make sure to explain it in your title or description.

If you want to learn more about Wabi Sabi, have a look at this article.

This contest was suggested by Olga.L.

Good luck!

PS: Try to vote on all entries in the contest. The more votes we get, the more accurate the rankings will be. Also, when you see something on someone's entry that can be improved, let them know. That way, we can learn new skills from each other!

PS 2: Ideas for future contests can be submitted here. The best ideas will be picked and turned into a contest. Make sure to clearly define the rules and objectives of the contest.

Staaan avatarLevel 20
Staaan

If you have any questions/suggestions/comments about this contest, reply to this comment!

Good luck! 👇

2 reactions
MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12Gold award
1 out of 41
61%

Implements of the Rustic Kitchen created by MyMindsEye

In the middle of nowhere, in a rundown shack, on a shelf in the pantry, sits the tools of the Chuckwagon Cook who would serve up tasty grub daily to hungry hardscrabble miners. You can almost smell the coffee, the beans, rice and skillet cornbread, and of course, BACON! That's my story...what's yours?

6 reactions
Vibeke avatarLevel 12
Vibeke

Congratulations on 1st Place. Well done.

1 reaction
MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
MyMindsEye replied to Vibeke :

Thank you.

Olga.L avatarLevel 17
Olga.L

Hey, there, congrats on this lovely piece!

1 reaction
MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
MyMindsEye replied to Olga.L :

Thank you, Olga.

LunaC avatarLevel 8
LunaC

Beautiful shot. Rustic simplicity, well presented

1 reaction
MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
MyMindsEye replied to LunaC :

Thank you.

Olga.L avatarLevel 17Silver awardHeart award
2 out of 41
60%

Blue created by Olga.L

10 reactions
LunaC avatarLevel 8
3 out of 41
60%

New Orleans Still Life created by LunaC

3 reactions
LunaC avatarLevel 8Bronze award
4 out of 41
60%

Post No Bills created by LunaC

1 reaction
Olga.L avatarLevel 17
5 out of 41
60%

Wabi Sabi created by Olga.L

2 reactions
Velya avatarLevel 9
6 out of 41
60%

Life Contribution created by Velya

Olga.L avatarLevel 17
7 out of 41
59%

Into the Light created by Olga.L

2 reactions
LunaC avatarLevel 8
8 out of 41
58%

I'm still standing created by LunaC

1 reaction
Olga.L avatarLevel 17
9 out of 41
58%

3 sisters created by Olga.L

4 reactions
LunaC avatarLevel 8
10 out of 41
57%

Pillar of the Community created by LunaC

Olga.L avatarLevel 17
11 out of 41
56%

Waiting created by Olga.L

3 reactions
MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
12 out of 41
56%

The Skeleton on which you Sleep. created by MyMindsEye

Feel free to imagine your own Wabi Sabi story. :-D

4 reactions
Zizounai avatarLevel 16
13 out of 41
56%

Wabi Sabi Kintsugi created by Zizounai

2 reactions
Vibeke avatarLevel 12
14 out of 41
56%

Old Kettle created by Vibeke

Hightree avatarLevel 8Heart award
15 out of 41
55%

Oldguard created by Hightree

The wooden fence may be old, decayed, but it remains in place, still standing upright and doing its guard job which started years ago, rain or shine.

Hightree avatarLevel 8
16 out of 41
55%

Its corner of the Universe created by Hightree

Old, out of date, but gives a "perfect" light which otherwise darkness reigns.

3 reactions
photonut avatarLevel 12
17 out of 41
55%

Two for the Price of One created by photonut

two discarded boats in crete

Wayne-Cheah avatarLevel 12
18 out of 41
55%

A Sweep in Time created by Wayne-Cheah

How it used to be.

LunaC avatarLevel 8
19 out of 41
54%

Split Banana created by LunaC

2 reactions
MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
20 out of 41
54%

Relics of Yesteryear created by MyMindsEye

Once upon a time, soda-pop came in 12oz bottles and cases of 24 would be delivered to stores and gas stations in these wooden crates. The Business Owners would return these to the vendor for reuse. Over time, this reutilization contributed to the patina that now-er days is desirable in decorating. Think of all the hands that have touched and handled these crates year after year until their retirement.

2 reactions
Velya avatarLevel 9
21 out of 41
54%

Just before extinction created by Velya

Hightree avatarLevel 8
22 out of 41
53%

Iron will created by Hightree

An old lock from a century ago, perhaps not perfectly burglar proof, but not an easy target either, otherwise it would have been replaced a long time ago.

denlig avatarLevel 9
23 out of 41
53%

Cowbell created by denlig

...or when the bell is bigger than the cow !

1 reaction
Hightree avatarLevel 8
24 out of 41
53%

Function over Form created by Hightree

It does the job. Nothing else matters.

photonut avatarLevel 12
25 out of 41
53%

Shipwreck created by photonut

This is part of a hull of an old shipwreck in a museum in kyrenia in cyprus it is approx 2300 years old and was discovered in the sixties and recoverd in the seventies

photonut avatarLevel 12
26 out of 41
53%

Old Lamp created by photonut

MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
27 out of 41
53%

Toasted created by MyMindsEye

Zizounai avatarLevel 16
28 out of 41
53%

Wabi silver Sabi gold created by Zizounai

Vibeke avatarLevel 12
29 out of 41
53%

Nameless picture created by Vibeke

Small tired rose in old vase

Vibeke avatarLevel 12
30 out of 41
53%

Antique porcelain Teacup. created by Vibeke

This teacup was handpainted by my grandmother in 1924. The wear and tear make it more precious as it shows she used. it.

2 reactions
photonut avatarLevel 12
31 out of 41
52%

Damaged Tree created by photonut

Taken down by the sea after a storm had uprooted this tree

MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
32 out of 41
52%

Skool Daze created by MyMindsEye

What color will it be this year?

Zizounai avatarLevel 16
33 out of 41
51%

Yuubare created by Zizounai

Skyangel avatarLevel 15
34 out of 41
51%

Cracking "me" up. created by Skyangel

Imperfection with a few subtle hidden meanings. A japanese friend of mine said the crack is shaped a bit like a Kanji character which means big. It's not quite perfect but almost there. The term "Cracking me up" can also mean someone is making you laugh a lot. I hope it at least makes a few of you smile as you imagine some big person making a pavement laugh as they walk over it. I imagine cracked up pavements must have heard and seen many funny things in their lifetime. What about you ?

2 reactions
denlig avatarLevel 9
35 out of 41
51%

Fossils in a step of a an old stone staircase created by denlig

Many people have walked on it without even noticing it.

4 reactions
photonut avatarLevel 12
36 out of 41
51%

Nameless picture created by photonut

A broken boat that has been left in the mud and is covered when te sea comes in

2 reactions
Zizounai avatarLevel 16
37 out of 41
51%

Dark eyed baby-sabi created by Zizounai

Wayne-Cheah avatarLevel 12
38 out of 41
50%

Just add wall created by Wayne-Cheah

Midwife of Colors

Goldlens avatarLevel 6
39 out of 41
48%

Pro version of Gmail ;D "INDIA POST" 167years of service. created by Goldlens

India Post is a government operated postal system in India, started by Warren Hastings in 1766 (167years). They have recently closed this service because now a days people use technology for sending mails.

1 reaction
Joslyn avatarLevel 5
40 out of 41
43%

Nameless picture created by Joslyn

Joslyn avatarLevel 5
41 out of 41
42%

Unspecified specimen created by Joslyn

More Photography »

Level
Story XP
Story XP
Stories
Followers