I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “I’m going to get this shot in all four seasons!” Only I never do.
That’s what makes me love this series of photos so much. I caught the autumn leaves before they passed their peak and had a blast shooting the “tunnel” of trees in all their orange glory.
As my dear friend lived on this street, I was around often enough to notice the changing of the seasons and grab the next shot.
Snow days in Brussels were scarce and typically short lived. One year it snowed a little and I snapped some shots, but it was just a dusting and I wasn’t happy with the scene. As our departure from Belgium loomed, I resigned myself to the fact that I wasn’t likely to get the winter photograph I wanted.
In January of 2017 I caught the break I was looking for. It started snowing in the early hours of the morning and was still snowing when I got up. It was just enough to give me what I wanted, but not so much to be snowed in.
I finally had my four seasons series! Will I ever repeat it with another scene? Who knows?
I don’t always use a wheelchair, but when I do, I take the opportunity to take a lot of pictures! Inspired by a recent trip to the zoo in which we brought out the power wheelchair, we decided to venture downtown to visit Denver’s Union Station.
I have been to the Union Station in DC a million times and never get over the feeling of awe it inspires. And my university team used to go to the Model UN conference held in the former Union Station in St. Louis – which is now a hotel, conference center and mall. In fact one of the first places I crossed paths with my husband was at this former train station. Both places left a lasting impression, so I have wanted to check out the station here to see if it lived up to its cousins in other cities.
Getting around downtown Denver is no easy feat, and my mobility issues make it even more daunting. Add cold weather and I just couldn’t do it alone. Luckily we had a free weekend and the weather was unseasonably warm. We loaded up the power chair and found the closest parking garage to the station. While the idea of using the wheelchair full time is daunting, I can’t deny that it is handy for longer outings and makes it possible for me to use my big Sony camera.
Union Station in Denver is an impressive structure, built in 1880. It’s smaller than the other two stations mentioned, as train travel west of the Mississippi River has never really taken off, but still worth a visit. The inside is also less ornate, but classy, and filled with bars, restaurants and shops, with the bulk of the building taken up by the Crawford Hotel. Local, regional and national trains stop here and it’s a great place to start or end your train travel adventures.
One feature of the Dairy Block not to be missed is “The Alley.” In December , this heated alleyway is home to the Mistletoe Market filled with stalls selling everything from jewelry to artwork to culinary delights. An interesting feature is the mirrored ceiling in the middle of the alleyway. Pass through after buying your Christmas presents, or stop for a drink (or ice cream!).
Another noteworthy block nearby is McGregor Square. In December it boasts an ice rink set up in it’s center. But this would be a great location at any time of the year to have some beers while watching a game on the giant TV overlooking the square. Built to mimic nearby Coors field, the buildings housing various eating and drinking establishments wrap around this space, giving you the feeling of being on a baseball field.
At the end of the day I was satisfied with my little outing. I got some great shots of the station and practiced seeing – and getting – shots from my new vantage point. I still need practice, but the whole exercise boosted my morale. And I finally got to explore part of downtown Denver (LoDo as the area is called by locals).
It helps that Denver is a fairly accessible city. Most areas have curb cut outs in the sidewalks for us wheel-dependent folks. And a large number of businesses have an accessible entrance somewhere. Not all the sidewalks are well maintained, but nothing I encountered was enough to hinder my exploration. I look forward to taking the wheels out for a spin in other parts of downtown Denver again soon!
*It is worth mentioning that the Accessible/Family bathroom in Union Station requires a code to enter. You must track down a security guard who will come let you in. There is plenty of space and grab bars near the toilet, but the sink is not really accessible. I didn’t go into the main bathroom, but I did notice that the main doors are propped open, so that is one less obstacle to overcome.
Ever since my diagnosis I’ve been trying to figure out my place in a world that is very different from what I envisioned once we returned to the U.S. I was able to switch gears and threw myself into the animal welfare world at Good Shepherd Humane Society in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where I found a secondary passion and had the great pleasure to see amazing changes and help implement programs helping the region’s stray animal population and pet owners alike. I was happy to stay at that organization for as long as possible when my voice gave out and I was no longer able to answer the phone and speak to our constituents. I have kept in touch with the team and am so proud of the impact they continue to have on rural animal welfare and the impact they have had on the region in support of our furry family members.
In the years that I have been away, I have come to know several people with a wide range of neurological diseases and conditions. There is Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, ataxias of all sorts, ALS, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, Multiple Sclerosis, PLS, cerebal palsy, and a whole host of other neurological afflictions too numerous to name. While some have treatments and mitigations, others, like HSP, do not. Some are a death sentence within a few years, while others, like HSP – thankfully, are not. Each of these conditions deserve research and it’s difficult for me to pick one to support. I found the American Brain Foundation that supports research for a wide variety of neurological issues. thereby supporting research for not only my own issues, but those of whom I also care about.
It’s with both of these causes in mind that I came up with a great fundraising idea. I love the work of both Good Shepherd Humane Society and that of the American Brain Foundation. Some will want to support one or the other, and I respect that greatly!
