A Better World — mnchrm vol. xl
Hello everyone! We're into June officially; does it feel like Summer where you are? Here in Chicago, after a few oppressively hot days (as far as I'm concerned, but I have a low tolerance) we've slipped back into cooler weather for the time being. I'll wear long sleeves as long as they'll let me, and probably keep up wearing pants no matter what.
A quick apologies for last letter; I think I left off a few of the links to items mentioned. I'll be more careful! Did anyone go and find what I was talking about on their own? What seemed most interesting?
A quick apologies for last letter; I think I left off a few of the links to items mentioned. I'll be more careful! Did anyone go and find what I was talking about on their own? What seemed most interesting?⁂
Right after I sent the last newsletter, I went to go and photograph the thunderstorm that was rolling in. I had been lamenting my lack of photography in this new year, so it seemed like I was all out of excuses. And who doesn't love photos of umbrellas and rain on glass? I got a few shots, which have been collected on my Twitter. They're drip-fed to my Instagram, so definitely recommend Twitter to see my latest.
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I'm not super happy with the photos I took; I think I'm out of practice. Still, makes me happy to see I can still make a photo even after neglecting my first creative impulse for so long. Which one of the set is your favorite?
Curious side note: on Unsplash, even photos I title are assigned titles from what I assume are generated tags. The photo above they've called "Tarmac", and you know what, I like that better.
If you enjoyed this dispatch, please consider forwarding it or sharing it with a friend. If you were sent this from someone and would like a copy of the next letter for your very own, I'd love to have you subscribe here. Thank you!
I'm not super happy with the photos I took; I think I'm out of practice. Still, makes me happy to see I can still make a photo even after neglecting my first creative impulse for so long. Which one of the set is your favorite?
Curious side note: on Unsplash, even photos I title are assigned titles from what I assume are generated tags. The photo above they've called "Tarmac", and you know what, I like that better.
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Aside from photography, it sounds like I might finally get a few contracts to shoot the types of independent commercial videos I expected to. To those ends, I've been trying to think about the minimum viable product for video production. What is a video, anyways?
To those ends, I've devised a basic video package priced out. It's more or less myself and my time, my camera and audio gear, one location, and myself doing post-production. Then, I made a list of some commonly asked for "value adds", which I put a price on. Want 4k, or drone shots, or art direction? There's a price for that.
Even more microscopic, I've been trying to think about the sort of videos I'll be shooting, and reshape my camera package around that. I've got basically the bare minimum for video, and have mostly added on in the photography sector, as that's been more profitable for me so far. Now though, I'm thinking about how the pendulum might swing back. Where do I want my handles to go, and what kind? How will I shoot handheld, shoulder mounted or in front of me? What sort of lens choices do I want to make?
The difficult thing being that until I actually do one of these gigs, I'm sort of taking a shot in the dark. Of course, I know more or less how I want to shoot these jobs, and have all my past experience to draw on. Still, there's a bit of the unknown here, which is kinda fun! This is part of the space I can shape how I want to shoot, from a more ideological standpoint.
To those ends, I've devised a basic video package priced out. It's more or less myself and my time, my camera and audio gear, one location, and myself doing post-production. Then, I made a list of some commonly asked for "value adds", which I put a price on. Want 4k, or drone shots, or art direction? There's a price for that.
Even more microscopic, I've been trying to think about the sort of videos I'll be shooting, and reshape my camera package around that. I've got basically the bare minimum for video, and have mostly added on in the photography sector, as that's been more profitable for me so far. Now though, I'm thinking about how the pendulum might swing back. Where do I want my handles to go, and what kind? How will I shoot handheld, shoulder mounted or in front of me? What sort of lens choices do I want to make?
The difficult thing being that until I actually do one of these gigs, I'm sort of taking a shot in the dark. Of course, I know more or less how I want to shoot these jobs, and have all my past experience to draw on. Still, there's a bit of the unknown here, which is kinda fun! This is part of the space I can shape how I want to shoot, from a more ideological standpoint.
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One of the most interesting things I've been up to this week has been reading and discussing a lot of short stories. I love short fiction. I think it is a super interesting medium that is really not given enough attention. Most short fiction, like most short films, are largely viewed by other creators in those mediums. And yet, they're so powerful.
