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Hard Cold Pain and Endure


Hard Cold Pain and Endure
Photo Information
Copyright: Robert Shannon Sr (eqshannon) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2458 W: 216 N: 10292] (31141)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-02-13
Categories: Mountain
Camera: Fuji Finepix S2 pro, AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D
Exposure: f/4, 1/64 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): My Wilderness [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-08-20 4:34
Viewed: 3105
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
It takes a bit of imagination to understand how and why I took this picture. Imagine me in my bed, nursing a broken back... and my bed faces a ceiling to floor window with a view of the steep ravine and mountain climb just the other side. The next day my son must be at school. Our ride for him called to say she wasn't coming. The only one who could do it was me and it was a MUST situation. I did some calculations. We lived so remotely that we would be the last primitive road to be cleaned by the government. Our 500 foot dirt driveway would have to be shoveled by the last remaining son who needed this ride. And I walked.... barely with a walker...slow as a snail and in pain all the time. I look out the window at the tamarack tree 20 feet from the valley crest. Snow is coming down so hard that we can barely see anything. It is windy, cold and snowing hard. By morning there will be 3 feet of it on the driveway. We must wake our son 3 hours early in order that he get shoveling in time. My mind races into an almost panic at my plight and all I can do is take a picture. I propped myself up on three pillows. Jane got me the camera and I shot a few pictures of the tree with snow coming down. By 6am that picture was published in the paper 100 miles away, along with the story of the heavy blizzard that hit that night.

A newspaper published a "blurry picture"??? Of course. For one thing, the blur adds to the story and is in fact an integral part of the story. Snow coming down this hard doesn't stop in mid air to be pictured. And in my case, a broken, but healing back couldn't stop me from doing my duties as a parent of a senior getting ready to graduate. In the wilderness, one must do three things wisely...(1.) Identify( 2.) Adapt and (3.) Overcome....There is no such thing as stopping. One can die if they stop too soon. Failure is not an option in the wilderness...any single mistake can be costly. Nature and natural events are much stronger than mans body but I could not let them be stronger than my will to survive. And I did. And I am here, posting this picture and story to you. I never gave up. And for that...I grew. And for that....I give praise. I hope you understand my words. It means much to me...it is what I am her for.
jmirah, angybone, Kathleen, Silke, MMM, earthtraveler, fartash, anel, CENT-TRETZE, Luis52, joey, oscarromulus, Evelynn, lawhill, CeltickRanger, parthasarathi has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To earthtraveler: Not the kindeqshannon 2 08-20 13:14
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Bob,
A fine story along with a great photo depicting just how beautiful, if sometimes savage and unforgiving, Mother Nature can be. Very well portrayed.

TFS
Jim

Amazing photo...the blur was necessary to convene the blizzard.
Always good notes...always much to think about. :)

Hi Bob.
Wow, both image and story. I can only imagine the endurance to overcome.


Kathleen

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 98 N: 1707] (5458)
  • [2007-08-20 5:34]

Superb image and you are absolutely right: the whole essence of the image is a huge part of the story.
Nature photography is not only about crispness, composition on the thirds, precise metering and lighting. Nature is also this: raw and real and ... ... ... unforgiving
TFS
Silke
P.S. I am glad I found your work too.

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1114 W: 0 N: 2546] (11425)
  • [2007-08-20 6:28]

Hi Bob
I like that photo.That snow comming down give a beautiful dreaming aspect to the picture.
TFS Michel

Cool image BOB. Sure, why not. Consider that a pun also. :-)
The forest green colors come through nicely.
Quite the story. Happy to hear you accomplshed what you believed you had to do.
TFS
Richard

Hello Dear Bob
What a wonderful scene you captured,
It means alot for every photographer which
understand about soul of photography.
Superb shot,Welldone.

Good Luck
Fartash

Hello Bob:

Thank you for having thought of one of my photos. I have visited your gallery of photos and hew could see that you have a few very good works and a few very documented commentaries.

The photo that you present of this tree due to the great storm one can guess or feel everything what does not gather the photography, ways intrasitables, accumulation of snow in the roofs, immobilized vehicles and many things more. But here in my country there is a saying that he(she) says " To The evil time, good face " WHICH means that with tenacity, desire and I work quite is solved
A cordial greeting friend
Josep

Hello Bob,
Another photo and story marvellous, even if this snow gives me cold in the back
friendly,
Pat

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2007-08-20 14:54]

Hola Sr. Bob.- Otra fina foto. Exelente la historia que escribe Ud. en su nota. Me agradan las dos. Saludos Luis52.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1739 W: 224 N: 6872] (24909)
  • [2007-08-20 15:13]

A magnificent shot Bob!
I'm shivering just looking at it!
Excellent shutter speed to give the bit of blur from the snow that intensifies the atmosphere.
Very well done,
Joe

Man,
What a story.!!!
What a photo.!!!
Great compostion.!!!
Am very proud to call you "MY" friend.

Well, now I almost feel the cold and the pain from seeing the photo and reading the story. I hope that son remembers what you did for him and will be a dedicated parent himself. It is a strong image. Thanks for sharing it and the story.

Evelynn : )

Wonderful shot I can feeling the snow and the chill air blowing, but for the critiques and comments you all ways capture the visitors
attention and feeling, you are a very talent
and brave guy, I now for experience the meaning of Failure is not an option.
TFS. Best regards/Lawhill

bonjour Bob

cette photo qui me fait penser à une peinture ressemble
exactement aux rudes hivers que l'on a au Québec et Canada

ce que j'aimes de ta photo, c'est l'arbre, le brun de la branche
qui se détache des couleurs de l'arrière-plan

TFS pour la photo et pour l'histoire

Asbed

hi Bob,

very nice picture with mood!i like it very much.and the tree is very well exposed!
tfs
tom

A nice romantic picture with an unromantic story that reminds me a fact. Two years back there was heavy snow fall in Shimla hills. It was the worst snow fall we didn't faced for a decade. I was positioned at my small retreat in Solan, a small town located in lower altitude near Shimla. People rushed from the plane to enjoy the snow and also a ten member team of my friends and their family from Delhi. They enjoyed the snow fall, sculptured snow man, and staying after two days, they left thanking us for our hospitality. Then I went out to collect logs to lit fire because due to massive power cut our power batteries were drained and stored water and food were finished. At night, my wife, my daughter and myself gathered energy for the next day having some soup and bread only.

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