Black & White Spider Awards: 12th Annual Edition

I am honored to have four of my photographs included in this year's Black & White Spider Awards, in four different categories.

Honorable Mention

Photojournalism

""Breathe, just Breathe"" 

portrait of a patient awaiting a double lung transplant. She fights for every breath.

Nominee
People"Maine Ocean" 
A very quick dip in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Maine.

Nominee
Portrait
"Tremaine, in Dorcester" 

Nominee
Architectural

"The Wharf" 
The Shacks down by the wharf in Maine

Mom

...ok, late for Mother's Day on the blog.  I posted it on Instagram & Facebook, on Mother's Day.  I guess it never hurts to post on the blog.

everyday is Mother's Day, so....I guess today works.

Little League

If it is spring, then there are tons of little kids swinging bats, catching baseballs and looking up to the MLB players.  The first Little League game was played in 1939.  The basic goals of Little League then were to provide the basic fundamental principals of good sportsmanship, teamwork and fairplay, all skills that can be used later in life.  

Support your local little league.  If you have a player, help out.   The organization is run by volunteers, and you can never have enough volunteers.

Some new work

....Some time to edit.  Experimenting with adding some depth to my black and white portraits.

Here are the results so far:

The Fight to Breathe, "New Lungs for Sue"

I don't do much video, still photography has always been my focus.  This is my first video I am putting out there for the world to see.  It is very close to my heart.  It is the story of my friend from 3rd grade, Sue and her fight to live.

I hope you will watch this and share her story.
Here is the miracle patient and her story.    New Lungs for Sue

Be Bold Be Bald

....A very busy winter and not much time to be on the computer.  Catching up on editing & looking at my work and sharing a few things from the last year.  I am fortunate to be able to love my job, and every day behind the camera or going through my work is a good day.
Today I look back to some work I did for the non profit Be Bold Be Bald (http://beboldbebald.org).  Be Bold Be Bald is an event that takes place on the third Friday of October every year, and can happen anywhere.  People wear a bald cap, or shave their head to honor those fighting cancer.  People who participate get sponsors for their bold move to wear the bald cap.  Participants then pick a charity they would like their fundraising efforts to benefit.  While the event happens on the third Friday every year, you can form your team and get started anytime.  Once again, our team this year will be the Newton North Football team, who will be on your team?

Hope Help Live; www./helphopelive.org/campaign/12194

Not my typical blog post......

HelpHopeLive

My good childhood friend is awaiting approval for a double lung transplant.  In short, while going for extensive treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fl. her employer was not able to keep her on short term disability.  She is fighting for every breath and waiting for approval and is now faced with expenses.
In the spirit of the season, if you can donate, no amount is too small.
Thank you.


From Sue Dow Smiley's   Help,Hope,Live page

Sue (Susan Dow Smiley) is a loving mother, grandmother and registered nurse.  For those of you that know Sue, you know that she is an amazing, all around giving person. She has spent her life being an exceptional loved one and friend to so many and is now literally fighting for every breath. The person who has given to so many, for so long, now needs help from family and friends alike.

In August, Sue was hospitalized with an upper respiratory infection.  Shortly after release from the hospital, she was placed on oxygen and became progressively worse. Her local primary care physician and specialists that were consulted were both puzzled and challenged by her quick decline.  After a month or so with no identified improvement, she was referred to the  Mayo Clinic facility in Jacksonville, Florida for further evaluation.

After identifying that the infection was present for some time prior to being diagnosed, it was determined that there was already permanent lung damage, so Sue was referred for evaluation to the Mayo Lung Transplant program, while simultaneously being treated with rigorous IV drug therapy.

So just a few months ago, Sue was caring for patients, spending time with her family, especially her 4 grandchildren who give her tremendous joy, enjoying kayaking and taking longs hikes on the beaches and state park trails.  Today she is dependent and tethered to oxygen and unable to go more than a few feet without needing to recover. But there is hope!

Sue is continuing to work with the amazing doctors and staff at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and we are hopeful that she will be approved for a double lung transplant.

While working through the extensive testing, temporarily relocating from her Tampa Bay area home to Jacksonville, and trying to fulfill the stringent requirements to be a transplant candidate, her employer was unable to keep her on short term disability.  Even with insurance, costs for pre and post transplant are staggering.

Please give what you can to help Sue transition through this journey and realize the dream of breathing freely again.  Help hope live!

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