The "Birds in the City: A Field Sketchbook" intrigued me in the first place because when I began looking at it, I realize that I had assumed a "field sketch" implied that it was sketched in a field. That sounds silly, but you know how you have a preconceived idea about something no matter how silly it may really be. Anyways, So as I look through the field book, I wish that I could sketch with a pen and have such fabulous results. Now, I know the point of the piece is to just sketch. Start somewhere and observe and reflect through the tip of your pen, but I wish I had the same skill as the author clearly does. For instance, on page 84 (I'll mention this again later), the easy skill she demonstrates with perception and dimension are great.
The sketch on page 82, which shows many birds taking flight, or perhaps landing in a row of trees, is one sketch that captures the mind and lets it fly (pun intended). it is simple enough to let the mind fill in colors and ideas; is it winter and the trees are bare? Perhaps its summer and they are full of leaves. The birds, where are they going? Are they flying south? Maybe this is their year-round home.
Page 84 is a sketch of a peregrine on a rooftop and is the sketch that I mention demonstrates great skill and an easy hand at depth and perspective. She also portrays an almost quizzical expression on the peregrine. Which again, leaves the imagination open to so many paths. What is the peregrine's story? What is it doing on a rooftop in this urban setting? What does it think of all of the hustle you see on the streets below?
Her final sketch on page 86 with only the words "Birds and Their Urban Roosts," is an interesting way to end the piece. Like putting an introduction after the whole piece, but it fits. I love the simplicity, it really does seem to sum up the piece.
About Me
- Sydney-Alyse
- I am a South Carolinian who was raised classic, conservative, Christian, and proud. These are my exploits as I attempt to bring Greek Life and Southern Charm to Southeastern University. I love Autumn, Lilly Pulitzer, Sweet Tea, French cooking, Monograms, Gardenias, Pearls, Sailing, and Turquoise.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Week 3: Post- Post
The Upper Lot
Standing beneath the tall oaks, dripping with lacy spanish moss, I hear the call of the water fowl. The ducks on the lake, Lake Holloway, just beyond the wall of trees and silver palms, call to one another. I hear, if I listen that is, to the flutter of their wings, the splash of the water as they glide to a stop atop the glassy lake surface, the whisper of the wind as it rustles the branches and leaves of the trees and shrubs providing this hollow of shade and peace.
The trees, this place, they take me back, to a time I can only dream of. I wish I knew first hand, but they do. They were here when life was less complicated. They saw the moments that I read about in history books and novels. The "glory days" of this place that I love. They saw, they witnessed, they were a part. Suppose another young girl, seeking comfort on a day in early December 1941, when the world ceased to make sense. She feared for her father, brother, beau, whoever it was in her life. Suppose these very trees engulfed her with silent solace, sympathy and above all else reassurance. They have been in this sport for years, and humanity willing, will be there for years to come. Like both that girl, and me, they have years ahead of them, and many more things to see.
Standing beneath the tall oaks, dripping with lacy spanish moss, I hear the call of the water fowl. The ducks on the lake, Lake Holloway, just beyond the wall of trees and silver palms, call to one another. I hear, if I listen that is, to the flutter of their wings, the splash of the water as they glide to a stop atop the glassy lake surface, the whisper of the wind as it rustles the branches and leaves of the trees and shrubs providing this hollow of shade and peace.
The trees, this place, they take me back, to a time I can only dream of. I wish I knew first hand, but they do. They were here when life was less complicated. They saw the moments that I read about in history books and novels. The "glory days" of this place that I love. They saw, they witnessed, they were a part. Suppose another young girl, seeking comfort on a day in early December 1941, when the world ceased to make sense. She feared for her father, brother, beau, whoever it was in her life. Suppose these very trees engulfed her with silent solace, sympathy and above all else reassurance. They have been in this sport for years, and humanity willing, will be there for years to come. Like both that girl, and me, they have years ahead of them, and many more things to see.
Week 3: Pre-Post
January through July
In the Sand County Almanac, the photographs spoke volumes to me. In this post, I want to explore a reflection on some of my favorites from January to July.
On page 32, Leopold displays a beyond stunning picture of stars as they move across the sky over the course of a night. From my photography experience, this is a technically unbelievable shot. The sharpness of the tree and grasses in contrast to the star trails is insane. A photographer can only dream of the conditions that produced that shot.
