Jay Scott Photography

Recent Events

I thought it might be time for an update to let you know what I have been up to through means other than photographs.

Yesterday I was given the opportunity to fill in at a spina bifida workshop for a friend who is dealing with some health issues. I have learned more about spina bifida in the last few weeks that I have ever known before. It’s interesting how you can be friends with someone and be aware of the cause of their disability but not take the time to look up all the finer points and symptoms until that friend is dealing with some severe consequences from the cause of their disability. I will sum it up to say that they have finally figured out the problem and have a solution in place, but as always, slotting him in for the minor surgery to implement that solution is what is taking the time. Meanwhile, he’s stuck in the hospital watching the World Cup (he’s a big fan) on a tiny little TV hovering over his bed. Hopefully he will be home Tuesday and by the time we are done holidays I will be able to get back to the zoo with him for some exercise and conversation if he is up to it.

The workshop was called Power Full Independent Living. I expected a bigger group but there was just a handful of age 10 to 16 boys with spina bifida who are learning the importance of developing independence as they begin reaching that age when it will soon be time to learn to drive and likely go to school and move out on their own. I don’t think this workshop would’ve been a bad thing for any boy that age but it was targeted at the specific issues these boys would be facing and how to overcome them. I was able to demonstrate my van along with Golden Mobility and their brand spanking new Chevy Venture van that was modified to have a lower floor and a ramp. It was nice for them to be able to see a few different types of hand controls and a few different van’s both a few years old and brand-new.

After listening to a talk on nutrition they made some smoothies and then barbecued some burgers. It was supposed to be the boys barbecuing but I ended up doing it. Paul, my friend and coordinator of the workshop, invited me to demonstrate some cooking techniques for them. Now, I had no problem with that but Paul and I were the ones there with paralyzed hands so, aside from learning cooking techniques, there wasn’t too much but the boys could learn from us. I suppose reaching across myself from a wheelchair to reach the barbecue is something that they could have observed. But, I think that if I had picked up the flipper started turning the burgers we might have ended up having some hockey pucks instead; None of them wanted to grab the barbecue tools and get it done. The most outspoken of the boys insisted that I burned the burgers and I tried to assure him that had I not flipped them, as everyone else was too busy chatting, we would have had them far darker than I like and made them.

Disability or not, those boys seemed like typical boys and that’s good to see. However, when I was beginning to give my presentation, that same outspoken boy who had got it in his head that he was going to add a slice of cheese to a smoothie after lunch, was given more freedom than I would have hoped your typical boy would be given when someone is trying to speak to you, before an adult suggested that making a smoothie and running a blender while someone is trying to speak is not the best idea.

It was good workshop, I was more than happy to help and spend time with them and to show them, should they be interested in photography, some of the great equipment out there both adapted for my disability and simply factory made devices that are helpful for anybody, but particularly someone in a chair, could help them make better photos and make it easier to enjoy the hobby.

As for things I’ve been doing lately, most of what you see in photo related blog posts is pretty much what I’ve been doing. Soon I’ll have a post of a photo that strays from my typical techniques. I like to do as much as I can in camera and with the lights that are available to me. The photo I am working on is a composite of 48 different exposures using only one SB-28 (and the tail lights and headlights of the car for two of the 48 exposures) to create the photo. Some purists might say that it isn’t a photo but a hacked together image file. Honestly, I tend to lean toward the right with them but I’m also aware that it is 2010 and that the digital age is upon us. If you don’t embrace it and keep up with the techniques you will be obsolete very quickly.

Soon our holidays will begin and we will be off to Edmonton and Jasper. Perhaps then I will have the opportunity to rekindle my original love of photography, scenery. I’m sure I will have many photos to share after the trip is finished. This coming week will be a lot of preparation for holidays so if the posts are thin for for a few weeks please keep an eye on the site and I guarantee when we return this space will be worth a few visits!

Tags: events, holidays, saskatoon, spina bifida, workshop