Nectar River 西湖的甘露河 1 Tuesday, June 23, 2009
为了庆祝西湖二十周年纪念和【天艺】新书的出版，我们将在这一系列的贴子，为您详细介绍西湖绚丽的景观。今天我们来到了西湖的甘露河。如果您去西湖道场游览而没有走到甘露河，就好象入宝山却空手而归的感觉一样、或者说您去了北京而没有游览长城一样的遗憾！
甘露河可以说是整个西湖道场的精华之处，它是由西湖道场的创办人－清海无上师亲自率领一百多名长住，只花了三天的时间就建成的美丽景点。
甘露河依山而建，河水从最高处的源头冒出，沿着山丘的形势，款款而流。河床是由大大小小、不同形状的美丽鹅卵石建成，时而曲折婉转，时而款款长流，真好象人生经历的缩版一样，奇趣无比，发人深思。
“路漫漫其修远兮,吾将上下而求索”。甘露河历经几许波折，从高处的梯田，一直到下游的平地，流到了最后栖息的喷水泉，又奇迹般地从龙头高处破框而出，延绵不断，生生不息！！这样精采的结局，又是出自开悟大师一招精心设计的典范。
河水流到之处，两旁树林丛立，是人们吊床舔息，冥心静坐的好地方。一片小小竹板桥，让人们随意穿梭河的两岸，也点缀了甘露河无比的魅力，真是巧夺天工，神来之笔！
我们看到美丽无比的甘露河，就会想到为什么一群没有受过任何园艺学专业训练的人们，怎么可能只用三天的时光就开创如此美妙、幽静的景观呢？
参观了西湖甘露河，我们体验到大师深不可测的开悟力量，也感受了大师满满的爱力。回家的时候，可别忘了带一瓶甘露水，享受一下上帝的恩宠。。。
Labels: hsihu, photography
Lasm's story told @9:54 AM
Camera Talk RAW vs JPEG processing 2 Monday, June 15, 2009
Previously we talked about the advantages of shooting in RAW, and how the RAW format is actually similar to buying insurance. For those times when something goes terribly wrong, and you can never shoot the same scene again, then shooting in RAW provides you the insurance, a second chance to get things right.
We have also seen that certain camera settings can only be changed in the RAW format, after the fact. Such settings as exposure control, highlights and shadows (Nikon called it D-lighting) and White Balance can only be changed if you have a RAW file, not a JPEG file.
There are times when selecting a correct White Balance can make or break a photo, and also in certain situations a color cast can be very difficult or nearly impossible to remove in JPEG format. For these occassions, a RAW file is invaluable.
If you shoot in RAW, then the problem of White Balance becomes less critical. For example, you don't need to use White Balance Bracketing at all. White Balance Bracketing is for those who shoot in JPEG. Although it is a very fast in-camera process which captures three photos in rapid succession with different White Balance tunings without requiring you to change the drive mode away from single shot, it is absolutely redundant if you shoot in RAW. This is because you can produce as many White Balance variations as you wish when you process the RAW file.
So in short, the advantages of shooting in RAW format are:
1) Correct exposure up to 2 stops withoug impacting image quality.
3) Change White Balance settings after shooting, including fine tuning of white balance.
4) Change picture style choices, after the fact.
5) Lens specific corrections such as CA (Chromatic Abberation) and distortion correction.
Labels: photography
Lasm's story told @10:17 PM
Camera Talk RAW vs JPEG processing 1 Saturday, May 23, 2009
When switching to a digital camera with RAW file output capabilities, many people are faced with the problem of deciding which workflow processing to adopt. Should it be simple and straight forward JPEG processing or is RAW the better way to go ?
There are various pros and cons of each approach to be discussed here.
Firt off, RAW format is the camera manufacturer's closet attempt at producing a digital negative. As such it is big in size and frequently requires proprietary software to derive the utmost benefit. Each manufacturer has it's own way of encoding the RAW format, which eventually will be converted to JPEG for practical use. So why the additional step of producing and processing a RAW file when the JPEG output file is the most useful format ?
Well, it turns out that there are several advantages to processing a RAW file.
Generally it gives 1 to 2 stops more lattitude when you want to enhance the photo. This means a lot of precious photo details are captured in the RAW format compared to JPEG format.
So if you find yourself processing your photos or enhancing them most of the time, then it makes sense to shoot in RAW and produce a RAW file. You will have more room to make the corrections you need.
In addition to more data available, if you shoot in RAW you have the ability to change certain camera settings after the event. Such settings incluse, exposure control, white balance settings and picture style.
So if you want to free yourself from worrying about wrong White Balance selection, or incorrect picture style used at the point of shooting and instead devote attention to other aspects such as aperture, lighting and focus, then it is another good reason to shoot in RAW.
Labels: photography
Lasm's story told @9:53 PM
Tracks of the Quiet Way 西湖的田园小径 Sunday, May 17, 2009
Today, we continue to explore the wonders of Hsihu Center in Formosa.
When you enter Hsihu, you are greeted by tracks... long winding country road with bushes and trees growing at both sides, a picturesque setting so charming and romantic. The trees, the bushes, the flowers of Hsihu welcomes you with gentle sways and offer you shade and cooling breeze.. It is so full of nature, it is so alive with beauty..
In summer, you can hear the birds chirping happily in the trees and small insects climbing up the branches. Occassionally some butterflies will flap its colorful wings as it parades above your head.. walking along the tracks of the quiet way, you feel the sense of peace, of home coming..
Are you going to the international retreat ? Well, the tentage area is straight ahead, just walk down these paths, it's a long way up and down the hills, but you will see beautiful vistas when you arrive..
今年是西湖开创二十周年纪念，为了纪念这个意义重大的日子，西湖中心出版了一本新书－【天艺】。书中内容包罗万象，收集了许多清海无上师的艺术创作和珍贵的照片。
我们在这里预祝【天艺】出版成功，愿更多的艺术爱好者能够接触到这本书，享受灵性开悟大师所带来的灵感和加持。
我们将在这一系列的贴子为您介绍西湖美丽的景观，大家一齐分享吧！
Labels: hsihu, photography
Lasm's story told @11:11 AM
Glorious Hsihu 金碧辉煌的西湖 Sunday, April 19, 2009
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Hsihu Center, the new book Celestial Arts was released this year..We will feature a series of posts starting with this one, to bring you back to the magic and glory of Hsihu..
Hsihu is the most beautiful place on Earth.. It is heaven, because of the spiritual atmosphere bestowed there by the presence of Supreme Master Ching Hai. It was a piece of wasteland, a place where the smell of chicken and pig feceas would overwhelm the visitor.. yet under the guidance and direction of Supreme Master Ching Hai, it was transformed to a place of exceeding beauty and effulgence. It becomes a land of peace, of beauty and inner harmony...
Take a look at these blogs and you will be transported to the land of the fairy tales..
Labels: hsihu, photography
Lasm's story told @12:23 AM