Short stories, especially fiction, can convey such intense emotions and feelings, and paint such a clear portrait of a character in a way that no other medium can. I'm really interested in analyzing the form. What works, and why? What is it about short stories that's so interesting?
Of course, you could take the narrative — that is to say, the plot — of a lot of these stories, and stretch them into a novel or novella. But it wouldn't be the same, not by a long shot. Why not?
A podcaster and thinker I admire shared on Twitter a story written by a friend of his, with the promise that if someone read the story and said so, he'd provide a suggestion for another story to read from there. I've been following along, and it's been something I look forward to daily now.
What's most interesting to me is the critical look I'm putting on these stories. I'm not just reading them for pleasure, though of course I'm enjoying it. But I'm also reading them for craft, to find out why they work, and how. Then trying to synthesize my thoughts into some small comment. Interesting and valuable experiment!
Here's a link to the first story discussed, "The Octopus", by Nathan Goldman.
Short stories, especially fiction, can convey such intense emotions and feelings, and paint such a clear portrait of a character in a way that no other medium can. I'm really interested in analyzing the form. What works, and why? What is it about short stories that's so interesting?
Of course, you could take the narrative — that is to say, the plot — of a lot of these stories, and stretch them into a novel or novella. But it wouldn't be the same, not by a long shot. Why not?
A podcaster and thinker I admire shared on Twitter a story written by a friend of his, with the promise that if someone read the story and said so, he'd provide a suggestion for another story to read from there. I've been following along, and it's been something I look forward to daily now.
What's most interesting to me is the critical look I'm putting on these stories. I'm not just reading them for pleasure, though of course I'm enjoying it. But I'm also reading them for craft, to find out why they work, and how. Then trying to synthesize my thoughts into some small comment. Interesting and valuable experiment!
Here's a link to the first story discussed, "The Octopus", by Nathan Goldman.
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Here's a super interesting article about a man who sought out snakes to bite him so that he could build a tolerance to their venom. He thought that if introduced in small enough and progressively increasing doses, he would be able to build a tolerance for them, and perhaps even help scientists develop a universal antidote.
The craziest part? He might be right.
The craziest part? He might be right.
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Over the weekend, I went to an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Tienanmen Square Massacre. It was out at a smaller college in the Suburbs, over an hour away from my home in the city. I wrote about my experience there for today's Hibi Kaika post.
The event began with a candle lighting ceremony, as well as some remarks from Mr. Fang Zheng, who was a survivor of the massacre. He lost both legs when a tank ran him over as it chased down the retreating protesters. His words were translated, but even before that it was clear the emotion of the story. He was able to bring himself back to that time, and recall precise details of the events that transpired.
After, writer Ma Jian did a reading from his book "Beijing Coma". Through his reading, and in a discussion that followed, it was clear he was a skilled orator, even in a language different from my own. I was glad they translated much of the statements said, however.
It was an incredibly moving experience, especially to hear from those who were there or are intimately connected with such a stark tragedy.
In all this time since the event, China has in many ways not improved, and in fact gotten worse in key aspects. However, the most important thing I took away from the event was the sheer number of people, in China and abroad, who are still hopeful for the future, still proud of their heritage and homeland, and still fighting for a change.
I think that's something we should all fight for. A better world is possible!
Your Faithful Commander,
— I
The event began with a candle lighting ceremony, as well as some remarks from Mr. Fang Zheng, who was a survivor of the massacre. He lost both legs when a tank ran him over as it chased down the retreating protesters. His words were translated, but even before that it was clear the emotion of the story. He was able to bring himself back to that time, and recall precise details of the events that transpired.
After, writer Ma Jian did a reading from his book "Beijing Coma". Through his reading, and in a discussion that followed, it was clear he was a skilled orator, even in a language different from my own. I was glad they translated much of the statements said, however.
It was an incredibly moving experience, especially to hear from those who were there or are intimately connected with such a stark tragedy.
In all this time since the event, China has in many ways not improved, and in fact gotten worse in key aspects. However, the most important thing I took away from the event was the sheer number of people, in China and abroad, who are still hopeful for the future, still proud of their heritage and homeland, and still fighting for a change.
I think that's something we should all fight for. A better world is possible!
Your Faithful Commander,
— I
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