Name

Debbie

Please introduce yourself to the class, telling us a bit about yourself as a writer, a photographer, and where you are writing from:

Hi. I'm excited to be here. I've been interested in haiku on and off for several years, but have made more serious attempts at writing and submitting it the last few years with some success. I have no photography skills! I live in Syracuse, NY with my husband and pet eclectus parrot. We haven't received as much snow this year as we usually do and that's fine with me.

What are the landscapes you have access to over the coming three months? Are they near enough to walk out to every day? Or do you have to take a special trip to where you want to go?

I will start with a couple nearby state parks. I'm thinking about what landscape in our class context may mean. Nature landscapes only or urban too?

What haiku poem themes do you think you have inside you, that either complement your photographs (for example nature poems) or contrast with them (for example thoughts drifting to another part of your life prompted by quiet countryside?).

Not sure!

Think about the seasons that we are moving through over the coming three months. What changes might happen in your potential landscapes?

We are in the last month of winter. The trees will leaf out in May here and the birds begin to migrate back in late April through May.

Think about light at the different times of day. Will you plan taking your photographs in particular lights? Will you take trips at times of day that are new to your usual life?

I'm going to try morning, afternoon, and evening light. Also sunny and cloudy days and rainy days.

In this course the feedback will adapt to the photography equipment you have. What might you be taking "into the field" with you? Don't forget a notebook for your words too!

I'm starting with a digital Canon Powershot Elph 115 IS. I also have access to a Nikon D3200 and a D90. Have no experience with using the manual settings.

What do you think you might like to do with your shahai when they are finished? You will have made special efforts with them. What might you do with them?

I think it depends on what I come up with whether I stick to a series on a particular place, etc.

What shape will your shahai be? Will you possibly crop each according to the picture or will you plan to create six works in the same orientation of landscape or portrait, or a mix? Do you need them to be of the same orientation, as you would for a printed calendar for example?

I'll probably experiment.

Finally, as you have worked through these thoughts and questions, do you have a plan for the themes for your six shahai, for both the poem and photograph elements? Please tell us about your intended or possible plans.

I may do a series of one parks near me. I think I'll have a better idea depending on what I learn from each assignment and feedback.