|
Per request from leaders of our club, I have translated XianRen's original preface and posted it below for you all to review. Because the differences in the language cultures (Because of the lack of strict grammar rules, Chinese writing tends to have loose phrases and 俗語 that could have vague meanings. English is more structural and requires sentences to be more precised and clear with proper components), I have deliberately expand some of the Chinese sentences in order to clearly convey the thought. The goal is not just to translate the writing but to also make it sound and flow smoothly just as it was written in English originally. So, please help me correct them if there is any mis-interpretation.
Following is the complete translation:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based in Southern California grand Los Angeles area, Los Angeles Photography Salon (LAPS) consists of a group of art enthusiasts who come from various locations, backgrounds and professions and join the LAPS organization with their common passion for photography.
Since the founding of LAPS in 2007, the organization has been a magnet center for enthusiastic photographers of all ages and experiences who regularly meets at the salon every Friday night. In our organization, everyone – from the seniors with gray hairs to the youngsters, from the established experts to the novices – is equally treated with respects. LAPS does not judge or favor someone based on his or her seniority or social status (or lack thereof). Photography is the main eternal theme of this club. While an average person might have difficulty finding a photography companion, our members will always be able to find, from within our organization, a good mentor or companions. Whoever you are – an artist looking to improve your skills, an enthusiast looking to build up your camera/lens collections, or an active photographer in search for a photo shoot companion at our club – you can always find what you are looking for. Our club promotes the spirit of “Photography for Friendship”. We do not favor members by photography skills nor do we single them out by their portfolios. It is this spirit that has not only attracted many seasoned photographers to contribute their share of talent and expertise to this club, but has also brought together a group of supporting members who contribute their time and efforts into promoting and running the LAPS activities. Collectively, we devote our best efforts into making this club a bigger and better one.
As a result of digital technology advancements, we have witnessed an increase in popularity of photography. High level photography is no longer exclusive to professional photographers, as the rapid development in digital technology has made the photography process (capturing, storing and data transferring) much easier, faster, and cheaper than that of the film photography process. Not only does the digital technology lower the threshold of the required photography skill, it has also gradually brought photography to a higher and newer level of visual art.
The ready availability and wide spread use of the internet has finally provided an excellent platform for all photographers to communicate and publish their photo art works. As a photographer in today’s progressive and ever-changing society, an expert photographer or novice alike may have to deal with issues resulting from varying standards and to face the challenges and opportunities created by the advanced technology.
Traditionally, our photo artworks give insight to all aspects of photography: the golden rules of a well-balanced photo composition, the arrangement of various lighting sources to enhance depth perception and 3D effect, and the use of different shooting angles to present different perspective views. We have and continue to familiarize ourselves with today’s most relevant artistic theories. However, our goal is not simply to follow the traditional methods but rather, to break the boundaries of conventional wisdom, so as to challenge ourselves and develop more unique and ground-breaking photo styles. For us, if there exists a boundary of any sort, it probably will lie within the imagination of our own minds. We work hard and “play” hard in photography. We explore our inner thoughts aiming to produce good quality photos, and we strive hard to bring ourselves to next higher levels.
This photo album, which is the first publication since the founding of LAPS, proudly records our persistent efforts over a long photography journey. The publication itself marks an important milestone of our long term commitment to publishing more album editions in the future. While some of the photo art works in this album may still be far from perfect, we are confident that they will steadily improve under the harmonious and friendly environment provided by this organization. Our members should have no difficulty finding a mentor or companion, from whom they can learn and improve. Together, the depth and breadth of our knowledge and vision will continue to expand as we progress further along this photography journey.
In future editions, we hope to deliver more photos aimed at exploring more subjects related to human life (emotions, feelings, and living conditions) and to the world in which we all live in. We hope to capture more touching events, more unforgettable moments, and more magnificent and miraculous scenes.
We would like to dedicate this album to our fellow LAPS members and their families, and to Mr. Bao who has continuously supported us and provided us a location for the weekly gatherings. Last but not least, we would also like to dedicate this to all the artists, who have generously contributed their knowledge and experiences to this album and without which, the publication of this photo album would have been impossible.
------------------------------------------------
Following is the original Chinese Preface I received from 毛主席：
在南加州大洛杉矶地区，活跃着我们这样的一群来自不同地方和从事不同职业的人。是摄影让我们走到了一起。
自从2007年初,洛杉矶摄影沙龙诞生以来，它就象一块磁铁，强烈吸引着众多摄影爱好者。沙龙的门向所有热爱摄影的朋友开放。在每周五的聚会中，沙龙聚集着上至白发苍苍的长者，下至十来岁的小朋友， 在摄影界晓有名气的行家，以及刚刚入门的新手。在摄影的世界里，我们平等相待；抛开长幼尊卑；没有贫富贵贱； 也不论先来后到；摄影是沙龙永恒的主题。人说，高山流水，知音难觅。在这里，你不会孤独。无论是渴望提高的求艺者，还是喜欢收集器材的发烧友，或者是身体力行，钟情大自然的猎影人，都能在沙龙里找到知音。沙龙提倡：“以影会友，不以片好片坏称英雄、不以大片小片论成败”，这句话真正体现了我们的精神。短短两年多，沙龙聚集了不少热心奉献的前辈，也涌现出一批有活力、有思想、有作为的中青年骨干分子。在大家的共同努力下，沙龙日见壮大繁盛。
我们目睹数码技术使得摄影艺术大众化，从而不再为专业人士所独享的过程。数码照片的拍摄，存储，处理，和传送都比胶片照片更简便，快速，而且成本降低了百倍。虽然这些新技术降低了摄影入门的门槛，同时也使得摄影艺术本身不断向新的高度提升。网络的普及又为当代摄影人提供了便捷的交流平台。身处这样一个爆炸性发展时期的摄影人，无论是专业的或业余的，都遇到更多的迷惑和面临更多的挑战。我们的作品即包含着黄金构图、经典布光，也彰显我们独有的视角。我们学习理论，但目的不仅是为了重复经典，更是为了打破传统教条，创建自己独特的风格。对我们来说，如果视觉创造还有局限的话，那就只有大脑本身了。我们在用心地“玩”摄影，我们玩得有思想，有品位，而且玩出了水平。
这本影集是沙龙成立以来的第一本作品集。它既是一个总结，象征着我们在漫漫摄影路上迈出的一个坚实而充满信心的脚步；也是一个尝试，将为我们后续画册的出版铺就成功之路。作品集里，摄影者们用不同的视野观察着世界，很多作品不乏提高的空间。古语道：“路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索”。相信在摄影这条坎坷的路上，在沙龙这样和谐的氛围里，我们互相扶持，就一定能走得更远，看得更广。在未来的画册里，您将看到更多我们对自我、人生和世界的感悟；更多用相机定格下来的激动人心的事件、难以忘怀的瞬间，和奇妙无穷的世界。
谨以此书，献给一直默默支持我们的家人， 为我们提供活动场所—书原广场的包老师，和所有曾无私地与我们分享艺术创作知识与心得的艺术家们。
-----------------------------------------
Thanks for your help to review this.
_________________ Paul Cao http://www.flickr.com/pcaophotographyNikon D70 + Kit Lens
|
登入
註冊
問答集
搜尋
