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1 year, 5 months ago 20
Posted in: blog

 

Let me start by thanking all of you that have called written, texted and emailed to ask about how I’ve been doing!  The short answer is “Every day in every way I’m getting better and better”  (Quote from the Pink Panther movie!)  There have been challenge along the way but I’m healing up and feeling better all the time.  For anyone that wonders if prayer really works, I’m living proof of it!

 

For the last couple of weeks I’ve had a wound pump on to help heal up my largest incision and I think it is making enough progress that within a week I will be free of that!  Will be nice to not have to carry around a 5 pound pump and battery back everywhere.

 

Let me share some of the great things that have come out of this experience.

 

  1.  More closeness and a greater appreciation for my bride, Sherelene.  She has given so much time and effort to help me recover while juggling a 12 hour a day job!  Her moral support and love have been my life line to hoping to get back to a normal life!

    2.    The support and prayers of so many friends and family members has made         all the difference!  I can never repay all of you!

 

3.   A wonderful new friendship with my Doctor,  Tony Rogers.  When I met my surgeon to review the procedure I was about to have, something incredible happened.  It turns out he had attended a meeting of the Lexington Camera Club on an evening that I was the guest speaker.  He had a great interest in photography and really enjoyed my talk, he remembered me and we struck up an immediate friendship over photography,  and as we got to know each other we found we had a number of similar interest, not the least of which was our total dedication to our savior Jesus Christ.  Getting to know Tony and his wife Donna has been a high point of May and June!

       4.   Learning to walk one day at a time, trusting in Him and knowing He, (My Heavenly Father), has it!  I’ve often been called a Comfort Junkie by my wife, and she is right, I don’t like discomfort of which I’ve had plenty over the past 6 weeks!  But through it all God has helped me take it one minute at a time stretching into hours, days and now weeks.  We can endure all things though Him who loves us! 

 

    5.    How much I miss going out with a camera and shooting!  I hope to be back at that soon and will have a new appreciation for my craft and the exercise of just seeing again!

 

I hope to get back busy posting something that has nothing to do with health concerns soon!  Till then, thanks again for hanging in there with me!

 

Blessings,

 

 

the pilgrim

1 year, 5 months ago 7
Posted in: blog

 

 

One of the advantages of being home recovering for the past three weeks is time to watch the world react to the new stuff Adobe dropped on us a few days ago!  There has been no shortage of reactions from all over the scale from best stuff ever, to the end of the world as we know it!
The biggest objection seems to be can we believe anything we see in a “so called” photograph after this gets into full use, which it is already.  Let’s start with the statement that:   “ Photographs should be REALITY!”
So what is reality?
Let  me start with myself, are my photographs reality?
How about a few questions about that?
1.  Do I change lenses to adjust perspective?
2.  Do I use a polarizer to deepen colors and darken skies?
3.  Do I use a long shutter speed to blur water when shooting moving water?
4.  Do I adjust contrast with curves?
5.  Do I use content aware to remove distractions from my images?
If the answer to all those questions is Yes, then my images are already not strictly REALITY!
In what kinds of photography is it IMPERATIVE that the final image
Must be only what was there!
EXAMPLE:  My doctor has had me send images of the healing progress of my surgery incision. He wants the most accurate image possible to access the healing process!  If the edges are too red, INFECtION, if mercy pink good sign!  This is not a good image to photoshop, though I would like to tell AI to just heal it completely and be done with it, but, of course that is even bey0nd the scope of this software!!! 😉
These are the kinds of photography that demand accuracy:
Photojournalism
Scientific photography
Documentary photography
Medical Photography
Military photography
Sports photography  * For reportage
I don’t do Street Photography so honestly I don’t know where it lands?!
Kinds of photography that are currently straddling the line:
* I say straddling because I know a lot of these folks and they do at least as much as I do to improve their images. (*Most not all)
Nature photography
Landscape photography
Travel photography
Wildlife Photography
Americana photography
Kinds of photography where anything
Goes:
Portrait photography
Family photography
Commercial photography
Fashion photography
Advertising photography
Product photography
Truthfully I never believe almost any of these images are completely accurately reality when I see them, I’ve come to understand that is just the way it is!
So I have a plan I think will work for me, and I hope for you!
A.  I will shoot and process in the way that I am most comfortable with and will not judge anyone else that does not do it the way I do!  I further will  have not problem reviling to anyone who asks what I did to any image, just in case they want to know.  I will broadly call this a “PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE”.
B.  I will accept that “Creating images either with the aid of software or fully with software as an art form, I will personally refer to as “CREATED IMAGES”
C.  All images that adhere to a strict Straight Out of the Camera, Unaltered image i will Refer to as : Photographic Reality.
As a believer, a practicing Christian, I will not demean any other photographer that chooses to work in any of these categories, or all of them, it is the artist’s choice and none of my business.  You have to decide for yourself! I love making images and when I’m happy with an image that is the final step, I don’t need likes, I don’t desire praise. I just like working hard at and seeing what I consider good work!  I want to encourage others to enjoy this glorious craft, I want them to love it, respect it and share it, if they don’t, cameras will go away, of course so will I, but I would hate to think of a world that we don’t capture our memories and the things we love and enjoy, and share them with others!
So, that is my take on it a nd the way i will approach it, give it some thought, and let me know where year coming from!
Blessings,
the pilgrim
1 year, 6 months ago 13
Posted in: blog

