I just visited my spinal doctor for my 6 month check up.  Why we do these checkups, I'm not sure.  Especially, after today's visit. 

The visit started with my name being called a full 90 minutes later than I was scheduled.  The doctor walked in and asked how my neck was doing.  I told him that the pain is worse than ever and it has gotten to the point that the pain medications are doing nothing for me.  He replied by reminding me that I am too young to have the issues that I have and pretty much told me to leave.  End of appointment.

Nothing resolved.  No closer to getting me back to a somewhat normal level of existence.  Just another wasted appointment.

I called my doctor and asked him why I can't get anybody on my side in this.  With medicine being what it is, there is absolutely no excuse as to why I have spent the last three years of my life in excruciating pain. 

Malpractice can be claimed if a doctor screws up during a procedure.  Can it also be claimed if they refuse to give you help that will return you to a normal life?

To help ease my mind, I resorted to photography.  Taking pictures does nothing for the pain, but it helps relieve the stress.  I call this picture "Ghost Cars".  Taken with a 45-second exposure over US-31...

+ruined

Lately, I have started exploring a type of photo post-production called HDR (High Dynamic Range).  Basically, with HDR processing, your photos display a broader dynamic range than a normal camera can capture.  The shadows are darker and more dynamic and the highlights are bright and in your face.

This particular photo was processed by reducing the exposure by 2 stops (causing the photo to be VERY under-exposed), then saving it.  The exposure was then turned up to 1 stop under (still slightly under exposed) and saving.  Then a version was saved at the original exposure.  Then the process was repeated for +1 exposure and +2 exposure, giving a slightly over-exposed version and a very over-exposed version... 5 versions of the same picture in all.  All 5 versions were then sent through a process that combines them into a single HDR image... elements of each exposure were used to create the dynamic image you see, below.

This photo was actually taken about 30 minutes after sunset and was exposed for 8 seconds, allowing the water to have a blurred, dreamy appearance.  I froze my rear end off taking this shot, but in the end... it was worth it!

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On July 9, I shot my first "real" photography session.  My client was an aspiring model who will be moving to L.A. in the fall to pursue her career.  The problem was, she didn't have a portfolio of recent images put together, so she had me correct that situation.

When reviewing the photos on the camera, she said something that really made me feel like I accomplished something - "These are the absolute best pictures that have ever been taken of me."

Below are 3 examples of the photos that were taken.  Some of you may have to scroll to view the entire image, but I really did not want to reduce the size, too much, as it would really take away from the detail of the images.  Enjoy!

Taken on the eastern beaches of Lake Michigan.

Silhouette In The Sun

Blue-eyed Dreamer

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