Sunday, November 18, 2007

Trek Assessment #3

Unexpected Situations:

1. While walking through Lake Park, on a sunny morning, I came by some picnic tables. But these picnic tables were not your ordinary picnic tables. On top of the picnic tables were squirrels eating acorns. It reminded me of family dinners and of manners. It felt a connectedness with the squirrels, realizing that we aren't so different after all.

2. While taking pictures of numerous amounts of leaves I was able to find very intricate details within all of them making them all different. Just like snowflakes. I realized that even though they were all leaves each one was different, each one had its own story. Just like we humans do.

3. While taking close-up pictures of tree bark I recognized many little bugs living within the tree. I imagined colonies of bugs living within a flourishing tree bark city. Seeing all of these little bugs living their daily lives I came to respect the trees even more. The trees became more of a living creature than ever in my mind. They were the homes of these little bugs. Just as I use the trees for oxygen these bugs need them for shelter. We both needed the trees. I felt a connection, although not direct, with the bugs. I began to open up and share the world with its living creatures.

Trek Assessment #2

Feelings of Peacefulness:

1. While sitting on a rock that stuck out into Lake Michigan I was able to just listen, through my headphones, to the rhythmic waves slapping against the rocks. The waves were so over powering I let myself become deeply immersed in them. I closed my eyes and took slow, deep breaths. All of it felt very tranquil.

2. It began to drizzle outside while I was recording at Lake Park. It was a muggy, rainy day and no one felt the need to go outside. I was all alone in the woods of the park recording the sounds of rain drops hitting the leaves around me. Because I was not bothered by other people's noises in the park I could focus on the sound more and the atmosphere became more peaceful. The rain came down in a pattern allowing me to just listen and feel at ease. Rain has a very relaxing sound quality to it. While listening I began to get very sleepy and at ease.

Trek Assessment #1

Things that made me mad:

1. I chose to ride down to the beach on my skateboard. While doing so one of my bearings broke causing me to come to full stop while riding very fast down the hill. I was sent forward and slammed against the pavement. I ended up getting a couple bruises but nothing to cry over. Because of my bearing breaking I was forced to walk the rest of my trek. It wasn't so easy walking and carrying all that equipment back and forth.

2. I wanted to film these ducks and seagulls walking along the beach, but every time I got close to them they flew away. I was forced to zoom in from a distance and hope that I would get a quality image. I ended up with very bad video and was forced to cut it out of the project.