Cups

At home on Saturday evening. After sending emails, reading the same novel again and while watching an old film on the monitor on coffee table, I was inspired by what was going on in front of me. Light is putting on the show for me. All I had to do was to concentrate on what is going on, and capture it.

 

 

I still have not decided on the replacement street shoot camera since my beloved Panasonic and its beautiful pancake lens found a new home. But at least, my ‘bigger one’ has this lens that capture that delicate light on smooth texture.

zen’s studio

So I got this photo shoot job and flew over to Japan for it. Here’s one from that job…

 

Well, I wish I could say that! Sitting on the tatami mat, smelling the fresh grass that only comes from the fresh tatami, and sipping a cup of green tea, I was totally convinced that I was in Japan. But the reality was, it was only an hour’s drive from my home, here in Melbourne. This was a job for zen’s studio, a workshop who specialises in producing traditional Japanese rooms, screen windows and doors and other Japanese-themed interior pieces. I got a call from the owner, Hisao Zen, to photograph his works for his portfolio.

With a proper understanding of Japanese architectural styles, meaning and history of their details, he produces real Japanese rooms, as well as interior display works that make reference to such tradition.

We visited one of the homes Hisao’s built a room in. I was told that people gather for tea making (or ‘tea ceremony’ as we commonly know it) and Japanese flower arrangement in this Japanese tea room. It must be quite something to admire someone in traditional Japanese dress making tea in a corner of this room.

Zen’s Studio not only builds a complete room, but interior objects based on real Japanese design, upon request from their clients. The screen window corner feature, together with the flowers in the frame on the wall, add a touch of exotic mood to this Aussie home.

Back in the tea room, when the screen sliding doors were closed behind me, I was wrapped in the smell of tatami and felt like I was in a Japanese temple. And you could have it built inside without modifying the structure of your existing home! Seen below is another one that is temporarily set up in Hisao’s own home. As you can see, it is self-standing and not damaging the house itself. But once the ceiling and the sliding doors/windows are added, this is a proper Japanese room in your home.

This room was used at a Japan Festival that was held in Box Hill. Maybe you have seen it already and know how real this is. Zen’s Studio can custom-build a room or part-room for events and exhibitions that require the set up that is of real Japan. It can be built to any size or design, or even just a screen door, if that is all you need.

If you are interested, give Hisao a call, and let him know you read about his works here on my blog.

zen’s studio

hisazen@zensstudio.com.au

0434-067990

 

Oh, of course, please remember to drop me a line for the photography coverage of your event, too!