Missionary POV: Grinding Sparks
I wrote this a few days ago, but never got the chance to post it.
I feel like I’ve being given a thorough grinding. When you apply a grinder to a piece of metal it usually becomes brighter and sharper. Oh, and smaller. It’s been a good experience, and one that I will never forget. And I’m still deep in the thick of it.
I went on walkabout yesterday, getting pictures of Dnepro that should give a good sense of the cityscape. That may be my last opportunity to get the “B roll” stuff. Mushtrutki (definitely not the proper spelling, these are public transit passenger vans), taxis and trolley busses were on the regimen, as well as the classic Ukrainian architecture, and park scenes in the sprawling downtown core. This seems like the perfect venue for outdoor concerts, something to keep in mind if I'm ever in a band that goes anywhere.
I’m officially over jet lag. That happened two nights ago, after I stayed up really late simultaneously watching TV and reading trying to tire my brain. It worked, although in retrospect, I was probably just due. That’ll hold me for the four sleeps that I have left.
As the departure date looms closer there are two things pushing forward in my brain. One is that I feel the need to capture everything, and there is still much to get. And the other is I have no idea how I’m going to get all of this condensed down to a presentable size. I’ve captured some pretty neat stuff (and there is a lot that I wonder if I got, and there is some that I just wasn’t rolling camera on -- oh well), and I’m already trying to mentally edit the piece together into a cohesive package.
And here’s some good/weird news. The digital camera that I feared had died, didn’t. It would have been very nice to have that handy today at the grad (a great celebration, by the way), but by trying about 5 widely varied sets AA batteries I was convinced that it had joined the choir invisible, and that it would be due for a warranty return when in Canada. Trying one more set of batteries today it came alive ready for action. Now I feel dumb. On the other hand, this little episode gave me the opportunity to shoot film, and to use my own cameras that I’ve lugged around for about 6,000 miles. An oldtimer would probably snicker to hear this, but the sound of the shutter slapping, instantly followed by the auto film winder makes me feel like a real diehard photographer. I can feel the camera reacting in more than one way to my instructions, and that connects me physically with the process. Once again, digital is inevitable, but I’m not entirely happy about it.
I hope you are all well, that you are warm, and surrounded by the people that you love.
I feel like I’ve being given a thorough grinding. When you apply a grinder to a piece of metal it usually becomes brighter and sharper. Oh, and smaller. It’s been a good experience, and one that I will never forget. And I’m still deep in the thick of it.
I went on walkabout yesterday, getting pictures of Dnepro that should give a good sense of the cityscape. That may be my last opportunity to get the “B roll” stuff. Mushtrutki (definitely not the proper spelling, these are public transit passenger vans), taxis and trolley busses were on the regimen, as well as the classic Ukrainian architecture, and park scenes in the sprawling downtown core. This seems like the perfect venue for outdoor concerts, something to keep in mind if I'm ever in a band that goes anywhere.
I’m officially over jet lag. That happened two nights ago, after I stayed up really late simultaneously watching TV and reading trying to tire my brain. It worked, although in retrospect, I was probably just due. That’ll hold me for the four sleeps that I have left.
As the departure date looms closer there are two things pushing forward in my brain. One is that I feel the need to capture everything, and there is still much to get. And the other is I have no idea how I’m going to get all of this condensed down to a presentable size. I’ve captured some pretty neat stuff (and there is a lot that I wonder if I got, and there is some that I just wasn’t rolling camera on -- oh well), and I’m already trying to mentally edit the piece together into a cohesive package.
And here’s some good/weird news. The digital camera that I feared had died, didn’t. It would have been very nice to have that handy today at the grad (a great celebration, by the way), but by trying about 5 widely varied sets AA batteries I was convinced that it had joined the choir invisible, and that it would be due for a warranty return when in Canada. Trying one more set of batteries today it came alive ready for action. Now I feel dumb. On the other hand, this little episode gave me the opportunity to shoot film, and to use my own cameras that I’ve lugged around for about 6,000 miles. An oldtimer would probably snicker to hear this, but the sound of the shutter slapping, instantly followed by the auto film winder makes me feel like a real diehard photographer. I can feel the camera reacting in more than one way to my instructions, and that connects me physically with the process. Once again, digital is inevitable, but I’m not entirely happy about it.
I hope you are all well, that you are warm, and surrounded by the people that you love.
Labels: inspiration
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