Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Amazing Before and Current Photographs of Glaciers Melting!

Melting Ice: Glaciers and Ice Shelves
I have seen these changes in Alaska. I remember in the early seventies walking across the lake to the face of Portage Glacier, a really dumb, but amazing experience. Now the Glacier is not even in the lake anymore.

Monday, April 27, 2009

An End to Suffering: The Buddha In The World and Bihar.

I am reading this book for the second time, I read it years ago and remembered it on our India trip. Part of the book covers the same area that we experienced. It is much different reading a book when you have experiences in the same area. If you have any serious interest in Buddha I can recommend the book. The Amazon Link is here.

In describing Bihar Pankaj Mishra states: "One of the most volatile places was Bihar, once part of the kingdom of Magadha, the first great Indian empire. In this poor and densely poplulated Indian state, where rich landowners travelled in private planes while a caste of rat eaters starved to death due to a shortage of field mice, brutality seemed a casual everyday affair. The stories came in from every direction. Private armies of upper-caste landowners massacred low-caste landless peasants. Communist activists retaliated with massacres of upper-caste families. Doctors going on strike pulled out transfusion tubes from the veins of their patients."

Set a Google alert for Bihar and look at the accumulated results!

The Best Photographers Are Troublemakers | Black Star Rising

The Best Photographers Are Troublemakers | Black Star Rising

I know this is not true! I am a nice, easy to get along with and flexible person!:) Sigh. I must not be a good photographer:(

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Today Really Is Spring!

I raked the lawn, discovered many remnants of winter, put up the picnic table in the side yard, opened the windows and doors, and did not wear a coat in the afternoon.

I still can not open the shed to get the summer tires, there is ice around the door, but I removed the snow so it would melt faster.

This morning I walked through an old part of town, Samson Hardware area, that will be destroyed this summer for a new road. I did some photography. In the afternoon I walked around our neighborhood taking photographs.

I have had a tooth ache for the last four days and will try to get a dentist appointment tomorrow. I woke up at 3:00 to watch the Bahrain GP. A good normal early spring day. It feels good to feel the warmth.

Yesterday was the last day that I teach for my class this semester. Next Saturday the students will present their portfolios. Here is the link to the class content. I will revise it this week so it will be ready for the class next fall. There are many excellent links that will be interesting for anybody who wants to explore photography.

http://www.cysewski.com/digitalphotography/c258091/091CIOS258LessonHandouts.htm

Friday, April 24, 2009

Thousands of People Take Photos Every Day. What If One of Them Seems Odd?


London Metropolitan Police Anti-Photography Propaganda Campaign Poster

It is important to protect our right to take photographs in public places, to know the rights and limitations of public photography, and to protect those rights by using them!

See the following article for a clear discussion of the right to photograph in the United States. Other countries have different rules and different cultural tolerance for photography.

http://photocritic.org/photography-rights-vs-respect/


http://photocritic.org/street-photography-and-the-law/

Thursday, April 23, 2009

First Rain Since October!

We are having the first rain that I have experienced since last October. Once snow starts we rarely ever go back to rain and while we were in India and Thailand there was not rain. Today we have light rain.

AKZ222-240345-
MIDDLE TANANA VALLEY-

INCLUDING...FAIRBANKS...FORT WAINWRIGHT...EIELSON AFB...ESTER...
NORTH POLE...MOOSE CREEK...TWO RIVERS...FOX...CHATANIKA...
CHENA HOT SPRINGS...SOURDOUGH CAMP
336 PM AKDT THU APR 23 2009
.NOW...

LIGHT RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS THE MIDDLE TANANA VALLEY
THIS AFTERNOON. RAIN IS CHANGING TO SNOW AROUND 1200 FEET. SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO A HALF INCH ARE POSSIBLE AT ELEVATIONS
ABOVE 1200 FEET THROUGH 6PM.

Organizing Mania

I have two large easel pads on my couch, on one I am organizing my photo tasks for this summer, I did the same thing last year. My categories are Fairbanks Photography, Alaska Photography, Anchorage Photography, Web Sites, Alaska Trips, Flickr/Picasa Groups, Publishing and Printing, Scanning, Dark Room work, Studying, and Other Stuff. On my other easel pad I have household and home tasks. My categories are: Home Tasks, Car Tasks, Yard Tasks, Long-Term Tasks, Purchases, and Health.

Over time I add new things to my task pads. Eventually, when it is written down it gets done. I find using large easel pads makes it easier for me to think! I did the same thing at work. Putting on the computer somehow does not work as well for me, I must be old!