On page 44, The shot of Canada geese on the Great Marsh, makes me want, dream, that I am in a boat in their midst. A small wooden row boat ( ok, so maybe I have seen The Notebook a few too many times) and just floating in the middle of this gander. If it started to rain, a few dark clouds crossing what seems to be a bright sky, I wouldn't mind.
The rogue symmetry of the Bur Oak on page 58 caught my attention. The prose that accompanied it was just as breathtaking. "When school children vote on a state bird, flower, or tree, they are not making a decision; they are merely ratifying history. Thus history made the Bur Oak the tree of southern Wisconsin when prairie grasses first gained possession of the region. Bur oak is the only tree that can stand up to a prairie fire and live."
Page 70, holds the image of something I greatly covet: a well worn, name-carved-in, cork-handled old school fishing pole. I WANT ONE. anyways. It is completely wonderful and then to accompany it with one of the many tales that the fishing pole has seen. Page 79 shows binoculars as well as notebooks and a pipe. I think of Leopold as the typical old, british guy. Regardless of his nationality, lol, I find respect for an owner of such well used and well-loved items. All with his name on them, the ownership, I find beautiful.
In the Sand County Almanac, the photographs spoke volumes to me. In this post, I want to explore a reflection on some of my favorites from January to July.
On page 32, Leopold displays a beyond stunning picture of stars as they move across the sky over the course of a night. From my photography experience, this is a technically unbelievable shot. The sharpness of the tree and grasses in contrast to the star trails is insane. A photographer can only dream of the conditions that produced that shot.
On page 44, The shot of Canada geese on the Great Marsh, makes me want, dream, that I am in a boat in their midst. A small wooden row boat ( ok, so maybe I have seen The Notebook a few too many times) and just floating in the middle of this gander. If it started to rain, a few dark clouds crossing what seems to be a bright sky, I wouldn't mind.
The rogue symmetry of the Bur Oak on page 58 caught my attention. The prose that accompanied it was just as breathtaking. "When school children vote on a state bird, flower, or tree, they are not making a decision; they are merely ratifying history. Thus history made the Bur Oak the tree of southern Wisconsin when prairie grasses first gained possession of the region. Bur oak is the only tree that can stand up to a prairie fire and live."
Page 70, holds the image of something I greatly covet: a well worn, name-carved-in, cork-handled old school fishing pole. I WANT ONE. anyways. It is completely wonderful and then to accompany it with one of the many tales that the fishing pole has seen. Page 79 shows binoculars as well as notebooks and a pipe. I think of Leopold as the typical old, british guy. Regardless of his nationality, lol, I find respect for an owner of such well used and well-loved items. All with his name on them, the ownership, I find beautiful.
Week 1: Pre-Post
My name is Sydney-Alyse Young. I am
a junior and a half and nineteen years old. I was born in Columbia, South
Carolina and I consider that my hometown. I am a southerner who is very conservative,
outspoken, classic, and proud of all of it. I love the fall, particularly
football season, pearls, anything monogrammed, navy blue, or that has bows. I
drink 5 cups of coffee a morning and this semester I am making myself do things
I have always been afraid to do or did not want to, things like climbing
towers, rollercoasters, auditions, and 8 a.m. classes. I have lived in 8 cities
and my parents currently reside in Melbourne, Florida. I am PK, MK, and a
children’s pastor.
My
degree is in English. I would like to teach high school English and coach
cheerleading at a Christian school until the Lord sees fit to move me into the
next season in my life and I pay off my college loans. I am called to one day
be in ministry, through my marriage to a pastor and I would like to attend John
MacArthur’s Master’s College to receive a 1-year certificate in women’s
ministry. I am currently the Children’s Pastor at New River Baptist Church in
Melbourne.
The
Lord and my mother are my two closest friends. I am extremely domestic and owe
it to my mother and grandmother who both closely resemble June Cleaver. I know
the Lord has called me to be a supporter not a leader and I do my best to equip
myself for that calling until the Lord brings that season to pass. My life
motto is “Beauty Invites” and if I never went to crazy as to get a tattoo
that’s what it would say. It comes from the book Captivating by Stasi Elderidge and I love it because it embodies
who I want to be. A woman of the Lord who invites those around her to live out
their calling, enabling and loving them, stripping away the bitterness and hurt
I’ve accumulated in life.
