Funeral/ Wedding Photo

Photographer’s Note

Japan is a very serious country. No more so when it comes to weddings. I was fortunate to see a large wedding at the controversial Yakusukuni shrine.It was a strange atmosphere with the men all dressed in black and everyone looking stern. Even the bride didn't smile. I kept thinking to myself is this a wedding or a funeral?

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Critiques | Translate

Furachan (0) 2007-05-23 3:28

Spot on observation Peter (as I told you), Japanese weddings are closer to ourt idea of a funeral than anything one could imagine... Ironically the funerals (similarly black suited affairs) are enromously moving and dignified and human and there's a lot more laughter sometimes too... Go figure.
Wonderful POV here to suggest the stuck-upedness of the occasion and the imprisonment of black...

vagabondtravels (6115) 2007-05-23 5:42

Hi Peter

Great pov, over the shoulder observing with only the bride in white. I like the way you framed the wedding party with the people. Although I must say it seems there are as many photographers as a wedding in the west. Anyhow well done.
Ben

vapours (7913) 2007-05-23 7:39

Certainly an image that documents what you experienced quite well, I particularly enjoy the amount of black in the foreground, which gives the impression that its all serious and no play to me.

zig (2450) 2007-05-23 9:47

Even the bride didn't smile...no, people shouldn't laugh or smile on such a big ceremony in Japan, I was told, and it shows how modest you are in the pubric. (I don't know if I am right about the idea, that's an interpretation of mine) Yea, funeral wedding, it is shown in all that black colour ocuppied in the frames, unique POV.

kajspice (4534) 2007-05-24 3:20

Hi Peter,

You're right...it does look like a funeral. Also interesting how colours symbolise different things in different cultures. Black for death in the west, as well as the east - well in India anyway. White symbolising heaven perhaps. I have been reading quite a lot about the relevance of light - which I guess you could associate with the colour white and darkness with the colour black. Light symbolises knowledge and darkness - ignorance.

Interesting what Lauren says...its the same in Indian culture. Traditionally, brides are not supposed to smile or even show their faces - however, I don't know when those rules came into play...probably pre the birth of hunduism; I'm not sure. Interesting how she is also looking downwards - not unlike my ideas of how the traditional Indian bride should be on her wedding day. Pure, subservient and in a way...humbled. Hmmmm...lots to think about.

To the picture, I do kind of like it...I like the intervention of all of those cameras and technology and that her body language is very much "as it should be"...I wonder what she does for a living. Also nice to see a female photographer in there.

I like the observations you brought forward, but I also feel that you could dig a little deeper and find out the relevance of certain things - i.e. why do they wear black? what does this colour mean to them - why are they all standing there like that. I think these questions might help you to see things differently when you are out taking photographs...