Wabi Sabi is the practice of finding beauty in things that are worn, aged, or impermanent, where a crack or a faded surface carries a story rather than a flaw. This photo challenge forces you to slow down and notice what you would normally overlook, training your eye to read texture, notice the beauty, and realize that beauty is exactly where the magic lives on the other side of imperfection.
The five photos below stood out for how gracefully they embraced imperfection this week.
Browse the full Week 26 Album on 52Frames →
“Layers of Me”
Why I liked it: What I love about Sylvie’s photo is the time and care she put into this craft experiment, not much unlike the time investment she puts in almost every week. This one is a true mixed media abstract form that truly comes together in a strong metaphor of all the facets of our own imperfections.
Exif: Nikon Z6 II · Nikon 70-200mm @110mm · 1/200 · f/2.8 · ISO 100 · flash
Tags: #collage #bts
Genre: Used External Flash, Fine Art, Portrait/Self-Portrait
“Windswept”
Why I liked it: This photo was one of my favorites of the album even though it didn’t really catch the committee’s eye. Just the most beautiful poignant framing of the lone but strong tree. The black and white processing perfectly enhances all that is great about this frame. That is the shape, the structure, and the contrast between the beautiful tree limbs and the white sky behind it. Just a beautiful landscape photo that deserves to be hung on a wall.
Exif: Nikon Z7 ii · Nikon Lensbaby Velvet 56 @56mmmm · 1/640 · f/5.6 · ISO 100
Tags: #aussie52 #frangipani #sunshinecoasthinterland #lensbabyvelvet56
Genre: Black & White, Landscape
“broken”
Why I liked it: What I love about Madeleine’s photo is, first of all, the really humorous and telling caption text she provided with her photo submission. Just a normal day of 52Frames when you take a pair of sunglasses out of your freezer to smash it with a hammer. The end result is a powerful story and I especially love how it’s framed in such a uniquely unorthodox way that it pushes the broken norm even further.
Exif: Sony A7R5 · Sony 35mm f/1.4 (E-mount) @35mm · 1/200 · f/5.6 · ISO 1000
Tags: #sony
“Cracked”
Why I liked it: Tomaz often submits beautiful, minimalistic black and whites for his photo submissions and this one is no exception. I highly recommend checking out his profile; this egg is just the most perfect, beautiful photo. I just love when the expression of creativity forces a craft into the very fringe of what’s considered normal –and this high-key photo, with barely any detail in it whatsoever, is the most fringe you could take an exposure while still having EVERY important detail absolutely visible down to the tiny piece of shell on the floor next to it. Beautiful job, Tomaz!
Exif: Fujifilm X-T5 · Fujifilm 16-55mm f/2.8 @49.8mm · 1/30 · f/14 · ISO 3200
Genre: Black & White
“My perfect imperfection”
Why I liked it: I love this photo so much, even though it may be a bit of a jarring close-up at first glance. Claudio has not only captured the pure beauty of imperfection while at the same time questioning our own conceptions or preconceptions of beauty standards, but he also had such lovely things to say about his wife in his photo caption. It truly reminds you that beauty is much more than what we think we’re seeing at first glance. Well done Claudio and wife!
Exif: Canon EOS 60D · Canon EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 @300mm · 1/400 · f/7.1 · ISO 2000
Tags: #portrait
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