I
enjoy reading more than just about any other hobby and I am constantly reading Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen was one
of the best writers of all time and I absolutely adore her writing. The subject
matter, eloquence, imagery, complexity of relationships and time-period
customs, underlying romantic tensions- I love it all! I also love to dance (I
was in Prof. Dixon’s program for several semesters), tumble and cheer, I blog
and have a small following of a group of people I do not know on various
matters like fashion, cooking, college life, and such. I have tried just about
every sport and hobby at least once and value versatility.
As
far as nature goes, I love to sail, hike, creek, climb waterfalls, kayak,
canoe, and just about anything else. One of the highlights of my life was
hiking sixteen miles of the Appalachian Trail, barefoot and in the rain. I do
not have any interaction other than experience, but both my brother and my
god-brother earned their Bachelor’s degrees in Outdoor Recreation Education.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Week 14: Post-Post
This post dovetails so well with my reflection on Psalm 96. The earth is the very center of our humanly existence When we hurt the earth, we are hurting ourselves, because, although one day we will occupy a new earth and the heavenly realms, this is our only real dimension. So often when I think of the earth and hurting people, my brother comes to mind. The boy is a real piece of work and his political standpoints drive me completely up a wall, but I so admire how he views the creation around him. He lives in a small house up in western edge of Maryland with his dog and a whole lot of paint and canvases that have been filled, or are waiting for inspiration to strike. I wish he understood that a God who loves him beyond the limits of his human mind's comprehension, created all of the beauty he so esteems.
While the soul-spirit effects are real, the effects that reach into humanity and daily life are sometimes more visible. If you look at the Gulf Oil Spill, the effects on the daily life of thousands upon thousands of families who live in that area are very real and very painful. Tourism, crabbing, shrimping, and sea fishing all felt the long-linger effects of this avoidable atrocity. The families that are effected are what really touch my heart though. We destroy the environment for our our gains and overlook the individuals that are dependent on that resource. We are more dependent on the earth and its resources than anything else, a fact that I think is often ignored or taken for granted, with the exception of the sustaining hand of the Lord. The livelihood of families and entire communities that rely on the health of our earth and the way we as a nation, no humanity treats our planet.
I think in some ways, because there are increasingly more and more marketing schemes to "Be Green" and "Save the Planet," we have desensitized our culture by making it the stylish thing to be, so that when we have tragedies, people as a whole do not feel any responsibility or need to get involved because they are already the hip, popular "eco-friendly." Last time I checked, using a BPA-free water bottle, recycling plastic bottles when its convenient and wearing a shirt made of 5% recycled materials doesn't excuse you from doing your part, be it raising awareness or physically assisting.
While the soul-spirit effects are real, the effects that reach into humanity and daily life are sometimes more visible. If you look at the Gulf Oil Spill, the effects on the daily life of thousands upon thousands of families who live in that area are very real and very painful. Tourism, crabbing, shrimping, and sea fishing all felt the long-linger effects of this avoidable atrocity. The families that are effected are what really touch my heart though. We destroy the environment for our our gains and overlook the individuals that are dependent on that resource. We are more dependent on the earth and its resources than anything else, a fact that I think is often ignored or taken for granted, with the exception of the sustaining hand of the Lord. The livelihood of families and entire communities that rely on the health of our earth and the way we as a nation, no humanity treats our planet.
I think in some ways, because there are increasingly more and more marketing schemes to "Be Green" and "Save the Planet," we have desensitized our culture by making it the stylish thing to be, so that when we have tragedies, people as a whole do not feel any responsibility or need to get involved because they are already the hip, popular "eco-friendly." Last time I checked, using a BPA-free water bottle, recycling plastic bottles when its convenient and wearing a shirt made of 5% recycled materials doesn't excuse you from doing your part, be it raising awareness or physically assisting.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Week 14: Pre-Post
The article on the Gulf oil spill was great. Comically written, albeit about a very grave topic. I particularly enjoyed one paragraph:
"Put it in writing!" someone shouted out. By now the air conditioning had shut itself off and the coolers of Budweiser were running low. A shrimper named Matt O'Brien approached the mic. "We don't need to hear this anymore," he declared, hands on hips. It didn't matter what assurances they were offered because, he explained, "we just don't trust you guys!" And with that, such a loud cheer rose up from the floor you'd have thought the Oilers (the unfortunately named school football team) had scored a touchdown."
It basically sums up the anger and frustration that the people feel, and how petty the efforts are to help the individuals who are affected. The caption under the photo also gives word to how the situation is really being handled, "Obama can't order the pelicans not to die." Its so true. All the bureaucracy really doesn't accomplish anything after a situation begins to get out of control, at the very most it can hope to compensate as best as possible for the situations repercussions.