So I have a proposition for all of you: For every 8×10 or 8×12 print you buy directly from me for $40, I will donate half to either Good Shepherd Humane Society or The American Brain Foundation – your choice! Any of my photos from any of my platforms (this website, Facebook, Instagram, or FineartAmerica.com) is up for grabs as long as you send me your request directly at arklahomamuse@gmail.com stating the name of the photograph, the platform from which you found the photo, and your choice of the two charities to donate to. Payment is through Paypal or Venmo and a request will be sent for payment after the order has been sent.
Island Life for Two
I do hope you all join me in supporting these two great charities! In this way, I can use my passion for photography to further the cause of animal welfare in rural communities and support those who are searching for cures and treatments that affect more of us than the “rare diseases” label would seem to indicate.
Thank you!
Blackwater Falls – shot using long exposure, a neutral density filter, and a remote trigger release.
I’ve written and rewritten this blog post multiple times now. Trying to decide how much detail to go into is difficult! But ultimately it comes down to this – I have been diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia with Ataxia. It’s been a multi-year journey to get to this diagnosis, with my walking going from bad to eating pavement regularly, and no longer navigating stairs or declines without handrails and some help. I am a full time wheelie walker warrior now, and balance issues negate me standing up while holding anything, much less an expensive camera.
This has meant that my plans to climb all over the hills and streets of my Ozark town, taking photos, doing portrait sessions, developing a photography tour of Eureka Springs, were thwarted by my own body. What has happened since, is that through the encouragement of my husband, and the richness of the landscapes we find ourselves touring at the moment in the Rocky Mountain region, I am doing what all good Foreign Service spouses do and pivoting to new subject matter. I’ve been doing that for most of my photographic journey, so it (now) makes sense for that to still be the case. It’s been a tough mental exercise to finally get to that understanding. It’s not unlike having to leave Belgium and my lucrative print/portraiture business for a tiny post in the Caribbean without those opportunities. Or the subject matter shifts in my previous moves from country to country.
For the moment I take most of my photos from a vehicle. My husband has developed skills at positioning the car or truck so that I can get some really great shots. I recently went on a photography ride alone and experienced first hand how difficult it is to find a place to pull over, out of the way, to get the shot I am aiming for. I also have a couple of chair options – power chair and a seat attachment for my walker, so that I can get some photography in at more urban or restrictive (ADA accessible!) sites like the Royal Gorge and various gardens. I have yet to venture into downtown areas. This is a slow process getting used to my limitations and my startling visibility. I miss my covert status!
I am starting to connect with other photographers and travelers with various conditions that either hinder their mobility or put them full time in a wheelchair. Some have either picked up photography as a hobby or have adapted their photography businesses to fit their circumstances. The range of abilities and tenacity is inspiring! I am now considering more options for going forward. I might just get the portrait sessions going again, once I reconfigure how I do things. That is still very much a work in progress!
I am also reaching out to other photographers, regardless of their mobility status and trying to learn, and be inspired by their work. No I can’t hike to that remote spot in the mountains to capture that landscape, but I can train myself to see the landscape shots and try to get out at the best times for natural light (also still working on this, lol). No I can’t jump around and speaking issues will limit my ability to communicate clearly, but I may find a calmer, more intentional way to shoot portraits.
Whatever I do, the important thing is that I continue to keep doing what I really enjoy. Editing, purging, and posting? I will continue to struggle to sit down and just do those just like I have for years! But eventually I will do those things because I enjoy sharing what I’ve captured. And I hope that you all enjoy seeing the world through my eyes no matter what vantage point I see it from!
Please, as always, like, comment, and share my posts with others! And if life throws you roadblocks – Pivot! Pivot! PIIVVOTT!
It’s been awhile since I picked up my camera. Or rather it’s been awhile since I picked up my camera without fear.
Due to some sort of joint/muscle problem keeping me wobbly I’ve been afraid. Afraid of falling, afraid of tripping, afraid that whatever is wrong with me is permanent or serious. In normal times my fear of doctors keeps me procrastinating, putting off getting that diagnosis. But this year, COVID-19 hit. And then we were in the process of moving to our forever home. So why start this fact finding journey in VA.
I finally have an appointment with a doctor so I whatever is wrong whether it’s just a funky disc, or something else, at least I’ll know. I do know that as I’ve lost some weight and cut way back on bread products, I seem to be walking better. Not sure what the correlation is, if any. Maybe I’m just having good days while these warmer, Indian summer days are here. Whatever the reason, I’ll take it.
So I took the opportunity this morning to wake up early and get out the door. I’m about 3 days too late for the better fall colors, but at least I’m out again. I needed to remind myself that I am still a creative individual. I needed to remind myself that I am a photographer. I needed to remember that I enjoy the exploration of the world around me and capturing the beauty of what I see in at least one or two good pictures.
To all the 2020 high school seniors, the 2020 university seniors, and all those looking forward to the rituals and pomp & circumstance that signal to your psyche that you have, indeed, made it through to the next level, I say congratulations! Congratulations on your achievements, great and small. Congratulations on getting through this trying, difficult, disappointing, and weird time.
I wish you all the best of luck and I hope you find the things in life that lift you up and fill you with passion and joy. Take care. Stay safe. And use every opportunity to grow!
And to all my senior portrait clients this year, thank you all for allowing me to be a part of this very special milestone in your lives!
Another one of my favorites for reasons I can’t explain. I decided to give it a black and white treatment as well, and now I don’t know which one I like better!
Arklahoma Muse Photography and Design 