beyond first impressions · beyond first impressions the purpose of this challenge was to conceive,...

Beyond First ImpressionsVan Landingham Glen

Paul Lester

http://www.paullesterphoto.com

Beyond First Impressions

Beyond First ImpressionsVan Landingham Glen

Paul Lester

This book is dedicated to my dear wife, Vera, who never says no to me when I'm pursuing my hobby, my dream. Although she's not participating in this project directly, I know that she is here with me and will be my most ardent cheerleader.

She's very patient, to say the least. She'd have to be to live with me. As a matter of fact, she's not even seen this book in any form. I've not tried to keep it a secret, but she is just content to wait until I'm finished with it. So dear, here it is! I know that you'll tell me exactly what you think. (smile)

PrefaceOn January 18, 2008, Paul Butzi began a challenge called Solo Photo Book Month, or now better known as SoFoBoMo. You may ask why it's called SoFoBoMo, well, Paul says it best:

"It’s called SoFoBoMo because it’s fun to say, and because it’s easier to type than NaSoPhoBoMo. I dropped the Na part because it’s clear at the outset that it’s involving photographers from around the world, and thus it really ought to be InSoFoBoMo, but again that’s just too much. SoFoBoMo is just right."

If you'd like to read about it in detail, you can go here: http://photomusings.wordpress.com/2008/01/18/solo-photo-book-month/


The purpose of this challenge was to conceive, shoot, assemble, and present a complete photography book in one month, or a flexible 30 day window starting anytime between April 1st and May 1st and finishing within 30 days after commencement.

The journey has been an interesting one filled with learning, a little bit of anxiety, confusion, joy, and just about any emotion that you can think of. It's been a whirlwind journey to say the least.

It is my hope that I have done a decent job in introducing you to a lovely place that, I know, will bring me years of photographing fun.

All photos were taken between April 1, 2008 and April 20, 2008. The following equipment was used:

• Nikon D2x• Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro• Tamron 11-18mm f/2.8• Nikon 50mm f/1.8• Singh-Ray LB Polarizer• Singh-Ray Vari-ND filter• Tripod

The selection of equipment was simplified to make the project simpler. Regarding the post processing. It, too, was kept to a minimum. I used Adobe Lightroom to catalog the pictures and Photoshop to do some rudimentary post processing, mostly sharpening and levels adjustments.

To assemble the book, I used an open source desktop publisher, Scribus 1.3.3.11.

When putting a book together, there are many considerations. Given that we had only 30 days to prepare the entire book, those decisions had to come quickly.

The most difficult part of this book was trying to decide the organization, structure, and number of pictures. I went through many vacillations and finally decided on the format that you see here.

My final decision was to divide the book into sections that struck me as appropriate. While evaluating the pictures, I noticed a number of themes, or patterns. What you see herein are my thoughts.


Overall there were 545 images taken, of which some 41 made it into this book. Also note that this view is my view and only a view covering a scant 20 days of photography. The glen is infinite in its variety and forms. Perhaps I shall continue to photograph it through the various seasons to attempt to capture its personality.

Now that I have completed the book, or perhaps booklet, I understand how someone can work on a project for years and still not complete it. The landscape is constantly changing.

The book that you are now reading is my version of that challenge. During this challenge I've learned a bit about book layout and design, simplifying my approach, as well as the power of a body of work to convey a story rather than just individual pictures. Certainly, this was a worthwhile endeavor.

The Ralph Van Landingham Glen is a small garden located on the campus of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC). It is located on the Southeastern part of the campus near student parking services, just off of Mary Alexander Road.

Herein you will find, what hopefully will be, pictures to enthrall you and to make you want to visit this lovely place should you ever be in Charlotte, NC. Although I have lived near this garden for just over three years, this is my first trip into the garden to photograph it.

As you turn the pages of this book realize that you are taking a journey with me. More than likely, this will be your first trip through the garden as well.

So, let's begin ...

Introduction


Tuesday, April 1. This was the first day of SoFoBoMo. I remember that it was a rainy with the temperature about 50 degrees. I had been waiting for several days to get started on my project. Although I had only visited Van Landingham Glen once in the past, and quite frankly, I didn't find it interesting. This very reason was why I selected it as the topic of my book. I wanted to know if I could get beyond my first impression.

I arrived around 7:15 AM, put on my overshoes, and set out to the glen. As it was rainly slightly, my first stop was a small stream within the glen. I was excited to see that the stream was quite active and flowing with lots of photographic promise.

The facing page shows my first picture in the glen. Not a bad way to start!W

ATE

R

There is nothing softer and weaker than water,And yet there is nothing better for attacking hard and strong things.For this reason there is no substitute for it. -Lao-Tzu (c. B.C. 550)

We're all downstream.

-Ecologist's motto adopted by Margaret & Jim Drescher,Windhorse Farm, Nova Scotia

Every human should have the idea of taking care of the environment, of nature, of water. So using too much or wasting water should have some kind of feeling or sense of concern. Some sort of responsibility and with that, a sense of discipline.

