I’m writing this blog post for my Twitter followers. This, and my other blogs, were set up to automatically post on Twitter. However due to the actions of the new owner of Twitter, I will no longer be posting there. I hope to keep my Twitter followers as blog followers as I restart this blog after my long illness. I’m also considering alternatives to Twitter such as Instagram, but haven’t finalized that. I’ll make an announcement here when I’ve decided what I’m going to do.
“Do you know where you’re going to?
Do you like the life the world is showing you?
Where are you going to?
Do you know?”
Mahogany (1975 film)
This is my favorite song quote from the 1975 Diana Ross film Mahogany. It says a lot about my current situation.
As you can see I’m still using a walker. And as it turns out, I will soon be having surgery on my right knee; a total knee replacement. Hopefully my recent fall on my left knee will not require additional surgery.
Sorry that I missed my August posting, I’ve been very distracted due to my continuing health issues. I also have an update on my vision. I am now legally blind, but with my husband’s help I am able to continue to blog. The proton beam radiation treatment for my tumor has damaged my optic nerves, leaving partial degraded vision in the right side and no vision in the left. As you can guess, this has made photography challenging, but not impossible. I persevere! I have even heard of blind photographers. I will have to investigate their work.
Expect to see an update in a couple of weeks.
Three weeks post surgery and now with the corrective prism in my left lens:
Still trying to get used to seeng quasi-stereo vision. I was told that it might take until December to finally resolve my vision problems.
I think either way I’m going to have a permanent disability to deal with.
I wanted to work on a “Facing 60” project. I also wanted to recap my Mayo Clinic experience. So for Part I, I am summarizing my treatment experience at the Mayo Clinic, and my recovery during the the first year through a series of portraits taken by my Husband.
Where it all Started on October 31, 2018:
Above, after my first 14 hour surgery. Puffy faced, but still with hair. I was growing my hair back in hopes of having small dread locks….but that won’t happen for a while.
I had a second surgery at the end of January (only 6 hours) and I was well enough by Valentine’s Day to Celebrate:
And actually I did quite a bit of Photography. I had several types of 35 mm film to test and write about. And I purchased a Fuji GW690 III to experiment with. See more here.
Facing the second surgery, this time through my forehead, I did a precut. The results of that below:
The shave, incision and surgical superglue:
Below, I trimmed the back of my head as my hair begins to grow back so I can have even regrowth.
My last week of treatment; still no hair loss due to the radiation treatments; my special Proton Beam Mask in hand. I have to wear a hat to keep the UV away from my treatment areas when I’m outside:
And officially “Ringing Out” of the Mayo Clinic………
Had my follow-up in September and Stopped by Santa Fe, New Mexico to vist friend Nathan on the way home:
After My Mayo Check up in September……..I kept wearing my old favorite hat. Only a bit more hair happening here than in my pre-surgical haircut. My Surgeon successfully talked my out of trying a hair transplant. So we’re keeping as is. But by the end of September I was beginning to experience more serious vision problems with my left eye.
Alas, my vision travails continue….I am working with the Vision Clinic at Anschutz, the local University of Colorado Medical School. No worries, not going blind, but we’ll catch up on that in my next posting.
OK, you’ve seen this image many times before. It’s my favorite Lomo Purple Image and I have sent it to LACDA Snap to Grid Open Exhibit. It’s fun and they print and post all entries:
Lomo Purple is definitely an interesting film. I had never tried a ‘special effects’ film before. And surprisingly, I like it. But there are some caveats that never seem to be mentioned in Lomo Purple posts and promotions,
So this is more of a user’s guide than a film review. I’ll let you try the film and decide if you like it. FIRST: the angle of the sun with respect to your image scene is the biggest factor for a successful image. I’ve discussed in a Lomo Purple is definitely an interesting film. I had never tried a ‘special effects’ film before. And surprisingly, I like it. But there are some caveats that never seem to be mentioned in Lomo Purple posts and promotions, I have touched upon this in previous post and hope to publish a full summary review of my experiences soon. But note that the ideal sun angle is 90 to 180 degrees from the image scene. In my most recent Lomo Purple roll shown here, I was careful with the sun angle.
I have one more roll of medium format Lomo Purple being developed now. I also plan on running an exposure time test for the RSS Pinhole. AND in a few weeks I expect an @35mmc summary article of My Lomo Purple experiences to be published.
My Father’s camera was the J33, a smaller version of the J66. We traditionally had at least an annual Ester Parade Photo taken on our front steps……This one from 1962…Me 2 years old, brother Kevin on the left and Wesley on the right. Seems like only Kevin was cheery that day.
Below, my favorite photo of 2 year old me…..with my stuffed animals.
Front yard, back yard and on vacation in 1965…………Shown also was our first dog, Tessie.
My mom in 1959 soon after she found out I was on the way………a Pre-baby photo, with Mister the Cat.
My Brother Wesley holding baby Me. Needs some restoration.
Reading Jim Grey’s recent Blog on the subject of Bathroom Mirror Selfies made me think about the ones I have done, and the ones that I want to do soon. He also mentioned the importance of Photography as Therapy., as any Art form can be. It certainly has worked that way for me, carrying me through serious illnesses twice now.
I am posting this to Celebrate my Birthday! Something that wasn’t assured just a few month ago. And I am going forth with my Series “Facing 60”. Starting here and now I will post self Portraits from time to time at different ages and stages……
About 10 years ago I was starting a self-portrait project called “Facing 50”. I had read an article by someone who had documented their life through self portraits taken over 20+ years. But my Project ended up being derailed by Breast Cancer. You think I would have learned from that and NOT tried to do a “Facing 60”. Undaunted, I started on that Series anyway, and it was derailed by a brain tumor that IS NOT Cancer, but nevertheless a problem. Having anything growing in your Brain that doesn’t belong there is a problem.
As you can see below I started the original Project on Ash Wednesday in 2010. In this case I was experimenting with my 20 ft cable release and my M645. A little soft focused because I had to ‘guestimate’ the distance. I featured one of my favorite images……
So, I had taken a few photos of myself before the current events. My husband had taken quite a few photos of me to post on my “Through the Glass” blog posts. To Summarize “Facing 60” will contain a variety of “Self-Portraits” and evolve into a Project Page.
So this is where I started 9 years ago when my Cancer treatment had ended, I was on the road to recovery and starting a new career:
And now for some Mirror-Selfies: One full-frame showing all the lovely bathroominess and the rest cropped Rollei TLR 6X6 to remove as much of the Bathroom as possible. I’m going to do a reshoot in this mirror when I get home. Next time I will not have the shower curtain line going through my head!
Here are my submissions for the Moab Photo symposium Wrap-up Book:
Counter Clockwise, beginning in the Upper Left:
And my ‘action’ portrait, From Courthouse Wash, Arches National Park.
I’ll post and update when the book comes out…………..
Just submitted to the 1650 Gallery Show….Blurry
Today I’ll post the B&W….Monday the Color Entries………..
Still time to enter (although maybe I shouldn’t invite competition?)
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