I adored this field trip—though that doesn’t mean I wasn’t downright skeptical at first. After all, we were meeting in a Casino Gas station’s parking lot… and what could a Casino have to offer? I didn’t expect much when I hustled onto the bus with everyone else and claimed a seat in the back.
The first stop was inevitably confusing; as we pulled up to an ominous fire hazard, I originally thought we were to pass the golf field and venture into uncharted territory. Instead, the group in front of me merged into a bush just a few feet away. Looking back,
I’m not sure why I didn’t realize there was a ridiculously large tree there, but I was delightfully shocked to see it when I emerged onto the other side of the weeping brushwood. The angle at which the light streamed in through the leaves brought such a dream-like quality to the area. I adored the unique bow of the branches, the sweep of the leaves, the tree looked so strong yet tired at the same time. The massive Oak failed to impress everyone, but I loved it!
Back on the bus, we passed a dangerously thin bridge I was just itching to cross. It looked rusted, unsafe, and of course, beautiful. I knew the bus wouldn’t fit onto the unmanned wooden boards, but I continued to hope for a sharp right onto the arc. Sadly (or thankfully?), we passed up that route to go around instead, to a man-made pond. Willie Pink, our tour guide, explained the difference of a picture drawn onto a rock versus engraved into it, then spoke a bit about the pond itself.
Past the stoned-off water, a pathway led us up to beautifully
crafted huts in a cleared patch of land. My classmates and I hurriedly snapped some pictures while Mr. Pink explained how the huts were stilled used every year for camping adventures. I couldn’t imagine sleeping in them, I’m such a nonsensically spoiled technological junkie, but that didn’t stop me from admiring the beauty. The huts gave the overlook of a small village, with their clay pots scattered all around their homes.
Mr. Pink’s tour was one of my favorites because of a very important factor; he made sure we were involved. He demonstrated points he explained, like the creation of an arrow shaft, the artistry behind a clay pot, the labor behind building a hut. He joked with us as he led us from one point to another, helping me better connect to his words. Despite the continuously dropping temperature, he kept most people interested in what he said, sharing anecdotes as well as facts. The nursery was the last stop in our little adventure, where I got to dip into a strange warm, but awkwardly smelly green house! Past the roar construction nearby, Mr. Pink told us about the nursery and the growth of various plants.
Despite the interesting trip, everyone seemed happy to get out of the cold and shuffle back into the bus to return to the warmth of our cars.
photography and that of Sally Mann. His compositions are gorgeous, and he seems to put a lot of thought behind the feeling he wants to capture. Most of his images capture
sweet moments in time, somehow managing to seem candid even though they're clearly posed. He's only eighteen years old and already his work is remarkable enough to gain recognition; although by no means a famous photographer, I find myself drawn more to his work than other well known artists. He has a wonderful body of work and most of his pictures manage to tell a story within one shot.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/antoniophotography/show/
Photographer 2 - Monika Kovaljesko
and yet still they manage to flow naturally.