-The 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatsoquoted in Peter Swanson's Water: The Drop of Life, 2001

Man is not an aquatic animal, but from the time we stand in youthful wonder beside a Spring brook till we sit in old age and watch the endless roll of the sea, we feel a strong kinship with the waters of this world.

-Hal Borland (1900-1978)

Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep.

-William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Henry VI, part II

All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.

-Ecclesiastes 1:7 from New International Version of The Bible

If you gave me several million years, there would be nothing that did not grow in beauty if it were surrounded by water."Jan Erik Vold, 1970

Til taught by pain, men really know not what good water is worth."From "Don Juan" by Byron


Yin

& Y

ang

I've found, over the years, that I enjoy discovering the various contrasts available in a given scene. Not only constrasts between light and dark, but contrasting colors, contrasting shapes, and also contrastng meanings.

When people see things as beautiful,other things become uglyWhen people see things as good,other things become bad.

Being and non-being create each other,Difficult and easy support each other.Long and short define each other.High and low depend upon each other.-- Tao Te Ching

Old

& N

ew

Rou

gh &

Sm

ooth

Begi

nnin

gs &

End

ings

Past

& P

rese

nt


Have you ever gone to the woods, a forest, or perhaps a small grove of trees and just sat and listened? Listen to the wind soughing through the trees. Listen to the leaves gently fall to the ground, the squirrels running, leaping from branch to branch. Have you ever sat in the shade of a tree on a hot summer's day and wondered if anything could be better? If I could place the label of 'gift' on anything, I sincerely think that label could be applied to trees.

The glen is fraught with trees of all shapes, sizes, colors, widths, heights, and even smells. In this chapter, I would like to introduce you to some of the trees that I had the pleasure to be among. I don't even know the names of the trees, their genus, species, or classification, but, then again, one doesn't need all of this useless knowledge to enjoy the tree ...

Tree

s

The tree is more than first a seed, then a stem, then a living trunk, and then dead timber. The tree is a slow, enduring force straining to win the sky. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Wisdom of the Sands, translated from French by Stuart Gilbert

It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Trees are much like human beings and enjoy each other's company. Only a few love to be alone. ~Jens Jensen, Siftings, 1939

Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky,We fell them down and turn them into paper,That we may record our emptiness.~Kahlil Gibran

Life, death and rebirth are inevitable.

Rig Veda

In all great arts, as in trees, it is the height that charms us; we care nothing for the roots or trunks, yet it could not be without the aid of these.- Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) (often called "Tully" for short)

The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world's joy. - Henry Ward Beecher

I never saw a discontented tree. They grip the ground as though they liked it, and though fast rooted they travel about as far as we do. They go wandering forth in all directions with every wind, going and coming like ourselves, traveling with us around the sun two million miles a day, and through space heaven knows how fast and far! ~John Muir

You will find something more in woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.--Saint Bernard (1090 - 1153), Epistle


TAO

Tao means, The Way. It is not a certain way of living, as in "The Right Way", but is is more of the way that life happens. Plainly put, it's the path that life follows.

To say that have been greatly influenced by the Tao Te Ching would be an understatement. It's had profound impact on my life. I continue to study the book and at times find it amusing, other times, profound, but always interesting. Taoist have an amusing way to the look at life. One of my favorite books is The Tao of Pooh, which I believe explains the philosophy concisely and is sprinkled with all around good fun.

In walking through the Van Landingham Glen, taking pictures, and enjoying the sites, sounds, smells and everything therein, I was participating in the Tao. We all participate whether we want to or not. Sometimes we resist it, and become sad, disappointed, or angry. Other times, if we just go with the flow and accept life's little quirks, we are quite alright.

As a human, I like to put things into understandable order, but life just cannot be understood. Trying to explain life is like trying to explain what a lemon tastes like to someone who has never tasted one or attempting to bite your teeth. Good luck!

This last section, entitled Tao, represents a random walk through the woods looking at the various things that life has to offer. As in life, there is no particular order here, just a bunch of discoveries. Enjoy them without any narration from me.

Notes1. Derek Lin. Tao Te Ching Annotated & Explained

2. Accurate Translation of the Tao: http://www.taoism.net/ttc/complete.htm

3. Quote Garden: http://www.quotegarden.com/trees.html

About the authorUsually this is a biography about the author, but as I'm writing it myself, I guess that it is an autobiography. I'll keep it very short. I'm Paul Lester.

I've never won any awards for my photography, nor have I ever been published. I have won one contest, but have not competed since. It's not wrong, it's just not for me. I started my love affair with photography in 1980, or so, after a coworker, Bob Jennings, took me to his house and showed me his darkroom. I've not been the same ever since.

By day I masquerade as a software developer, by night a husband and father. I've been married for 16 years and have two wonderful kids and a cool dog. During my free time I can almost always be found with a camera somewhere in the woods, or sitting quietly on the couch reading some fiction book, perhaps the Tao Te Ching, or thinking up and writing a new topic on my blog.

I don't watch television. At one time I had considered becoming a professional bowler but, quite frankly, I just didn't have the talent. I don't regret my decision. It is my job as a software developer that allows me to pursue my hobby as a photographer and, for that, I am very greatful.

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