 

Recently a new Beta Version of Lightroom was introduced that had an amazing AI based tool for changing backgrounds, it was earth shaking, what it could do.  I watched carefully as the reactions rolled in, and as you would expect they were all over the place.  “This is the most amazing and most positive thing to ever happen to photography!”  ” This is the end of photography, we will never ever again be able to trust anything we see!”  They were probably both right!

 

I have thought long and hard about this and I have a suggestion I would like to throw out to all my fellow photographers.  First, if you are a professing Christian, if you claim to answer to your God and wish to serve Him in everything you say and do, this advice is or you!  

 

Let me set this  up properly.  I started photography in 1969, yep that was a long time ago.  In that era of photography we shot film, and mostly Black & White film and slide film, transparency film.  Learning how to get correct exposure in those days was a process and it did not come easy, we struggled with it and it took time and shooting a lot of film to get it right!  We were quite proud of ourselves when we got it right!  That accounts for why so many of us in our seventies today may have more than a little chip on our shoulders about how much easier it has gotten with digital photography today.  Yes, in many way we are stuck in the mud of the film era!

 

As post processing has advanced and many magical things can be done to images, we have resisted and drug our feet in the sand!  Now let me share about why as a Christian, I have to look at this and approach it in a different way.  As a believer my greatest concern must be with sin and being kind to others.  First of all, even though I have resisted, replacing a sky in a photograph is not a sin!  It’ s a choice, it may not be a choice I am comfortable with, but for someone who is comfortable with it, they have not sinned!  So Let’s say my friend Paul made the image at the top of this entry, and I see it and I know he has replaced the sky, (actually I did it!),  as a Christian, how should I react too his image?  First of all I should not “react” at all, if I like the photograph I should say so, if I don’t I should not feel compelled to be unkind.  If I think he should not have replaced the sky what right do I have to be critical of him?  As the photographer and artist he has every right to process his images as he wishes, frankly it’s none of my business!  I found myself in the situation when I replaced the sky in this image  I felt guilty about it and did not show it for the longest time.

 

 

This is the original image.  I love the lighthouse and love the back lit and furrowing flag, but the sky is awful, so the image failed, I think you will admit the image with a  replaced sky is much nicer, but is it reality?  So what is wrong with adding a sky?  It is not what was actually there at that time!  Coming from my background as a photojournalist, doing something like that is a cardinal sin, but if I was a commercial photo illustrator, that kind of stuff is done all the time.  You might say that it is only wrong if the intent of the images was to depict reality.  As a Christian when is it the right thing to do, to make someone feel bad about the post processing images they make?  Never, you can express your opinion if done in a considerate way, but beyond that it’s the choice of the photographer.

 

let’s take the concept of appropriate ways of dealing with others as a Christian to some other examples!

 

Say our friend Larry is a Georgia Bulldogs fan, you’re a Alabama fan, can you say the Bulldogs suck, I hope they loose every game!  Sure, if  you want to act that way, but as a Christian what does that accomplish?  It sure doesn’t cement your witness for Christ!

 

Your friend Mike only listens to classical music, but you like 50’s -60’s Rock n’ Roll, he says the music you like is horrible, in fact it’s not really music at all!  It’s fine for him to feel tat way but what good does it do to make that pronouncement to you?

