For week 39 @westcoastwallis asked me to "portray in a photograph the relationship you have with your wheelchair."
This challenge was particularly hard, not only in terms of photograph technicalities, but also in terms of emotions and thoughts. I've been disabled my entire life so being in a wheelchair isn't something I think about often. I felt as though I had about as much "relationship" with my chair as a walking person has with their legs. Then I was coming home at about 11 last night and noticed the tree shadow on the side of my house, then I noticed my wheelchair's shadow and I thought "shadow of me". And really, it sums my relationship up perfectly. Had I not been born with Spina Bifida, I would not have met the amazing people that I know through my camp. Had I been born "normal" I wonder what I would be like personality wise. Growing up I never understood the kids who were so concerned with having the latest fashions or technical gadgets. As a kid I spent a lot of time in and out of doctors offices. I had more surgeries in the first 10 years of my life then most people have in a lifetime. I've always realized that there are so many more important things in life than what you own or who you know. Maybe that's why I never had a lot of friends growing up, and actually enjoyed talking to my teachers as opposed to my peers. Being in this chair has molded my life and made me who I am. That being said, I feel as though a lot of people look at somebody with a disability, and that's all they see, the disability. I am not my chair, my chair is just this..a shadow of me. I guess it's fitting that I had this revelation while coming back from the emergency room.
And now I'm over thinking this shot and what it represents, so before I get over emotional and erase it, I'm logging off. Good Night all!
Apparently, the shadows are better seen if "viewed large."
Wow, Melissa. I agree with your Mom, that was incredibly articulate and revealing. (But not in the too much information kinda way). I love the way you executed this challenge - it's not something I would have thought of (again), and your words "I felt as though I had about as much "relationship" with my chair as a walking person has with their legs" was kind of a light bulb for me. Of course that's the case. How could I think it would be any other way? I'm glad you agreed not to opt out of this challenge and rose to the task, and did so with grace and creativity. Obviously this is a fav for me.
@westcoastwallis
What, no sass for my "darn you Paula" tag? lol. Thanks so much for the encouragement and the challenge, maybe it'll open up doors to use my chair as a prop or subject more.
Melissa, this was very touching and thought-provoking. Your challenge was in no way an easy one, but you really did meet it with grace and intellect. I'm sure it's a healthy lesson to us "normal" people (seriously disliking that label) to be reminded that you are not your disability and should not be defined through it.
Anyway, I'm afraid I sound stupid with my blabbering, but what I was going for is that FAV. :D You rock. :)
@joa
Thanks so much! I'm not fond of the "normal" or "disabled" labels either, but they are there.
You don't sound stupid at all, you know me I'm all for talking about thoughts, and psychology, and emotional..crap. lol
I really love it melissa. And your words resonate with me. I'm not disabled but can completely relate to things in our lives making us the people we are. I've had conversations with people about the amount of bullying I had at school and if i would want to go back and stop it, or if i would want to do more or less of other things in my life and the truthful answer is no because without these things I wouldn't be the person I am today.
@gwhit123
Thanks so much George! I agree 100%, when we are going through hard things, they can seem unbearable, but I think the majority of them are really "blessings in disguise."
@mej2011 me and my wife always say things happen for a reason, because we've been through some tough times and always come out the other side stronger, wiser or whatever
This is fabulous. I first saw this last night on my phone, and I must say all I could see was a black square. When I tweaked the brightness though the image revealed itself and I thought "oh wow". Very powerful photo, in combination with your dialogue. Fav.
@dtigani
Thanks so much David! I took several shots with different settings and some are much lighter, almost daylight looking, but I felt as though they didn't capture the shadow as well. Perhaps I should upload one of those for comparison? Thank you so much for your kind words, taking the time to view my photo, and the "fav".
@agima
Can I get you to look at this one when you have a moment and kind of give me a suggestion as to how to make the image more visible should I attempt this again? Thanks so much!
@mej2011 Boy it is really really dark...The shutter speed is no where long enough. This would need to come up at least 3 stops of light which would mean you need to expose this for at least 3 seconds.
The problem you then get is movement.
you could of also increased the ISO but given the type of camera you are using I wouldn't suggest that as it would make the time very very noisy and not worth using.
@mej2011 It might make a difference but you would have to test it.
As a rule you dont want to go above 800 ISO unless you are paying $$$ for a camera that can handle it.
If you were to do it again you could use the lights of a car to show the shadows better and give it a spotlight effect.
If I was going to do it, I would put in a couple of lights to do the same as a car but ive got the flexibility that I own a few lights but most people wouldnt
August 18th, 2014
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Whew...this was a challenge indeed! I hope you like it!
Thanks Mom! And thanks for NOT writing a big long sentimental thing that was going to make me cry. :)
Thanks so much Carolyn!
What, no sass for my "darn you Paula" tag? lol. Thanks so much for the encouragement and the challenge, maybe it'll open up doors to use my chair as a prop or subject more.
It could have been worse, at least you didn't ask me to photograph a stranger again.
I think this will be as close as I'll ever get to photographing my disability.
Thanks Jani! I was worried about the image being so dark.
Thank you Taffy!
Thank you Pam!
Anyway, I'm afraid I sound stupid with my blabbering, but what I was going for is that FAV. :D You rock. :)
Thanks so much! I'm not fond of the "normal" or "disabled" labels either, but they are there.
You don't sound stupid at all, you know me I'm all for talking about thoughts, and psychology, and emotional..crap. lol
I know..I was trying to make a joke. And what do men know anyways.:)
lol. I wonder what kind of retorts Jani will have to this. lol
Thanks so much George! I agree 100%, when we are going through hard things, they can seem unbearable, but I think the majority of them are really "blessings in disguise."
Thanks so much David! I took several shots with different settings and some are much lighter, almost daylight looking, but I felt as though they didn't capture the shadow as well. Perhaps I should upload one of those for comparison? Thank you so much for your kind words, taking the time to view my photo, and the "fav".
Thanks so much Ann!
Thanks so much Chelsea!
Thanks Lisa!
Thanks so much Kali!
Can I get you to look at this one when you have a moment and kind of give me a suggestion as to how to make the image more visible should I attempt this again? Thanks so much!
The problem you then get is movement.
you could of also increased the ISO but given the type of camera you are using I wouldn't suggest that as it would make the time very very noisy and not worth using.
I suppose having upgraded from the Coolpix P100 used here to the D3200 won't make any difference as far as ISO?
Thanks for taking the time to look at this. I probably won't bother trying to recreate it then....
As a rule you dont want to go above 800 ISO unless you are paying $$$ for a camera that can handle it.
If you were to do it again you could use the lights of a car to show the shadows better and give it a spotlight effect.
If I was going to do it, I would put in a couple of lights to do the same as a car but ive got the flexibility that I own a few lights but most people wouldnt