The problem with bonsai videos
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- I do some work on a persimmon tree and think about the nature of bonsai videos - how they depend on the satisfaction of transformation, creating a false sense of what bonsai is really about - and think about how to address this problem. Also some cool time-lapses of some of the recent rainy weather here in Korea.
Music:
Sergey Cheremisinov - The promises, Grey drops
I love the sentiment expressed in this video. It has taken me many years of lusting after astonishing trees that I will probably never own to finally discover that the real joy comes from the dedication to and attention to detail on the trees I already own. Bonsai is a process, not an object.
I beg to differ, am glad that people are willing to share their success and failures with bonsai, it has certainly inspired me to start bonsai and to keep working on those trees that I may never see finished. But maybe my kids will get to enjoy them, as they also become passionate about bonsai by seeing other people's trees change over time. Then working on their own, watering, weeding, cleaning, picking mushrooms, but also wiring pruning, and most importantly learning to wait! All in context, all in time.
...you didn't differ
Great video! The patience and years of the bonsai journey don't easily translate into our society's 30-second attention span. Thanks for sharing.
This problem is, I think, partly to blame for the fact that many beginners struggle to keep their trees alive or to move them past the "stick in a pot" phase. I've seen plenty of videos on CZcams where somebody obviously kills their tree by overworking it to produce that Instagrammable photo, and the comments are filled with "bonsai master 🌲❤️". And the shocking thing is that I've seen even artists I would consider world-class and have a lot of respect for do it too. Somebody needs to find a way to make the normal everday work, that's essential to bonsai, more appealing than this harmful transformation-type video, or bonsai will never become the serious art that I think we all want it to be.
I agree with you. I've been guilty of it, too. I hope to find a better way, or at least find a way to emphasize different things.
@@growingwithbonsai Big changes start with small decisions. From watching this video I'm pretty confident to say you've got the video skills to make less enticing work be more enjoyable to watch. Keep growing!
Quite a project ahead!!!
Hi, Nigel! In this context, your collection of playlists of your trees through time is definitely notable and an amazing achievement. Hope to have something similar one day. Thanks for the comment!
Why not plant the young trees in big pots to grow and develop them faster?
I really like your approach and I think most of bonsai creators would agree with you. I think the biggest shame is that in our desire to share our love of the hobby we can get caught out by the reality of google and finding ways to get our video put in front of more people. The algorithm tends 'not to care' how true or real the content is until you already have a good viewer base. This leads generally to the more sensational tag lines and thumbprints - at least to get your foot in the door. I have been working at bonsai for over 20 years and only recently started YouTubing and I found this 'algorithm moster' the most frustrating aspect.
I have given up counting the number of bonsai videos watched where the title fails to live up to the content. I create the content because I enjoy being part of a wonderful community - which includes subscribers and enthusists alike - it has got me thorugh very tough emotional times. I have learnt so much from other people and their comments and photographs. However, no matter how much I love the joy of sharing, the time involved can quickly get in the way of the bonsai itself.
I look forward to seeing the direction you take. Cheers
Thanks, this is exactly the thinking process that led to me making this video. Wanting to be real, but also wanting to be seen. The issue of clickbait titles and thumbnails is an interesting one, and I'm guilty of it too. I could have called this video "transformation is a slow process in bonsai" or something like that, and nobody would watch it. I once saw Tom Scott talk about "the right level of clickbaity-ness" - where you hopefully deliver on the promise of the title, if perhaps not quite in the way implied, and I'm reconciled to that as somewhat necessary. The good thing is that it turned out to be great clickbait for bonsai video creators, so I'm discovering a lot of interesting new bonsai channels, including yours!. Cheers~~
Great video, this is also what I try to illustrate on my channel. The years of dedication that it takes to make a nice bonsai
Beautiful video! I love this lengthy approach to documenting your trees over years!
Just came across your channel my friend.
Like the video.
Creating bonsai is like nurturing your soul we care for it every day we watch it grow to achieve its maximum potential. Like an empty boat on a river flowing with the ebs and tides of life.
Like practicing meditation you slowly begin to realise the effects it has, you slowly realise the time and dedication of the art.
I’ve subscribed and I will definitely follow.
I’m Andy pleased to meat you 👍
So nice of you. Welcome!