Dennis Dunleavy: The intended and unintended consequences of photography

Dennis Dunleavy: The intended and unintended consequences of photography

I just ordered the reference book: "One of the most influential books on photography and society has to be Halla Beloff's "Camera Culture." Written in 1985, Beloff takes a sociological perspective on the use of the camera as well as its intentions and influence on society. "

m97 Gallery - SUN Ji | 孙骥

m97 Gallery - SUN Ji | 孙骥

"All these photos are about the familiar Shanghai in my memory. When I was still a child, these types of old factories and buildings were everywhere, alive and full of vigor. However, what I used to be so familiar with has literally disappeared in front of my eyes."

Just a few photographs, but I could look at them for hours.

newsminer.com • Dead dogs

newsminer.com • Dead dogs
The letter to the editor, and the comments, express the Fairbanks community.

newsminer.com • Blondie’s lost

newsminer.com • Blondie’s lost

Last winter Dan, the creator of Blondie's, was murdered. I have many photographs of his "store" in my Wandering In Fairbanks web site. He characterized Fairbanks to me. This letter expresses the loss that we all feel.

From Gaffney PhotoWalk


From Gaffney PhotoWalk

Submit Your Images to Online Photography Magazines - Professional Photography

Submit Your Images to Online Photography Magazines - Professional Photography

Check out these online photography magazines (web sites). There are some excellent photographs on these web sites and you can subscribe to them using RSS feeds. Some of the most interesting photographs on the web!

B: Snippet

B: Snippet

Cool photograph and cool conversation, it reminded me of the kind of conversations that I inflicted on Elizabeth and Margaret. It made me smile.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Creamers Field April 2009



Saturday I took my photography class for a photo walk to Creamers Field. My photographs from that walk are on Picasa Web Albums. You can see clusters of photographs where I found something that was interesting. I especially liked the patterns of shadows on the snow and also the patterns of melting snow. The sets of similar photographs are to show the students how I "work" a scene. For the web site I will create for Wandering in Fairbanks 2009 I might choice 5 or 10 of these photographs.
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I got this email just now, it is amazing that we did not run into each other when we were photographing. The serendipity of sharing on the Internet is a constant source of amazement.

"I’ve just been enjoying the photos you posted on Downtown Seattle, Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square. Awesome photos!! I posted some I took in 1978 that I just thought I’d share:

http://picasaweb.google.com/treeclimber4/DowntownSeattle1978# "

Jana

To see my original photographs look here. www.wanderinginseattle.com


Friday, April 17, 2009

Kids Playing in Puddles and America's Cultures Week Potluck

Last night we went to the 28th Annual America's Cultures Week Potluck Celebration. The food was excellent, I ate Jamaican, Mexican, Fruit Salad, and Ice Cream. When I worked for Indian Education, many years ago, I would bring Twinkies and Wonder bread, sort of American cultural food!

One of Jit's students did a Thai dance. It was excellent. I think, in Thailand, that the girls all must spend a long time learning Thai dance. This Sunday there will be a Songkran celebration and some Monks for Anchorage will also be coming. It should be fun. I know there will be meditation, Thai dancing, Thai food, and chanting. I must be psychic!

As I looked out the window I saw three kids playing in the large melt water puddle, spring really is here!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

George Georgiou

George Georgiou: Happy is he who calls himself a Turk
An excellent series of photographs.

"Turkey is a strategically important nation, poised geographically and symbolically between Europe and Asia. But the tensions at the heart of Turkey are becoming increasingly severe. A fierce struggle is taking place between modernity and tradition, secularism and Islamism, democracy and repression—often in unlikely and contradictory combinations. Usually these tensions focus almost exclusively on Istanbul, the Kurdish issue, or religion, ignoring the far deeper complexities of a large country searching for a modern identity."

From the introduction to the series. George Georgio

newsminer.com • Birding Report — Geese, raptors trickle in as spring migration begins

newsminer.com • Birding Report — Geese, raptors trickle in as spring migration begins

One of the joys of spring is watching the birds return. The News Miner a good description of the birds arrival. Spring really is a miracle up here. During the day the clouds are starting to build, soon we will have afternoon rain storms over the hills.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

'The Singularity' (Conscientious)

'The Singularity' (Conscientious)
The photograph is amazing, one of the most depressing series of photographs that I have seen. The random destruction and the hope destroyed from our economic collapse is real. Think of a family in each of these homes, the hope and care that went into these homes, and now the random destruction and abandonment.

