In Fig. 3, I emphasize the critical roles of light and dark, natural elements that change quickly and oftentimes imperceptibly. Only with careful observation and time can one notice such juxtaposition.

While this was my first time visiting Japan, Japanese literature and philosophy are not new to my academic climate. Having read authors like Soseki and Murakami, my picture of the Japanese art and philosophy scene was only augmented by this Venture Grant. I now hold a greater appreciation for Japanese philosophies and how they have informed the intellectual movements of greater East Asia. More specifically, my pre-departure research of reading "Snow Country" by Yasunari Kawabata was especially helpful in identifying the subtle complexities within mono no aware. For example, many of the scenes artfully described by Kawabata depict simple moments, like staring at the face's reflection in a window and watching snowflakes fall upon an endless expanse of white. This encouraged me to look beyond the 'flashy' moments, where change and contrast is most apparent, and towards quieter and more domestic scenes, where one must look closely to appreciate the impermanence that courses beneath the surface.

I hope this Venture Grant project will be only the beginning of my studies in photography, philosophy, and East Asia. Possible next steps in this research might be a deeper analysis of the history and literature that pervaded the Heian era (794 AD–1185 AD), when mono no aware was first coined, as well as an exploration of more complex techniques in film photography and photo editing. Additionally, I would love to investigate further the philosophy 'wabi-sabi,' another Japanese philosophy founded in Shintoism that has similar themes but focuses more on human lifestyle rather than the aesthetics of nature.