Haiga Showcase: Luminita Suse

Commentary by Ron C. Moss, Haiga Editor

Luminita’s beautiful photographs convey her love of nature. As we see in these four images, she also uses different digital techniques to heighten the imagery and diversify her presentations. When the images are combined with her haiku and senryu, the effect is both intriguing and evocative.

In looking we are immediately captivated by the sharp focus and full-screen presentation of the rabbit. The senryu adds a fun perspective; we can’t help but smile. All the elements balance nicely, with the text well positioned for maximum impact.

In imagine Earth, the senryu poses an interesting question that’s enhanced by the art’s unusual presentation. The surreal image of the stone formation circling the moon in the sky captures the wonder inherent in the question, and the varying textures in the image give the haiga an almost 3D effect. A timeless landscape with great historical significance, presented with a touch of mystery.

dense fog offers a lovely tonal image that connects well with the haiku. Dense fog can often feel like confusion, but here the muted forest colors also bring a sense of meditation and calmness, adding another layer of meaning.

In the twisty tangle of her reaction we have a story waiting to be discovered. The haiku presents a man and woman perhaps at the cusp of a romantic relationship. Or they could be longtime lovers still in thrall to their emotions. Here again, the mixture of soft and sharp focus in the vines adds new layers of meaning to the words.

Luminita Explains in Her Own Words…

Although I am a computer scientist, the love for nature and beauty led me to poetry and outdoor photography. I got my first digital camera thinking of haiga. Little did I know then that I ‘d become a passionate birdwatcher, and that I’d try various photographic techniques and use post-processing tools to transform my photographic images into artworks. Sometimes the image sparks a haiku, other times my haiku presents a pairing image. Recording the amazing moments and places of my life in a creative way makes me happy.

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About the Artist

Luminita Suse is a computer scientist living in Ottawa, Canada. Her haiku, haiga, and tankad have appeared in many publications around the world. She is the author of two tanka collections: A Thousand Fireflies / Mille Lucioles (2011) and Winter Fire (2016), both published in Canada by Éditions des petits nuages. She has also won several awards, most recently a Sakura Award in the 2021 Vancouver Cherry Blossom Haiku Contest.