There is a Zen saying that you chop wood and carry water before as well as after enlightenment. Since my one and only New Year's resolution for 2007 is to stay in the present moment instead of having my mind drift all over everything, I was thrilled we were given a Japanese teapot for Christmas. Sebastian and I immediately had the same thought upon opening the present: "The teapot I've always wanted and now I have it. I rule!" (One of our favorite quotes from the movie "American Beauty", when Kevin Spacey talks about his new 1970 Pontiac Firebird.) Besides removing two bright spots this picture is unprocessed.

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• I like the way you left handle in silhouette. Use it in good times. Cheers
  Emré @ 2007-January-8 05:38
• Lovely heavy shot reflecting the ritual. Avoid the tap and seek out water with an alkaline pH around 7.9 to best cement your friendship!
  AG @ 2007-January-9 11:01
• Very nice gaming with the light. Interesting capture.
  Frank @ 2007-January-9 13:54
• Very interesting and unique
  Thomas Solberg / Project neXus @ 2007-January-10 13:35
• very nice capture, the light is beautiful
  Kris [PiXistenZ] @ 2007-January-11 14:43
• The DOF in this one gives a powerful effect... As with most in your gallery, it's amazing... I'll be sure to revisit often.
  
  A Marques @ 2007-January-21 12:36
• Ahhh what beautiful lighting!
  christine @ 2007-January-28 18:23
• I really like the creative choices made here - light placement, framing, DoF all combine to make a compelling image.
  Turfdigger @ 2007-January-29 17:55
• nice DOF and lighting??? what did you use for the lighting BTW???
  JD @ 2007-February-2 12:14
• Hello,
  it was sunlight coming through a window, reflecting on lacquered parquet. That also explains the 1/4000s exposure @ ISO100 ;)
  sknop @ 2007-February-2 12:32
• I really like your imagery. I've been coming back for quite awhile now.
  cheers
  rb
  Robert @ 2007-February-9 00:32
• Imaginative picture! Great quality. I would be happy if you would like to contribute some photos to even more people on my website, at least check it out and read our philosophy about photo! Keep it up!
  Ralf Stelander @ 2007-February-13 21:54
• great lighting. this blog is pretty nifty!
  Jeff @ 2007-February-14 04:16
• cool b&w! at 1s i thought it was some weird turntable!
  elaine @ 2007-February-14 13:43
• cool pic
  love the detail
  bookmarked you at photoblog.orgs
  gentse koppen @ 2007-February-15 13:15
• very nice bw, i like the kind of pictures u are showing here. i think i'm going to look here once a while for new pics.
  
  drgehirn @ 2007-February-15 21:32
• Excellent photo. Love the lighting.
  Roger @ 2007-February-17 16:34
• For being unprocessed the picture has excellent tonality , and looks sepia. I think most pictures today are way over processed. Its good to see a few true photographs.
  
  - Michael
  http://www.philosophyoflight.com/photoblog/
  
  Michael @ 2007-February-23 00:06
• Interesting shape..superb lighting..
  love it!!
  Paul @ 2007-February-23 00:30
• I love the light to this guys. It rules!
  mooch @ 2007-February-24 02:56
• Tena koe ehoa ma
  Wonderful expose' of light and shadow. The central shadow that is cast adds a sense of volume for my interpretation.
  ndiginiz @ 2007-February-26 23:40
• Neat play with focus and darkness!
  Spring Break @ 2007-February-28 20:23
• excellent lighting and composition
  joshua @ 2007-March-1 22:26
• well today idiscivered you blog and I just want to say to you all, thanks, because your vision of the world is a beauty one
  Omar @ 2007-March-8 04:23
• i just can say i love your photos!
  why did you stop to post?
  i'm waiting for more, i really love it!
  
  isabella @ 2007-March-12 00:15