Please see below the introductions and pre-assignments from your shahai group.
Chris
| Name | Chris |
| Please introduce yourself to the class, telling us a bit about yourself as a writer, a photographer, and where you are writing from: | I live in Albuquerque, NM. I've been a
photographer since about 1974, but took about a 10-year hiatus when my perfectionism prevented me from enjoying it anymore. I resumed photography about five or six years ago when I received a DSLR as
a gift. I come to haiku through photography. About four years ago, I took a series of online classes on Miksang Photography with Miriam Hall. One of the classes (Way of Nature) wasn't photography per se, and contained a haiku assignment. That was the first time I attempted "serious" haiku. I also learned of haiga in this class. |
| 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 have walking access to Albuquerque's
West Mesa and Open Space, and easy driving access to the Rio Grande Bosque. The Rio Grande Nature Center State Park is an easy drive, too. I expect most of my shahai to come from the Bosque. I'm also a couple of hours' drive from the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Reserve. |
| 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?). | I'm very new to the shahai community. I've been making my own shahai (outside any class assignments) since 2019, but I haven't been exposed to very much work besides my own. I've never considered contrasting the haiku and photo, although I try to have them complement one another. I'm looking forward to exploring this idea! |
| Think about the seasons that we are moving through over the coming three months. What changes might happen in your potential landscapes? | The cottonwood leaves will turn yellow,
then brown, then fall. We may get some snow, and will probably have some frost, before December. The overwintering waterfowl will arrive sometime before December, too, both at Bosque del Apache and here at the Nature Center. |
| 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 not a photo planner, but I do plan on going out to the same places at different times of the day. |
| 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 have two Nikon Z system full-frame mirrorless bodies and one Nikon crop-sensor DSLR. I primarily shoot with the Z system. My Z system lenses have focal lengths from 24mm–200mm, but I can shoot wider or longer with F-mount. |
| In this course, you can submit haiku poetry, tanka poetry, or other short verse as part of your shahai. It's helpful for feedback to know if you wish to have deep technical feedback on whether your poem strictly is, or isn't, a haiku, or whether you you prefer feedback on your work simply as freeform short poetry. We can do either, but feedback would have a different emphasis to be its most useful to you. You can always add this info to your poetry notes for each assignment, but it's something to think about in the meantime! | I am primarily interested in haiku/senryu poetry, but I will add what I think the poem is to my upload notes. |
| 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? | Oh, gosh! Submit to LensWork, make 12 total for a calendar, or publish a Blurb book for my extended family and friends. |
| 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? | Mostly horizontal of about 5x7 AR, with a few square or vertical. |
| 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 have not a clue. I want to see where this leads. As I said, I'm not a planner! |
Carol
| Name | Carol |
| Please introduce yourself to the class, telling us a bit about yourself as a writer, a photographer, and where you are writing from: | Hello Everyone I'm a little late to the group, but very happy to be here. I live and work on a hill farm in south Wales UK. I enjoy writing short prose, haiku, haibun and watercolour painting. As my free time is limited, when working, more often than not I have my camera with me. I'd love to paint the things I see within my environment, at the moment I don't have that luxury. The early morning and early evening during the seasons have their own magic when it comes to lighting, this is what captures my eye and can happen at any time. |
| 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? | The access to landscape lies within my working day, which is by vehicle when things need to be done within a certain time or by foot when time allows. Either way, I take the time to capture a moment that shines out. |
| 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?). | Because of the life I live, the things
I write about and paint are mostly about nature. I hope this comes through in my course work. On occasions I do try my hand at fiction when writing a haibun or two. |
| Think about the seasons that we are moving through over the coming three months. What changes might happen in your potential landscapes? | Definitely the colour change over the landscape from trees, hedgerow, to grass, and this year the colours, which are abundant due to a dry summer, of fungus and the amount and diversity, amazing. |
| 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? | Oh, yes. The light. Morning light has a sharper edge to the cast shadows while the evening has a softer edge. This also depends on the season. |
| 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! | The camera I have is a Panasonic DMC TZ
70. It's come to the time in life when I have to take a notebook :) |
| In this course, you can submit haiku poetry, tanka poetry, or other short verse as part of your shahai. It's helpful for feedback to know if you wish to have deep technical feedback on whether your poem strictly is, or isn't, a haiku, or whether you you prefer feedback on your work simply as freeform short poetry. We can do either, but feedback would have a different emphasis to be its most useful to you. You can always add this info to your poetry notes for each assignment, but it's something to think about in the meantime! | I'll be presenting a haiku verse with each photo. I'd like a straight honest opinion about my work, good or bad. I'm here to learn, so , both barrels please. |
| 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? | Send some off for publishing may be on the cards. See how it all goes :) |
| 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? | The plan is for all to be in landscape format, keep it easy, this time round. |
| 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. | Each season has its own magic, with regards to the things we see, my aim is to represent this. As there are only four seasons, and I am late into this course, I hope there will be a flow throughout my work. |
Ella
| Name | Ella |