Thank you for this. I'm working on my first tree and was imagining that I had to "finish" it in the six weeks between my first class and second one. I finally figured out that for what I envision, my tree needs to grow in places and that I will never be "done."
Well said. Thanks, keep growing
I agree with your sentiment. The most important element of bonsai is not the end product (most of us will never experience creating a "finished" bonsai, if that concept even exists); it is the journey. It's kind of like a mother who feeds and cares for her children over many years and wonders what her great-great grandchildren will be doing 100 years from now. She finds joy in caring for her young ones, but she is hopeful that she will have played a critical role in the development of those future, fruitful generations.
Not sure exactly why, but one of the best videos I've ever watched. Subbed and liked sir.
Thank you so much. It means a lot when people understand where I'm coming from. Thanks for commenting.
Ur right about little changes happen and it's all about care ,it's wierd now I'm thinking what my trees could look like if I lived for 160 yrs ,it's chasing a goal n hoping after my time someone else enjoys my work n makes it there own,great vid
Very interesting and thought provoking video and i have to say that i completely agree. Bonsai takes time and that's a fact! There are many videos online that show 'How I made a Bonsai in under 5 mins'. Although the look of a plant can be changed in this time, as you say this is only part of the journey of this little plant becoming a bonsai. Bonsai is a journey after all, where the enjoyment comes from styling and shaping trees. This opens up the debate as to if wire needs to be used. If your aim is to quickly transform the look of a young tree, then wire will do that for you. But is this a bonsai.
Often the question comes up, what is a bonsai? This can become an interesting question to answer as a stick in a pot is a bonsai in development. So is it a bonsai yet?
I often think about Buddhism. Most of those who follow Buddhism will call themselves practicing Buddhists as they have not achieved nor are arrogant enough to call themselves a Buddhist, when Buddhism is a set of life choices, rather than something than can be achieved.
Maybe then we shouldn't call ourselves Bonsai artists, but actually practicing Bonsai enthusiasts. After all Bonsais are never finished and keep growing and changing shape, therefore a final result can never be achieved.
Quite deep I know, but your video has got me thinking.
All the best
Gav
I feel really grateful that Algo decided (perhaps understandably) to show this to everyone who makes bonsai videos, and that so many have responded to it in some way.
I often think about bonsai in terms of buddhism, too (though I'm definitely not a buddhist - just a curious amateur who likes a lot of the ideas). Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Great story telling 🙏
Jason this is very relevant to our recent conversation.
Thank you!
Im excited to see your growth in coming years, i feel this truly is the way it should be, even if its not as satisfying. Unlike big nurseries most CZcamsrs cant release video after video of these practices, herons bonsai is one of the best ive seen but it would be amazing to see a tree grow and change in a semi-timelapse format... And i think would help many Beginers learn the true commitments required in bonsai
Great video
Loved this. Really good.
This definitely inspires me to reflect on Bonsai videos, even if I don’t necessarily agree with everything said
Thank you
“Watching paint dry is an action movie by comparison…” 😂😂🙏
Thank you for sharing this wonderful video.
Another great video my friend. I think just the same. I do a lot of different things on my channel. But big bonsai transformations just attract most views. Somtimes I wonder if I really share what I like with bonsai or just what people would like to see. But you are true about it and I really enjoy that. Love the idea about videoing over time and show the reality of bonsai. I have been doing it as well for a while. First video out sometime before 2050.🙂👍
I'm guilty of it, too. The "turn this into THIS!" thing. I was just thinking about it and how it doesn't really reflect bonsai. Sometimes it's just one cut, like the tree in this video. It might take a long time but your 2050 video will be so good, haha
Hello good afternoon. I'm Gustavo, from Portugal. I really enjoy watching your CZcams channel. The reflections you make about bonsai help me in my reflections on what bonsai are and the relationship I have with plants. I have some questions for you. What is bonsai for you? Besides a hobby, techniques, beauty, what is bonsai for you? A path, a relationship, learning, connection with yourself? hug and good work.
I made a video about that! czcams.com/video/C2d05bd1aH8/video.html
this video, its the most bonsai video that i was seen ever.
I like what you are saying. I also appreciate you pronouncing the word bonsai correctly!! Thank you!
Both are anglicised. Don't be that guy
When people believe a twig in a bonsai pot is a true bonsai, it cheapens the art
Technically a tree in a pot is a bonsai, but a true bonsai needs character
Dropping the bonsai real talk. Love it! What is your favorite species for bonsai?
