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Photography

Thank you for the very interesting commentary and no need

 

No need for apologies. The pictures are a bit of both - a psychic pressure valve release; the eye catching photodocumentary opportunities - how often is one in an admitting room before a surgical procedure?; and some potential in the mind's eye for some powerful affective shots.
You used emotional and stark, both feelings I wanted to evoke, so thank you for the affirmation.
Whether a photographic project or personal journey, no apologies necessary. Your comments were never malapropos in either case.
The blown highlights were deliberate exactly for the reason(s) you noted.
First shot - actually the visual cue to IV drug paraphernalia crossed my mind, and I deliberately left it that way: is the visual power of the shot- stark, foreboding, ominous - any less if they were indeed iv recreational drug paraphernalia rather than pre-surgical procedure IV kit? A different range of emotions, for sure, but no less poignant in my opinion.
Technically, the tubes, vials and sharps should have been unequivocal in their context. But the fact that they elicited a strong reaction (Even if contextually incorrect) makes me feel the shot was successful. Thank you.
The history clip board is an interesting suggestion, but there wasn't one in the room (without "staging" the shot- these were all grab shots, in situ...observational rather than editorial, though of course deliberate exposure and post processing choices already editorialize...) and of course concerns about patient privacy inure...
Thanks again for your comments, obviously your screen name is deliberately and well chosen.
TM

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Thank you.

 
By: ThomasM : August 24th, 2016-08:42
It's just routine brain surgery, but still difficult to control the attendant anxiety that attaches to any surgical pricedure. Thank you, Alkiro.

I can easily imagine your anxiety :-(

 
By: Alkiro1 : August 24th, 2016-08:50
I hope everything will be ok and you will be with your close family members very soon. Best wishes Alkiro

Critique

 
By: Pete B : August 24th, 2016-08:01
I'm guessing that this piece is a photography project rather than a personal journey, but if I'm wrong I apologise. Nice technical skills and you've used the exposure and tonality to reinforce the emotions that you're attempting to convey here. The be lin... 

you have shot in colour....

 
By: Baron - Mr Red : August 24th, 2016-09:15
....yet most of the images are essentially monochrome. I did that once by accident and it worked out well. It adds a form of starkness to an image. Here the two-tone nature of the natural scene creates that starkness without the deliberate effort to do so... 

Thanks, Baron, there was a bit of desat applied.

 
By: ThomasM : August 26th, 2016-07:36
the first picture had a bit of saturation bump and heavier contrast increase (which tends to drain color) the second and third were mainly desaturation and light cropping. your comments are much appreciated affirmation for the success of what I was after.... 

Thank you for the very interesting commentary and no need

 
By: ThomasM : August 24th, 2016-09:05
No need for apologies. The pictures are a bit of both - a psychic pressure valve release; the eye catching photodocumentary opportunities - how often is one in an admitting room before a surgical procedure?; and some potential in the mind's eye for some p... 

I hear you. I have been more than enough...

 
By: KIH : August 26th, 2016-22:07
.. a few for my late wife (cancer), and a few for myself (neuro-surgical). These are all traumatic photos for me, but it is important to have "valve" to vent, and that's why we are here. Ken

No worries. I got so used to it :-))

 
By: KIH : August 26th, 2016-22:48
..you guys helped me out here and now it's your turn to rely on us. Cheers. Ken

If....

 
By: AuHavrePro : August 24th, 2016-08:40
these represent your family member undergoing treatment then I can easily feel a tremendous level of anxiety being conveyed through these images. Even if that is not the case the images convey a sense of urgency and anxiety as is usually the case with a h... 

Thank you, Filip. It was my hope that the pictures

 
By: ThomasM : August 24th, 2016-09:11
The pictures could stand on their own, without context, touching a universal chord and allowing the viewer to project their own context after evoking a primal, emotional response, and that knowing the pictures were very personal and real only adds to thei... 

My best wishes to you and your family/friends...

 
By: TheMadDruid : August 24th, 2016-09:07
and the patient. I am reminded of the photo you posted some time back of the two empty chairs in the small hospital conference room.

echo everybody's comments here

 
By: Ancienne Le Brassus : August 24th, 2016-10:37
without context, these pictures already are strong, but with the person they're tied to, even stronger... I wish only the most courage, strength, and calm optimism for the loved one facing this. Life is a gift, simple is that. Thanks for sharing these mom... 

Excellent series on many levels...

 
By: cshimokita : August 24th, 2016-15:40
and as part of an unfolding theme we have been following. Without the patient, the series becomes a larger story, and the unused bed and unused medical aids gives hint of a positive future. A lot going on and we can catch the focused nature of a personal ... 

Very stark and powerful...

 
By: mdg : August 24th, 2016-19:36
...my son underwent emergency brain surgery at 8 years old...he will always have a titanium plate in his head to prove it. It was the most (to this day) traumatic experience of my life watching him wheeled into the operating room and trying not to let him... 

thanks, mdg. glad to read your son is doing well.

 
By: ThomasM : August 26th, 2016-07:40
the connection and empathy shared of having been through something like this... thank you.

Often art and poetry allow us an expressive means to cope

 
By: pingtsai : August 26th, 2016-06:24
It's a beautiful thing and the images do stand on their own. Without even knowing the background story, the viewer can sense the tension, and every other emotion that goes with these references. Thanks for sharing and best wishes to the patient for a spee... 

thank you, Ping, During times like this we find solace where we can...

 
By: ThomasM : August 26th, 2016-07:33
browsing forums as a diversion; venting through creative processes; keeing in touch with friends; even finding comfort at the bottom of a glass or bottle. thanks, Ping, your sentiments are much appreciated.