photo technicals- some basic geekery

wrote something for Work. it might be helpful for anyone who's asked me anything about photography (like you, uncle!)
this is not edited, and is part of a larger course-planning document for a photo workshop. if you're interested, read. if you're not, go admire some jiling poetry or photography, instead. by all means, do enjoy yourself. :)
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Draw a diagram. Explain that the camera works just like the human eye… basically, you press the shutter release (camera button). Before you press the shutter release, the shutter (the camera "eye") is closed. When you press the shutter release, the camera eye opens, then closes again. During the opening and closing process, light is allowed into the lens (camera eye). Behind the camera eye, there is a detection mechanism. On film cameras, it's the film, which is sensitive to light. On digital cameras, it's a technical mechanism which is also sensitive to light, and translates into pixels. The more sensitive the detection mechanism, the greater the "ISO" of the film, or the higher the number of the ISO. (this number ranges usually from 80 to 1600). How quickly the camera eye opens and closes is called the "shutter speed." This ranges from holding the shutter down for as long as you want on some cameras (infinite time), to as quick as 1/6000 of a second. The shutter speed varies according to your camera and what lens you are using. The kids most likely won't need to know about shutter speed/ aperture/ ISO/ WB, but this is for your own info, and in case they ask you questions. The aperture the size of the camera eye's opening. The smaller the number of the aperture, the more light is allowed in (the bigger the opening). Aperture numbers typically range from f/2.5 to f/11. The larger the number of the aperture, the sharper the entire image, the greater the "depth of field." With a small-numbered aperture, on the other hand, one part of the image may be in great focus, whereas the rest of the image may be out of focus. Playing with shutter speed and aperture gives you great power over the image on the whole. A photograph is not just a "copy" of real life. The photographer is an artist, and every photograph carries an imprint from whoever made the photo. A good photographer has a solid technical knowledge of the camera and just how to use it for each situation, is flexible to changing circumstances, understands weather and lighting (mornings and evenings make the best photos), and has an "eye" for catching moments and framing them in just the right way. Basically, a good photographer is a light-moment-and-camera ninja.

rise

sprouts
r i s e
from humble
seeds
to
g r o w
into
beautiful
ancient
trees

love

how do we acknowledge all the people, plants, places, and animals that touch our lives... no matter how briefly?

kendal is my best friend here. we support each other through all the beauties and challenges of being here in shenzhen, china. and we travel together. and we live together. and more! an amazing woman with so many inspiring gifts.

richard was my bus guru who can help me find my way home from any random small anywhere in shenzhen, and also has a great sense of humor and insatiable curiousity about the world and her people.

we hiked with these people for a day who, once they got over kendal's sandals and my skirt, were actually fun hiking partners (okay but they never got over the skirt and sandals). but i told ridiculous jokes, they told ridiculous jokes, and we all laughed a lot, and i feel like mountain people anywhere are among the best people ever, always.

how about all the people who came before us that we don't usually see anymore but certainly carry a presence? oh yeaaaahhhh :)

frederik entered my life for a whirlwind three days of excellent english, the best introduction to shenzhen that anyone has given me since i've been here, and comprehensive questions and insights covering everything from life and love to computers and digits.

and there's so many more people not pictured!!!!!! :)

感恩. infinite gratitude.

happy mama's day

everyday mama's day, everyday papa's day
everyday a day to celebrate earth,
everday a day to celebrate sky,
everyday to celebrate LIFE!
happy birthday EVERYDAY!
love like dandelions everywhere shyed into corners, exploding onto pavement,
and motherwort flowers surprise surprise everywhere underfeet (feet themselves, acts of love)
LOVE unnoticed but always apparent, and ALWAYS PRESENT

感恩. infinite gratitude.

rainy days

thanks dave for the facepaint/ pastels
thanks trees for the paper
thanks sky for the inspiration you (always how i love you) bring
and heart... well, we've still got some talking to do

sprouts

this photo is especially for my mama... who taught me most of what i know about food, sprouting, and other important things in life. :)
here, in china, this batch, was my first time successfully sprouting any yummy things... small mung beans, green beans. utterly delicious. two handfuls of beans, in water soaking (changes of water) for 4 days, and then sprouting for another week... lasted for about 1.5 weeks of continuous delicious utterly ALIVE sprouts. pictured here are the final two handfuls of yummy sprouts that me and frederik feasted on, in a traditional gazebo atop a small hill above shenzhen, china

在上海跟三阿姨和uncle

shanghai with the aunt and uncle that i haven't seen since before i became vegetarian, so many many years ago! when i was half my current size and less than half my current age!!!
spring sakura blossoms are so beautiful and smell so good... i think i still like the taiwan sakuras in the mountains the best though :)

incoming storm

thick air wet heavy
storm soon
storm comes riding on thick clouds heavy with rain
heavy with messages (are you listening?)

small shelter in big forest with even smaller girl
(little girl old woman)
sleeping under it
big boom bam wake up wake up to
i am sorry
(never endingly so)
to this raped earth and desecrated skies waters fishes birds
everyone
especially
two legs walking hands crawling
markets and buildings rising as
animals birds falling

clouds heavy with rain
incoming on heavy grey skies
clouds heavy
rain coming
thick with messages from afar
so far that we cannot hear?
so far from deep inside the very
souls of our feet
depths of our hearts
rising
the cries of mamas
desecrated and raped
the cries of

i am here
you too
we are here

what are you DOING?
what HAVE you done?
where do we GO from HERE?