noma
Four strategies to infuse your images with intention and space with the Japanese concept MA! With @z.a.o_ / “MA (間) is a Japanese concept often translated as “the space between things.” But it’s more than physical emptiness. It’s the pause that gives rhythm to sound, the stillness that invites presence, the silence that deepens meaning.
In the visual arts, especially photography, MA is more than a concept — it’s a way of seeing, composing, and engaging with the moment. It shapes how you shoot, and invites the viewer in.
Here are four strategies to infuse your images with the essence of MA:
1) Space as subject
What surrounds your subject is just as meaningful as the subject itself. Negative space — open sky, quiet sea, empty room — becomes key in the composition. It’s not emptiness. It’s an invitation. Room for the eye to rest. Room for emotion to rise:
A single palm on an untouched shore.
A figure dissolving into the fog.
A sunlit doorway holding more story than words could tell.
2) The in-between moment
Western photography often chases “the decisive moment.” But MA leans into the moment before — the breath between beats.
The suspension before the jump. The nearness before the kiss. The tension before the wave breaks.
3) Slowness and intention
Photography guided by MA is unhurried. It’s not trying to impress — it’s trying to connect.
Hold the shutter longer.
Wait for the light to shift.
Leave space around your subject.
Compose with care, not clutter.
It’s not silence that is empty — it’s silence that is full.
4) MA is not just a visual technique — it’s a lens through which to see the world.
You’re not capturing. You’re receiving.
You’re not adding. You’re allowing.
You’re not filling space. You’re honoring it.
In this way, photography becomes less about control and more about openness. Less about declaring and more about listening.”
@nomadict: Have you ever tried shooting with this concept in mind? 📸