Grading

Another grading has come and gone. I find myself increasingly dissatisfied with each of my gradings because I just see all the things that need work on. But I realize that dissatisfaction doesn't necessarily mean discouragement. It simply means that I'm still only touching the tip of the iceberg and the rest remains unexplored. There is always something more to work on and perfection doesn't really exist. Grading just happens to point those things out in front of Sifu and everyone else. Always working on something, tweaking it, redefining it, messing with it. Satisfaction only comes when either I stop training or I become so egotistical and big-headed that I can't see my faults anymore. I hope neither have to happen. Grading is a humbling experience, but serves to stoke the fire, to push me to train harder. I relate it back to piano and how even after having played something thousands of times, I still find something that needs to be worked on. It definitely is a cyclical learning process.

taylor the latte boy

this makes me laugh everytime i listen to it...

More camera work

So some more experimenting this week in view of my assignment for class. In general, I sum it up as, "playing around with shutter speed, aperture, lighting, depth of field, and other general do-hickeys."

Had some fun today dusting off the ol' Canon Rebel and putting it to good use.



This is the fountain at UCLA. I love playing around with the manual mode.


Same thing in B&W.

UCLA has some really nice photo spots, and I'm not just talking about Royce (I have a number of those photos) but also of buildings, even the ugly south campus ones, patios, sculptures, lamp posts. I will definitely have to spend more leisure time trolling around for photo ops.

Starting off the new year

A hike up in the Pacific Palisades was the perfect way to start off the new year. Got good clean air, exercise, relaxation. Had good company and then good food followed by a nap. I think I'm addicted to hiking now! There's something so calming about being in nature surrounded by vegetation and silence. Well, mostly silence when there aren't other people walking by. It was great. Even better was doing forms at the top. I think being up there helped me get get a little more connected with my body. I know I'm out of whack and my body feels disjointed at points, largely due to work and other non-fun things. Ah, but being out in the mountains was a needed break to regroup, recoup, and re-energize. I think it'll be great to have a day of hiking and then wing chun afterward. Entry techniques down the mountain! Okay maybe not. We don't want to run the risk of sending our training partners flying off the trail. Lesson number 1: don't kill your training partner. Anywho, I'm going to take full advantage of the fact that I have the rest of the weekend to relax and breathe before the chaos starts again. Hopefully, this year will be better than the last.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

.:William Ernest Henley::1875:.

Another "note"

I'm so in love with Chopin etudes at the moment. Actually, Chopin has always been my favourite composer but recently, I've rediscovered his etudes. They're incredibly difficult to play but the most amazing things to listen to. They're definitely on my list right around Rachmaninoff's piano concertos.