Category Archives: Teaching

The Faces of China

As most of you know, John and I went to China at the end of June. We took 8 of my photography students and explored Beijing, Xian and Shanghai with our cameras and had a BLAST! One of the things I was working on with my students was street photography and capturing candid portraits of…

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  • JessicaJuly 25, 2011 - 10:02 pm

    love this. the image of the cooks, so looks like a Quentin Tarantino movie still… maybe its his black eye….

  • TracyAugust 11, 2011 - 11:26 am

    How did I miss these before?? What an experience it must have been to be immersed in Chinese culture. I love the joy in the man’s face wearing the blue shirt … and the bored security guard! 😉

  • NancyAugust 12, 2011 - 6:29 am

    Beautiful Amber! Love the intimacy of the portraits. Looks like you had a wonderful trip.

Shanghai: Old & New China

After traveling thru China for 6 days at this point, I didn’t know what to expect in Shanghai. We already saw the biggest sites on my China short list, so I didn’t have any expectations going into this unfamiliar city. I was pleasantly surprised. Right from the plane, we headed towards the famous Bullet Train….

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  • JessicaJuly 11, 2011 - 10:08 am

    your travel photography is so beautiful. I can so tell that you have a fine art degree 😉

  • Heather MolinaJuly 12, 2011 - 11:24 pm

    Beautiful…once again. 🙂

  • GailJuly 14, 2011 - 7:07 am

    Amber, I LOVE your insight into these photos and reading about your trip to China — I feel like I was there with you. I know you’d be such an amazing person to travel with because you’re so GOOD at it! 🙂

  • TracyAugust 11, 2011 - 11:37 am

    These are absolutely gorgeous!

Xian: The Terracotta Warriors & More

With super sore calf muscles after climbing the Great Wall, we all headed to the ancient city of Xi’an for the second leg of our journey. Xi’an is a cool city, but the main draw of this place is the Terracotta Warriors. This epic site is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi…

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  • JackJuly 9, 2011 - 10:26 am

    very cool pictures Amber.

  • Heather MolinaJuly 9, 2011 - 11:35 am

    Amber, these photos are awesome!! We just studied about ancient China this year (in our homeschool) and we saw pics of the Terracotta Warriors! I love that you got some close-ups!! I will definitely show this to my kids when I have a minute! They will enjoy looking at your photos!! I would love to take them someday (unfortunately, at the moment I cannot afford to take my 5 “chillens” & my hubby & I. lol)! Beautiful!!! 🙂

  • Heather MolinaJuly 9, 2011 - 11:51 am

    I had to come back to say a bit more. I know a lot of times, people say, “those pics are awesome!” and after awhile it doesn’t mean much. So to clarify, I love the feeling in these photos…you almost feel like you are there. To me they are full of depth and evoke some sort of wistful emotion when I look at them (perhaps because I was learning about this very thing with my kids this year.). I love the 5th set down of the warriors, and possibly my fave is the one with the b&w screen cracked open (with the light beckoning you to come closer, to walk through & see what awaits you on the other side). Anyway, I just wanted to give a bit more feedback (not just “they’re awesome.”) 🙂

  • JessicaJuly 9, 2011 - 1:43 pm

    I LOVE!!!!!!! And… I love that I know the back story, makes me feel special 😉

  • Tira JJuly 12, 2011 - 10:53 am

    Beautiful images Amber!!!! I am still wondering about what the government makes you do, as you referenced in the previous post. I think we take so much for granted when it comes to China, and it isn’t until you visit, you have a greater appreciation for the craftsmanship. Thank you for sharing!

  • GailJuly 14, 2011 - 7:08 am

    These photos — I can’t get enough of them! You have some new cool prints to add to your house for sure!!

Vacation in China: Beijing

As we celebrate America’s independence, I thought it would be fun to post my pics from my trip to China, a place where there is restricted freedom. As you might have noticed, I haven’t been around for a while. Well, that’s because I took a trip to China with 8 of my photography students. Yes,…

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  • Tira JJuly 4, 2011 - 2:06 pm

    Welcome Home Amber!!! I am loving the images so far! Glad you guys had an awesome trip and made it home safely.

  • [ b ]July 5, 2011 - 12:35 pm

    very nice. looks amazing. we’ll have to get together soon and swap stories. i’ll let you & keats coordinate that though.

  • Keats ElliottJuly 6, 2011 - 1:29 pm

    Gorgeous photos 🙂 Wish I could have joined you and your crew on the tour!!!!

  • Jackie FariaJuly 9, 2011 - 1:44 am

    These are lovely!

  • Heather MolinaJuly 9, 2011 - 11:37 am

    I hope you brought a red “parasol” home with you!!! They are so pretty!!

Confessions of a High School Photo Teacher: Travel

Six days after graduation, four of my best friends and I flew to London and backpacked across Europe for 6 weeks. I was barely shy of 18, I had traveled to England a few times at that point to visit family, but really this trip was my first time traveling without my parents and it…

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  • ashlee guerreroMay 26, 2011 - 10:41 am

    This is so funny. For me it was China or a new car? I picked China!!! I am so excited to travel!!

  • GailJune 3, 2011 - 6:52 pm

    Oh my goodness Amber, that photo of you in the gondola is TOO precious! Love your travelin’ ways. SO inspiring!

  • Gabby TilleyNovember 14, 2011 - 6:48 pm

    oh how real the travel bug is, I was bitten in Europe as well! It really does influence your goals and dreams, for they must leave room for travel!