Good Lord! It’s been over a month since I posted anything on Aware Writer. I don’t have any new images but that’s not an excuse. I poked about in my archives and found an image that I made a few years ago in our back yard.
This is a shot of a branch from a small Japanese maple. The original came from a roll of color transparency film, but I thought the photo would be better as monochrome so I converted it. I like the photo but never posted it because there was (please note past tense here) a nasty blown highlight and a few other smaller blown highlights (in the wrong places). I looked at the image again. Hey, I can fix that and I did.
The eye is drawn to lighter tones in a photo which is why the blown highlight (pure white with no texture) ruined the image. The picture came to life once I got rid of the distractions.
The image is peaceful with a kind of Zen feeling — I like it.
exquisitely photographed!
Thank you Laura
I like it, too. 🙂
Thanks dimple. I love your photo. And thanks again for your message that got me motivated to dig until I found a suitable photo to post.
You’re welcome! Blessings!
I like it too…hope you are doing well John…. Michelle
Thank you Michelle. I’m doing OK and I’m glad to see you recovering. It’s been a year since I was admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with cancer. Yep, my wife and I spent Memorial Day in the ER last year. The doc said he was admitting me for the night. Yeah right, I was in the hospital for 11 days. Yes, I’m still here thanks to my medical team and my attitude. Chemo actually works.
I’m on maintenance now, chemo every 4 weeks instead of two and I’m off the Oxaliplatin, the potent stuff that causes neuropathy. I got the buzzy feets and hands alright. Feels like I’m walking on other people’s feets. Get chemo brain at times, The steroids that I’ve been on for nearly a year are making me fat (I’ve gained 40 lbs since leaving the hospital). My taste buds have been on strike for nearly a year. But I’m still here. My markers have gone down from over 200 after the first chemo treatment to 15.5 and my PET scans are positive.
I want to get back on my bicycle soon. It’s been over a year since I rode. I need to get my muscles back. My oncologist explained how chemo does a number on the large muscles like legs.
Bottom line is that I’m still here and not planning on leaving any time soon.
Glad to hear that you are looking to get out and bike again. You have been through a lot John and I admire your strength and determination. You also gave me a little kick in the pants today which I needed as I am/was feeling frustrated at what I can’t do 2 months out from surgery…but you reminded me again about the being alive thing…!!!!!!!!!
I haven’t had chemo but I do have an ms spinal cord lesion that has left me with some of the pain and burning and the feeling that my feet were not my own. It is strange.
I KNOW you will grab back everything in life that you can and will enjoy it…
hugs to you John….Michelle
Thank you for the update on the heels of a terrific image. I love the light play on the tops of the leaves. This one is really peaceful. I may need to snitch it.
I especially like how the short depth of field focuses attention on the leaves. Yes, very Zen-like.
Glad you’re still kicking, John. You’re an inspiration.
John, I love this image. You are right it is a very Zen feel. Lovely.
I am thankful for the update, it gives those of us who live with different long-term issues / illness or other physical situations the reminder we need that “we are here and there is much we can do.”
H John, you are in inspiration with your photography and your attitude, thank you for sharing both. The maple leaves are exquisite! I love the lighting.
Beautiful photo John, and well worth saving.
Thanks for the personal update. We’re grateful for your determination 🙂
Looks like some other kind of plant I knew when I was younger. Nice B&W though.
Chuck at Apocalypse Now