The same as yours :)
@@growingwithbonsai 🍁
Good insight and perspective!
What an incredible cinematic video! Great message :)
Beautiful
big facts here, doing it right though by taking multiple years worth of progression then putting that into one vid, most people don't have the foresight or patience for that. Bury that persimmon still in it's pot in some large grit scoria and it'll easily 2x it's girth in a year. Good luck.
Great video! I really take a quirky approach to my bonsai video's as every one kinda films the same way - I want to make it something that brings a smile to peoples faces.
That's quite interesting task you set for yourself. But it is doable and could bring interesting result. I started to take pictures of my trees from the start and ended up with tens of thousands photographs of trees over the last decade. It is interesting to come back and look at some trees starting points.
Noice, bravo, truly
Good idea. Fits my approach to many of my videos. Take more time, to see cause and effect over time.
Brother, I feel you. I want to share my hobby and learn from others, but my ego knows no one wants to see me root prune, branch select, or wire. There are better teachers for that.
I went with yearly videos, or at least I’m trying too. I’m really diggin your plan of several years in one video. And it looks like your editing skills will put the videos off the charts! I’m lookin forward to it. And I’m a new sub, brother.
Love them yearly vids mate.
such incredible video, i will subscribe now :)
Watching paint dry is an action movie compared to this. Love that quote 😂
This is such a gorgeous video. Can I ask w hat you are doing in Korea?
It takes a long time to do anything in bonsai. And we don't do anything in bonsai unless it is worth taking a long time to do.
I'm looking for bonsai, and I'm glad you're in Korea.
I'm a video producer. It would be fun to work together later.
I subscribed!
반가워요. My email address is on the about page :)
Very nice bonsai collection❤
+1 from here😊
Bravo 👏👏👏
Great video...subscribed.
Grts
Kennet
i always pick arts that are like watching paint dry lol. look forward to seeing those progression video about your trees
There's a lot to be said for meditative hobbies. Maybe I'll say it one day. My progression videos are mostly aspirational at this point but I'll do my best.
I think the only way to make good bonsai youtube videos will be to have an insane amount of trees: old ones, young ones, different species, different styles, different growing and propagation types (ground, pot, clip and grow, grafting, wiring, etc). That way you will always have something to show and that will make the algorithm happy due to posting frequency. However, if what you want is just enjoy bonsai and you don't care about views, monetization, target audience and all of that, just post a video whenever you decide it will make sense and show something meaningful for someone.
Bonsai is a living, changing art, hence such thing as a properly finished tree does not exist. There is no sense to rush or even torture a tree just to have something to show. Keep things simple and enjoy your trees.
It's more a journey for you than it is for that persimmon. That will always be a tiny thin plant unless you grow it out. eventually you'll need larger, more developed material.
Well said
The cigarette burns in your edit are a very nice touch. Nice vid.
Haha, somebody noticed :) It's a little subconscious hint that something is about to change - I sometimes use it to mark out the structure.
“The secret chord that David played” 😂
Anything worth having take’s time. There is another bonsai CZcamsr I believe little jade bonsai perhaps that would put out videos showing the development of the tree over several years.
The only comment I will make, why did you buy
the tree with all the problems you mentioned ?
I`m onboard 😀
Absolutly fantastic video!!!! Subscribed!
The only thing I see wrong with bonsai.. is if you don't do it the way others think it should be done than it's not a bonsai... even as simple as if it's not in a bonsai pot it's not a bonsai.. so do it my way or it's not right..
New bonsai artists need to help explain their artwork so to not confuse their viewers. Just because you put a stick in a pot doesn't make it a bonsai. Understanding the decades of laboring must be understood and properly explained to the viewers. I feel we diminish the art by quickly calling it bonsai. I try to explain these trees you see now are the very early stages of a painting that is waiting to get filled in and completed.
Er, No! Bonsai literally means a “tree or plant in a pot or tray!l It’s only that we have socially constructed the meaning to have some artistic development! I have visited hundreds of “Bonsai Studios” and there are often more “sticks in pots “than classical styles trees! I agree it is more accurate to use terms such as pre-Bonsai for trees in development!
Bonsai 2b lol
石の上にも三年