This week’s photo challenge called for something a bit different. I’ve been sitting on these after-the-shower photos for a few weeks now.
I eat, work, sleep, and dream in these earrings. With rare exception, I have them in my ears at all times. I feel naked without them.
Left.
Right.
The same goes for this necklace; a gift from my daughter. You can also see the shadow from my pacemaker and the insertion scar. My less-than-perfect heart – also me.
Snap!
I’m walking again. For me. And everyone like me. As some of you know, I was born with a hole in my heart (atrial septal defect) requiring open heart surgery and other interventions. So while I’ve participated in many kinds of fundraising walks, this particular one is up-close and personal for me and my family. Congenital heart defects are the #1 birth defect in the United States, affecting more than 40,000 babies a year, yet we hardly ever hear about it. Thanks to medical advances, those of us who may have been condemned to an early demise are living well into adulthood and living pretty normal lives but CHD requires a lifetime of care, and so I walk.
This time (April 27th) we’ll be in Sacramento, rather than Oakland. If you’d like to donate to help support the cause, I would really appreciate it. If you would like to spread the word, I would doubly appreciate it.
(If you are interested in my congenital heart defect history, I’ve covered it at my other blog. You can find all posts HERE, but the main explanation of my defect is HERE).
Same rose, different treatment.
HDR:
Black and White:
On another note, Sweetie and I will be hitting the road for the Bay Area this afternoon to be in Oakland for the Congenital Heart Walk. As many of you know, I have a congenital heart defect and am doing my part to bring awareness and dollars for research and care. It’s not too late to make a donation to support me and this worthwhile cause. In case you didn’t know, congenital heart defects are the #1 birth defect in the United States, affecting more than 40,000 babies a year, yet we hardly ever hear about it. Thanks to medical advances, those of us who may have been condemned to an early demise are living well into adulthood and living pretty normal lives but CHD requires a lifetime of care, and so I walk.
As I mentioned in the comments in Day 70 – Scars, I have a much larger heart surgery* scar than the one shown in that post. I’ve been wanting to photograph it for quite some time and tried to do so in my Intro to Digital Photography class last semester. At the time I had no clue on how to light it so to show it effectively. I’ve learned a bit since then, and so this morning I gave it another go. My goal was to show my entire scar, and these two photos pretty much do so. And I wanted the shots to be artistic, not clinical.
At some point, I’d like to do a series of photos of scars (mine and others). I’m fascinated by them, and the stories they tell.
Lighting was my two soft boxes on either side of me. The one on camera left faced completely right. I place the light at camera right slightly forward of the other and faced it slightly back. ISO 100, f/8, 1/50s. I would have liked the photos to have a bit more contrast but for a first try, I’m okay with these.
* For those of you new to the blog since Day 70, if you are interested in my congenital heart defect history, I’ve covered it at my other blog. You can find all posts HERE, but the main explanation of my defect is HERE).
My husband and I will be heading to Oakland, CA on June 8th to support the Congenital Heart Walk to be held on June 9th. As some of you know, I was born with a hole in my heart (atrial septal defect) requiring open heart surgery and other interventions. So while I’ve participated in many fundraising walks before, this is the first time I’ve done one where I am one of the ones the walk is being held for. My story and donation page can be found at this link, if you are so inclined. If you would like to spread the word, I would doubly appreciate it.
I’ve been wanting to shoot my heart-related scars for a while but knew that it would take effective lighting to pull it off. Our next assignment for class is to shoot and print two photos (black and white) using a hot shoe flash both on and off camera. You are getting a sneak peek at what I ‘m pretty sure I’m going to use.
Carissa Snedeker Photography 