 

 

The photograph above was shot in the UP of Michigan on a calm morning while we were shooting fall color reflecting in the still water as boat started up toward us, my first thought was it would disturb the water, which it did, but then I realized it might be a great shot as it turned to go back out of the slough we were shooting in.  This was an unplanned circumstance that turned out to be kind of neat, and the water settled back down in a few minutes and we were able to continue shooting the reflections.  As photographers we need to roll with the punches!  Those that want  to use these new creative tools to “enhance their mages” should be left alone and allowed to do photography as they see fit, and those of us that might would rather not, should learn to be a little less judgmental about it.

 

Here is  my bottom line;  When I gave my life to Christ He required of me to lead others to Him,  I can’t do that if I am judging everyone else for things they may do, that I don’t want to do or agree with, how welcoming and loving is that?  I can still feel strongly about such things, I just can’t beat people up from my position.

 

I would love to know what you think!

 

Blessings,

 

 

the pilgrim

1 year, 6 months ago 20
Posted in: blog

 

First let me apologize for being so long bringing you an update, a lot has happened in last two weeks!!  Today is the first time I have made it upstairs to my computer in two weeks.  Let me run you all through what has transpired over that time period.  

 

Monday, May 8th:  I had my TAVR, (Trans Aortic Valve Replacement),  the surgery went well and the valve was replaced and was performing as expected.   My Surgeon, Dr. Anthony Rogers and my Cardiologist. Dr. Paula Hollingsworth did a great job!  I was released to go home just one day after the surgery.  I rested and recovered most of that week, feeling better each day.

 

Sunday, May 14th (Mother’s Day):  I started to have some episodes of AFib where my heart rate was running from very slow to very fast.  Sherelene insisted I go to the emergency room, but I resisted, not wanting to go back in the hospital.  She kept insisting and I kept resisting, then she talked me into getting the car to drive that direction.  I told her if I had one more almost fainting episode we could to the ER.  I had no more than said that when I almost blacked out, in minutes I was in the ER.  Within minutes of arriving there I coded and was without a heartbeat for a four to five seconds.  They did chest compressions and had me back in this world quickly. Had I not listened to Sherelene I might have died at home on Sunday!  About fifteen minutes later I coded a second time with the same response.  At this point they called for an air vac and flew me to Lexington Baptist Heart Center where Dr. Rogers was waiting for me.  I coded a third time in Lexington in the Heart ICU, then they started a drip of a medication that stabilized my heart rate and observed me in the ICU overnight.  The next morning, Monday, they did a procedure to place a pacemaker in my chest, further stabilizing the afib.  I was released to come home on Wednesday.  I’ve now been home recovering since then.  Until today, Saturday the 20th.  I’ve been struggling through broken or cracked ribs from the chest compressions, (no complaints, they brought me back from death three times).  

 

Today. May 20th:  is my best day yet as I can walk around without help, even climbed the stairs to the office to do this entry!  My heart rate has remained stable and my surgery sites are all healing very well!

 

So some Perspective on all this:

 

In my entire life I have had two pivotal “Physical Events” the have shaped my life.   42 years ago when I was told I had terminal cancer and thought I had only a few months to live.  You’ve all heard that story.  And, last weekend when I died three times, only to be brought back each time.

 

42 years ago my entire perspective on what is important in life was changed and it forever re-directed me in my desires, goals and purpose.  This week has deepened the commitment I made back then.  Back then I gave my life and heart completely to God and vowed to serve him “every moment for the rest of my life”.    This week I remembered how precious this life is, the family and dear friends that God has so graciously given me, and of whom I am unworthy, but still thankful for that gift.  I now have  redirected my goals to listen for God’s voice and be obedient to whatever he asks of me.  I think I was already doing that, but my attention has been more laser focused on His will.

 

God deals with each of us where we are and in the way we need to be spoken to, I’m not beating you up with what I have gone through, only sharing where it has brought me.  I have no idea whether I’ve been given a few weeks, months or years to live for Him, but whatever time I have it is His!  I do know that he loves you more than you know and He wants you to belong to Him, I can only pray that everyone who reads this gives thought to where they want their spirit to reside,  I hope it is with my loving, caring, gracious and forgiving Heavenly Father.

 

For all of you that have payed for me, thank you, I will be forever grateful for another chance at this life!

 

With all His love,

 

 

the pilgrim

 

Note: A special thanks to my dear brother and friend Jack Graham who has stayed with me at home the last three days,  you’ve aided in my healing my friend!  To my best friend, partner and love of my life, Sherelene. your tireless efforts to watch over me are beyond what anyone could ever deserve, I Love you and want to live on for you!