Zanshin

As part of the recent kendo grading, I had to write a short essay about various concepts related to the Way of the sword. I am constantly amazed at how many parallels there are between kendo and photography. Actually, there are parallels between kendo and everything else in life. This should not be surprising. After all, Miyamoto Musahsi wrote about it in “The Book of Five Rings” in the middle of 17th century, and he was far from being the first person to do it.

Particularly relevant to professional photography is the concept of zanshin. Literally translated as “remaining spirit,” it is a state of readiness for the next action, immediately after the previous action has been completed. In kendo, zanshin is demonstrated, when a kendoka’s posture and mental state after completing the strike enables him (or indeed, her) to execute another technique (waza) without a pause. In Japanese culture, there are many manifestations of zanshin in everyday life, from leaving one’s shoes pointed towards the exit upon entering a house to parking a car facing the exit of the parking stall – ready to leave without delay.

For a professional photographer, zanshin is important on various levels. On the level of actual shooting, I know that must remain alert of the next opportunity to capture the evolving scene immediately after taking a shot. This approach is particularly important in sports and action photography, but it is also relevant for portraits and other genres.

On the level of of photo shoot production, it is crucial to keep all gear (cameras, lenses, lights, tripods and light stands, etc.) packed at the end of each shoot, so that it is accounted for, organized and ready to go for the next shoot with our the need to re-pack anything. There are many specialized packing solutions, Pelican cases being particularly popular among many pros. Personally, I find that a regular luggage suitecase works well for my lighting gear, while the cameras and lenses go in a Lowepro backpack.

On a grander scale of my overall approach to photography, I think of zanshin as a mental state of starting to work out the ideas and certain details of the next photo project before the current one has been completed. This approach ensures continuity of engagement in photography, which, in turn, enables continuous improvement, kaizen, – another deep concept of Japanese origin, which is a subject for another post.