In the article by Olson, I really agreed with his statement, "First and foremost, we are called not to forget. Remember, keep informed, and in some way be involved with ecosystem, creatures, and people of the Gulf Coast community." While I may not be able to go to the regions affected and physically do something about it, I can promote and education and legislation about to prevent this from happening again as well as making the necessary restitution to the affected parties.
Another point that he brings to the table (that is also mentioned in the Doster Pastoral Essay) is one I had not considered at all. This is not a "natural disaster." This is a disaster caused by humans. Just because something has an terrible effect on the environment, doesn't make it a natural disaster. This was completely preventable and and the fault lies in the lap of humanity and not "Mother Nature."
"Put it in writing!" someone shouted out. By now the air conditioning had shut itself off and the coolers of Budweiser were running low. A shrimper named Matt O'Brien approached the mic. "We don't need to hear this anymore," he declared, hands on hips. It didn't matter what assurances they were offered because, he explained, "we just don't trust you guys!" And with that, such a loud cheer rose up from the floor you'd have thought the Oilers (the unfortunately named school football team) had scored a touchdown."
It basically sums up the anger and frustration that the people feel, and how petty the efforts are to help the individuals who are affected. The caption under the photo also gives word to how the situation is really being handled, "Obama can't order the pelicans not to die." Its so true. All the bureaucracy really doesn't accomplish anything after a situation begins to get out of control, at the very most it can hope to compensate as best as possible for the situations repercussions.
In the article by Olson, I really agreed with his statement, "First and foremost, we are called not to forget. Remember, keep informed, and in some way be involved with ecosystem, creatures, and people of the Gulf Coast community." While I may not be able to go to the regions affected and physically do something about it, I can promote and education and legislation about to prevent this from happening again as well as making the necessary restitution to the affected parties.
Another point that he brings to the table (that is also mentioned in the Doster Pastoral Essay) is one I had not considered at all. This is not a "natural disaster." This is a disaster caused by humans. Just because something has an terrible effect on the environment, doesn't make it a natural disaster. This was completely preventable and and the fault lies in the lap of humanity and not "Mother Nature."
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Week 13: Pre-Post
I watched the video of Majora Carter from the TED conference. After seeing that she referenced Al Gore, and from previous blogs I am sure that my feelings on him are no secret, I wanted to see what this TED business was all about. I looked them up online, and while I don't have particularly fond feelings of all of the speakers that they have had, they seemed to have a good mission. This speaker was overall great. I think she had some valid points, which I will bring up later, but first I really need to address one issue. NOT EVERYTHING IS BECAUSE YOUR BLACK. Really? Seriously? You think that the reason you have environmental degregation in your area is because of race. That just shows a poor understanding of basic business and public policy. It has to do with socio-economic class, not race. I recognize that they can appear synonymous, but that does not mean that they are.
Ok, with that out of the way, moving on to what she actually talked about. "Greening The Ghetto" which is a sustainable urban redevelopment movement, recognizes the need for parks in the South Bronx area of NYC. Now, I think this is a great thing. Living in a concrete jungle can need some green to break up the grey monotony of life there, but I wasn't really sold on the idea that that is what tax dollars need to be going to. In a time of economic crisis, is that really where we need to be putting our resources when we are going billions in debt every minute? Personally, I feel like the answer is no. BUT, one great case that Carter points out is a case study on Bogata. The fact that their crime rates and littering levels drastically dropped after implementing a similar program, was very convincing. Case studies like that are much harder to refute than theory and thus can greatly affect my opinion of an idea.
Another statement that was made during this presentation that I particularly agreed with was when Carter stated, "I do not expect individuals of corporations to do this because it is moral or right." She recognizes that there has to be payoffs for the company. I think that if a lobbyist, activist, or anyone else promoting ecological responsibility, understands this position, they have a much higher chance at success. This understanding drives you to find a way that being ecologically-minded is beneficial for a company, because in all reality they will not change anything simply to be eco-friendly.
The one flaw I found in Carter's reasoning was in the statement, "Economic degredation leads to environmental degredation, which leads to social degredation." I struggle to see a real correlation between environmental and social degredation. I understand how there can be sometimes, but in all reality, I think that one is much more likely to participate in eco-friendly initiatives based on their social standing and not the other way around.
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