The Things I See
The Tea Room - Lessons of Life
Posted by Craig (Vacaville, California, United States) on 5 May 2007 in Lifestyle & Culture and Portfolio.
Helen from Melbourne, Australia
Oh, I like this. Subdued ... Subtle .... Soft ... I could go on, but I think you get my point.
5 May 2007 10:41am
Jerry from Tampa, United States
VERY NICE Craig! very creative and an excellent image - great clarity and tone!
5 May 2007 11:00am
Scene by Sharon Photography from Kingston, Ontario, Canada
colours - fabulous; tone - beautiful; texture - stunning... like Helen, I could go on... love it!
5 May 2007 11:33am
Kairospix from Singapore
wow! makes me wanna have some tea! great capture!
curious about what the lessons of life are though... :)
5 May 2007 2:39pm
@Kairospix: The tea room has little to do with drinking tea and chatting. It has everything to do with the relationship between the teacher and student. The teacher helps the student through lifes problems by letting the student solve problems in the cerimony that the student can relate to life. There is nothing similar to this in Western culture that I know of.
Kairospix from Singapore
ah yes yes how could i forget that... it's true the drinking of the tea isn't the true focus... you are right to say it's the relationship...
i understand that the tea ceremony came about during the warring times between the different Shogunate... tea ceremony was held between warring Lords/Daimos/Shoguns when they want to talk peace... apparently it was an agreed rule that when they enter the tea ceremony, they put aside all weapons and relate... :)
thanks for sharing your thoughts!
5 May 2007 3:50pm
@Kairospix: All of the senses are calmed in the tea room. The light is soft. A single flower arrangement - beautiful. The sound of silence is heard. Delicate sweets are offered with stimulating tea. The conversation - never harsh or judgmental. Quite the experience! But the rules (specifically designed to challenge the student) - so frustraiting!!!
Henri Rabagny from Paris, France
Very good shot. What a serenity!
Just one thing: is it smoke or the hand of a genius trying to go out?
5 May 2007 4:10pm
@Henri Rabagny: Actually, it is steam from the tea kettle. The long exposure made it look a little weird. Thanks for all your comments Henri!
martineb from France
Indeed, just beautiful! I like the volutes of smoke.Excellent shot!
5 May 2007 8:49pm
Stu from Kyoto, Japan
Wonderful shot again Craig. That wisp of steam makes it for me. Super.
8 May 2007 4:57am
amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada
I do so love this Craig. The subtle hues, shadows, composition.. it is sublime.
9 May 2007 12:40am
Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada
One of your best. I love the oblique composition, and think it probably fits very well with the wabi-sabi aesthetics of a tea ceremony.
18 May 2007 4:54pm
Sony DSC-H5
1/5 second
F/3.5
ISO 80
18 mm