When a Photographer Can't Photograph

Or, as my husband asked "what are you thinking about all day while you're laying there?"

It's been almost 6 weeks of bedrest following my surgery. Next week I'll find out how many more months of this I have ahead, and whether the 2nd surgery is required. This is far from over - so I'd better continue to keep my mind occupied!

What have I been thinking about?

• I'll admit to a few bouts of self pity, but generally my spirits are high - and mostly I'm so grateful that the tumour was found when it was (before my leg snapped) and that it was benign. And grateful that my husband and daughter look after me with selfless love and great patience, I'm truly blessed and I remember that every day!


• I wonder about the lesson I'm to learn from this experience. When came through my last major health issue about seven years ago I left a well-paying, steady income to leap into the career I had always desired. It hasn't been easy establishing a new business, but that experience seemed to me to have a very clear lesson - that life is short, and I had to follow my heart to be happy (which is ironic to me given that it was a cardiac issue!)


• I'm still working on what lesson I'm to learn this time. Patience perhaps? I think I've done really well on this one, but I suppose next week's news will tell me about just how patient I might need to be! :-)


• Photography, and more photography. I just cannot get enough. I'm looking at other photographers' work, listening to audio blogs about the creative and technical, thinking about all the locations I'd like photograph when I'm able to again, imagining all the beautiful faces that my wonderful clients give me the privilege to photograph. There's never a moment that I regret leaving the corporate life behind (well, I do miss a regular paycheque and the benefits plan from time to time if I'm being honest). I know that I made the right decision seven years ago. Maybe my lesson is to fully appreciate what a gift the last seven years have been. I may have been given a rather challenging body to live inside of, but overall I'm one very lucky woman.

Using my time constructively

There's not too much I'm able to do from here in bed as I recuperate - but I was able to design my new website! Check it out at http://www.theintrepidlens.com.

Happy "Almost Spring"!

Something new to view....

I've been working hard (and with much enthusiasm) on a new website. Just a few more days..... (this has been so much fun!)

Cabin fever has set in good and hard....

First I have to let you know the great new that the bone tumour removed from my leg in early February was benign, the news couldn't have been better! Now a rather long road to recovery, still a few months of not walking as the bone heals and the options for bone reconstruction are evaluated.

Which leads to the matter of cabin fever. Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely grateful for the results of the biopsy - but staying off my leg for a rather long time has its issues! It's been almost four weeks of sticking mostly to my bed, and cabin fever has set in something fierce (I think the 16 C degree temps outside today haven't helped at all, I would dearly like to be out photographing on a day like this).

I tend to be a very positive person and I'm trying to make the most of my time but the worst of this is the FOOD CRAVINGS! All of a sudden I'll think of something that I would love to eat, but it's just not accessible (normally when this would happen pre-surgery - I'd just make a run over to our local Longo's and get the required ingredients). And on top of it today, I keep thinking I can smell the desired food which makes me crave it even more! Would you believe taco salad and Nutella on toasted

So, when I'm finally given the go-ahead to walk again, you'll likely find me at the grocery store - or in the kitchen (making food to sustain me when I'm out shooting!)

The happy side of bedrest....

It's been a week since my surgery, and all is well! I still have at least three weeks left of not using my right leg - but there are definitely upsides to all this lounging around.

1) I don't have to cook. In fact, my family brings me lovely meals to eat here in bed (thank goodness I have less of an appetite right now, otherwise this lack of activity would soon show itself in all the wrong places!) And yeah for chocolate, it cures just about EVERYTHING!
2) Rediscovering how much I love to read.
3) I had no idea that using crutches would build up my upper body muscles so well. Bring on the sleeveless tops this summer!
4) I get to shower sitting down, how very relaxing.....
5) I'm learning lots of interesting things (check out http://www.ted.com)
6) I don't have to shovel snow (who am I kidding, my kind husband insists on doing it himself even when I can use both legs!)
7) My husband and daughter who are always good at getting me laughing, continue to be good at getting me laughing through all of this.

Thank you for all the notes wishing me a speedy recovery, I'm grateful for your kind wishes! The next time I post I'll know the biopsy results, keeping my fingers crossed......

Planning my Escapism

I wish it were for a vacation (somewhere far away from these frigid temps!) but alas no.... I'll be having surgery on my leg on Feb. 9th, and won't able to reply to emails or voicemails for at least a few days afterwards.

Sure it'll hurt, and nobody likes to spend time in the hospital but what I'm dreading most is how to occupy myself during a month of recovery with very limited movement permitted! I've always been terrible at sitting still, and am often multi-tasking. And the thought of not holding my camera for weeks makes me quite unhappy!

So, I can read. I can write. If I can find a way to manoever to the TV room, I catch up on some shows and movies. Maybe a few phonecalls each day with family and friends. Maybe altogether 3 or 4 hours a day?

As I think about the other 12 or so hours that need to be filled, I get a warm feeling as I think about what the internet can bring to me (and so happy that I invested in a laptop instead of a desktop computer). I'm going to:

- look up goofy YouTube videos (I'll need a laugh or two)
- read lots of blogs (most of them will be photography related, what can I say - it's an addiction!)
- do on-line tutorials (probably all Photoshop)
- Google obscure words just to see what comes up
- look up info on remote destinations and plan my dream vacation
- drive my husband and daughter totally nuts (in this tech age instead of ringing a bell - I'll Skype them whenever I need them!)
- communicate with the outside world on the aforementioned Skype, or Twitter, or Facebook or good old email
- think about all the things I am grateful for (and there are many!)

- and most importantly try not to be a total pain in the neck!

I'll look forward to seeing you again on the other side :-)

P.S. Please do share if you have a blog I can check out, if you've found some funny videos on-line, etc. Four weeks seems like an eternity stretching ahead of me!

Valentine's Promo - Deadline January 31st

Two blog posts in the same day....I must be feeling a bit guilty for neglecting this blog for weeks on end!

Gift Certificates for a photo session were very popular this past holiday season, I enjoyed designing cards specifically for each recipient. These also make a great Valentine's Day gift, and I've been creating a few templates to be further personalized.

And until January 31st, for every $200 worth of portrait services purchased on a Gift Certificate I'll add an extra $50 print credit for the recipient. The bonus will be reflected in the value of the Gift Certificate.

Can I design one for someone special in your life?