| Please introduce yourself to the class, telling us a bit about yourself as a writer, a photographer, and where you are writing from: | I started learning writing haiku in January 2021 with Call Of The Page, and never looked back. I always knew Alan and Karen are a rare find, but more so since I started reading ‘amateur’ poets and posting my own pieces on social media - I can tell how well I've been tutored. Formerly a graphic designer, I am now a Human Design analyst working from home. I enjoy painting and writing haiku, and take photos on my phone mostly to mark a moment of pleasure or communion with my surroundings. I live in a village in the South Downs, West Sussex with my husband. |
| 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? | Living in the South Downs I am surrounded by woodland, fields and rolling hills that I can walk to. On clear days we can see the sea from home and the fields. Sometimes we drive to Climping beach, about 25 min away. I also enjoy walking around the village and often take photos of gardens, groves and the pond. |
| 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?). | I already have a few poems in mind that reflect or are reflected by the cycles of nature and life. I am usually attracted to explore existential human themes with an element of wonder, or a 'bite'. |
| Think about the seasons that we are moving through over the coming three months. What changes might happen in your potential landscapes? | There are many shifts I notice - colors, temperature, light, smells, wildflowers, birds, insects... For example now - September brings suprises. The fields and trees are beginning to spot with ochre and bronze. The gardens are less vibrant but with a different light quality, as if the reflector moved. |
| 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? | My favorite time for walks is late afternoon and dusk just before the sun sets - if I can catch it. But it can vary. |
| 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! | My phone is always with me in case I feel like capturing a moment. I don't have professional photographic equipement, still I would love to have professional guidance. |
| In this course, you can submit haiku poetry, tanka poetry, or other short verse as part of your shahai. It's helpful for feedback to know if you wish to have deep technical feedback on whether your poem strictly is, or isn't, a haiku, or whether you you prefer feedback on your work simply as freeform short poetry. We can do either, but feedback would have a different emphasis to be its most useful to you. You can always add this info to your poetry notes for each assignment, but it's something to think about in the meantime! | I expect to focus on haiku, senryu or possibly tanka - and am looking forward to Alan's rigorous feedback. But it's good to know that freeform poetry is an option. |
| 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? | No plans for now apart from enjoying the process. If any one will turn out well I might consider enetering it. |
| 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? | At the moment I have some ideas with images that are all different, so it doesn't look like a series. |
| 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 am a slow creative executioner and enjoy processing ideas over time, and seeing them mature. I do have a few photos and poems in mind as possible pairs, a little like a collage. But I would like to use this course to experiment with either writing a poem for a photo, or taking a photo for a poem. |
Leslie
| Name | Leslie |
| Please introduce yourself to the class, telling us a bit about yourself as a writer, a photographer, and where you are writing from: | I am Leslie, a retired senior from Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. I love writing of all kinds including fiction, creative non-fiction, memoir pieces, short-form poetry and even grocery lists (they can be amusing if you try...) I live with my husband Bob, who is currently partly disabled by spinal stenosis and waiting for back surgery. I also live with my trusty silent partner Merlin who is a ten-year old Labradoodle who takes me on walks in nature very day of the year. To places where inspiration lives. |
| 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? | With my husband's health challenges, I
am sticking close to home. I have access here in Waterloo to conservation areas, parks, river walks, and forest trails. I normally go further afield for photographs, as w e have a myriad of conservation areas within an hour's drive of Waterloo, but for now, I don't like to be gone from home that long. |
| 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?). | My themes include loss of loved ones, old paths, new paths, aging, old memories and new beginnings. |
| Think about the seasons that we are moving through over the coming three months. What changes might happen in your potential landscapes? | We are still in the green of summer here. Fall starts on September 21st in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The trees change colour. I love foliage season and hope to incorporate some fall photos into this course. By November there could be snow on the ground. Occasionally. |
| 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 tend to only get out at "usual" times. 8 am in the morning, around noon and 5 pm in the late afternoon. |
| 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! | Canon Powershot SX70 HS. |
| In this course, you can submit haiku poetry, tanka poetry, or other short verse as part of your shahai. It's helpful for feedback to know if you wish to have deep technical feedback on whether your poem strictly is, or isn't, a haiku, or whether you you prefer feedback on your work simply as freeform short poetry. We can do either, but feedback would have a different emphasis to be its most useful to you. You can always add this info to your poetry notes for each assignment, but it's something to think about in the meantime! | I like technical feedback and simple feedback, if that combo is available. |
| 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 have a photo book of my previous shahai work, along with poetry without photos, and I can add these six new pieces to that book, if it seems appropriate. |
| 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 tend to take mostly landscape photos, as they work best in calendars. But I could sneak in a portrait orientation, to shake things up. |
| 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 do not have a plan yet. I have been taking photos the past few weeks with shahai in mind but do not have anything more than that to start with. I hope that the plan will evolve appropriately as I work on these new shahai. Thank you! |
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