Buddhist retreat to view world through lens of a camera

PINE BUSH, NY — Dharma Drum Retreat Center, an organization dedicated to sharing Buddhist values with the community, will hold a retreat day on Sunday, July 15, focused on observing the world through the lens of a camera. Through lectures, picture taking, and meditating, the day will help attendees to see in new ways. Photographers at any level are welcome to participate.

The Venerable Guojun Fashi, abbot of the Dharma Drum Retreat Center, will co-lead the retreat, placing his emphasis on meditation and dharma. He will be joined by renowned photographer and filmmaker Chi Jang Yin, assistant professor of media arts at DePaul University in Chicago. Yin’s photo series, “Chinese Playground,” is currently showing at the Catherine Edelman Gallery, and her award winning work has been featured at such venues as the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Kassel Dokumentarfilm-und-Videofest (Germany), the Contemporary Center of Art (Bulgaria), the UC Berkeley Art Museum and The National Museum of Women in Arts (Washington, DC).

The retreat will start with sign-in at 9:00 a.m. Vegetarian lunch will be served. Students will need a digital SLR or digital point-and-shoot camera, as well as all appropriate USB cables for transmitting files from the CF card to a computer, adapters and chargers. Students should make sure to arrive with a full charge, or fresh batteries. The fee is $75.

For more information visit dharmadrumretreat.org or call 845/744-8114.