Azerbaijan, Assam, Bodhagaya, Poland, and Chiang Mai!

In the last week I have sold a lens through eBay to a person in the Azerbaijan Republic; I had an email conversation with a young monk from Assam that is staying in Bodhagaya; had a person from Poland with the name Cysewski join my Facebook community; and chatted with a Thai women in Chiang Mai about curiosity and the Thailand political crisis. What is amazing is that I took this all for granted! I started thinking about Compuserve, Bitnet, Gopher, and Lynx. The last twenty years has really been a revolution.

Oh yeah, I woke up this morning and it was snowing!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Thailand Jumped the Shark: Wall Street Journal: Managed Democracy Doesn't Work

Thailand Jumped the Shark: Wall Street Journal: Managed Democracy Doesn't Work
This seems true. When I listen to CNN International they seem to miss the real history of the actions that we are experiencing.

Stephen Cysewski's Index of Web Logs

Stephen Cysewski's Index of Web Logs
I just spent the day adding new photographs to my web logs. There is a directory of the web logs provided link. Also you can go to Wandering Photography to see a comprehensive list of all my photo web sites and web logs.

New: Commentary on Thailand’s Songkran crisis « Political Prisoners in Thailand

New: Commentary on Thailand’s Songkran crisis « Political Prisoners in Thailand
An excellent compilation of news on Bangkok and Thailand. It is a sad and dangerous situation.

bangkok red shirt - Twitter Search

bangkok red shirt - Twitter Search
Follow what is happening in Thailand on Twitter. Use twitter search using Bangkok or Bangkok shirt or Bangkok Red. I am afraid that the beliefs that held Thailand together have been broken. I have no idea how this will end!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Spring really came today!

I took the plastic off the windows, opened the windows and doors, turned off the furnace, and sat outside reading. I guess there is some kind of resurrection today :)

Thon Died Last Week



Our nephew, Tone, died last week. It was expected, but sad. I can hear him say, many times, "Uncle do you want some Tea?" Tone helped take care of Jit's mother before she died. I will miss Tone.

Bangkok Pundit

Bangkok Pundit

If you want to keep up with the situation in Thailand Bangkok Pundit is an excellent source.

Also check out 2Bangkok.com

What is happening in Thailand is serious, it is hard to imagine a positive outcome. The split in Thai society is serious, real, and complex.

WNYC - WNYC Street Photography Project

WNYC - WNYC Street Photography Project

I first discovered some of these videos when I was looking for material for my Exploring Digital Photography class. These is a really excellent series about photography and street photography.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Buddha and Photography

In the book "An End to Suffering" by Pankaj Mishra I found this quote

"In dependence upon the eye and upon visible objects visual consciousness arises. The union of these three (the eye, objects, and visual consciousness) constitutes contact. Dependent upon this contact feeling is constituted. One perceives what is thus felt; what one perceives one considers; and what one considers one develops all sorts of notions about." from the Middle Way Discourses on the Buddha.

To me photography that has power expresses this contact, the interaction between "the eye, objects, and visual consciousness". The miracle is that this process also exists with the person observing the photograph. A photograph captures that shimmering interaction between the perceiver and the perceived. By sharing my photographs I am sharing how I percieve.

Fish Trap

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UAF Museum of the North


I took my class to the Museum of the North today for a Photo Walk.
Posted by Picasa

Good Friday and Melting all Night!

After living in Fairbanks for many years I begin to have expectations. One expectation is that by Good Friday the serious melting will start. Last night it did not freeze, it was cloudy out, and I heard water dripping from the roof all night. Soon we will have cumulus clouds forming. In the winter there is not enough heat to form clouds. I love to watch the clouds form during the day. The season has changed!

Friday, April 10, 2009

Diffraction Limited Photography: Pixel Size, Aperture and Airy Disks

Diffraction Limited Photography: Pixel Size, Aperture and Airy Disks

I wanted to create a random web log about my life, not dedicated to a specific area or theme, and that was more then photography. I was looking for a title. I naturally wanted circle of confusion, but it was taken. I tried depth of field and it was gone to, but Diffraction Limited was available and on reflection seems very appropriate:)

Geese This Morning

This morning, as I was looking at the sun shining through the clouds, I saw the first geese of the year. They were far away, flying towards Creamers Field, in a V formation. When I went out on the porch to get the newpapers the headline of the Fairbanks New Miner said "The Geese Have Landed". Soon the Sea Gulls will be arriving. Serious melting started yesterday, the kind that makes large puddles. It is always a miracle when the season starts to change.