<< Previous Next >>

There Would Always Be the Spring


There Would Always Be the Spring
Photo Information
Copyright: John McLaird (jmcl) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 261 W: 4 N: 204] (656)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-05-20
Categories: Friends/Family
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/119 seconds
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2007-08-22 12:55
Viewed: 569
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Please don’t let the nature of my posts restrict your thoughts in critiquing. One of the reasons I am posting these images here is to work on developing my skills.

I should note that this post is an older image from my beat up old digicam.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
There Would Always Be the Spring

Fern Lake Trail
Rocky Mountain National Park

“You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you dies each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintry light. But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen. When the cold rains kept on and killed the spring, it was as though a young person had died for no reason.”
~ Ernest Hemingway

This is Andrew .. or Bug as he has been known since he was a baby. Andrew loves hugs and tickles. Andrew is my son.

Andrew contends with severe autism. Nothing frightens me more than when I take Andrew to be cared for by somebody and they say “Don’t worry, I’ve dealt with autism before.” You see autism is a “Spectrum Disorder.” Often today it is referred to as “ASD” (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Autism is defined not by its causes but by its symptoms. There are more than a half dozen symptoms. To be diagnosed with ASD an individual must have a certain number of them. Each symptom can be present at any level of severity from near non existent to debilitating. So each individual dealing with autism can be in a very different place of severity and manifest the disorder in very unique ways.

Andrew is on the severe end of the autism spectrum. Andrew’s primary manifestations of autism deal with communication. Andrew is essentially “non verbal.” He can speak a dozen words that he uses on rare occasions. He has learned a few useful sign language symbols. He has recently started using a “Talk Box” with buttons that allow him to request various objects. His “receptive language” (his ability to understand) is much higher.

Andrew deals with a range of other symptoms including: debilitating anxiety (he takes powerful medications to deal with his anxiety); dangerous self injurious behaviors (called SIBs); he can become violent towards others (his most major behavioral leap was to transfer most of his attacks on others to injuring himself - if you call that progress).

Filtering sounds and other stimulus seems difficult for Andrew. He seems unable to place noise into foreground and background layers. Thus every noise in an environment from the hum of a light to each conversation come at him at once. Dealing with our world is very difficult for him.

One of Andrew’s great joys is hiking. He loves being out in the peace of the woods. It is our time together each week. I remember this day well. Spring had finally come to the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains. Andrew’s favorite trail was a vibrant green filtering the morning sun. The river was rushing with the Spring snow melt. Sitting here we were awash in mist and sound. Andrew does seem to enjoy a single overwhelming sound .. like music or the rushing of a Spring river. We reached this place and stopped on this stone and sat with the peace of the rushing water for the rest of the morning.
isabela_sor, rychousmama, evanrizo, Silke, TallullahLilac, Werewolf, NellyD, bracasha75, PierreFrigon, Simina, EOSF1 has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekLens members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekLens members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To tibig: go on and post ..jmcl 1 08-23 15:49
To rychousmama: Thank you so much!!!!!jmcl 1 08-22 14:20
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

merhaba my friend john
wellcome to treklens.
wonderful composition and note.wonderful light and colours.well done.
friendly greetings from Istanbul.
gürkan akçakır.

Maybe you remember ,once I told you how impressed I was reading your intro on TE .Now more than then,dear John
Happy to see your Andrew,happy to see him happy in that part of paradise,more than I can explain in words
See you both soon
And please continue to post his photos,I wil enjoy all

Welcome John.
The notice is very interesting and emotional.
Andrew is in a very good place and the photo gives a nice great impress.
Have a nice time.
Evan

Hi John,
I was really affected and touched by your title and note for this photo. The photo very well conveys what you want to show, how you want to show the world how Andrew really is, at peace. It is interesting how both "normally"-developed people and those with autism are instinctively drawn to nature and natural settings. The point-of-view at-level with Andrew and with the nature scenery behind him (dynamic with the water, brush, and rocks) make this both intimate while drawing a connection between the main subject and his surroundings. He looks very content and contemplative. Good fast shutter speed to capture freeze motion in the rushing water, to keep that moment. I might recommend perhaps using that natural lighting at a slightly different time of the day, because this strong afternoon lighting coming from the top left is creating very harsh shadows from Andrew's body, shadows upon the water, and significantly, shadows over his eyes (from his hair) and the eyes are a very important factor here in conveying Andrew's personality and his connection with the natural setting. Try taking this shot in the early morning or near the evening so the light is warmer and less harsh. Also, one more suggestion, the horizontal framing of this is great, drawing a balance between Andrew and the river, but leave a tiny bit more negative space at the right edge to not crop his shadow and also leave more room at the bottom edge rather than at the top so as to focus on Andrew and his gaze towards the water. Hope that all makes sense. I really love the amount of thought, love, and understanding that you put into this photo and into the note, it really shows because I really noticed this in the main gallery. Thanks for sharing John!
-Lara

Hi John

Let me welcome you to TL. I am moved by your notes, Nice to see familiar names on TL too, looking forward to many nice photos from you. Take care

Fara

Hi John,
This a wanderful moment captured.
Andrew looks content here by the rushing river, which itself looks very lively.
Very interesting notes which I have learnt from, and in agreeance with your fears when people generalise Autism, I believe you cannot begin to understand the individual who has autism until you get to know the person, as with anyone.
Kind regards
Philippa

I have the feeling to see some kind of communion with the nature. That we can only feel by the expression and not words. The landscape is in some way comforting. You catch it in a good way! Welcome on TL!

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2847 W: 263 N: 5947] (23586)
  • [2007-08-23 4:22]

Welcome John!
I am so glad you decided to come over here and join this ragtag lot!
We have spoken about your son before on TE, so I shan't repeat myself except to say that it is wonderful to see him happy here.
The body language is simply a young man completely at peace, hearing the music of the waters below.
Outstanding composition, fabulous mood.
Welcome to TL
Silke
:D

Hi John,

Very nice to see you here on TL also :-)
I've read your note with great intrest and it's really moving.
I' m glad you've posted this picture of Andrew, and after reading the note, for me the picture speaks for itself.
Thanks for sharing this and hope to see more pictures from you!

Greetings, Nel

  • Great 
  • tibig Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 657 W: 26 N: 681] (7565)
  • [2007-08-23 11:50]
  • [+]

Beautiful capture, sure you must have more of them, go on and post! Besides all the problems, in this shot your son looks at home in nature.
Regards,
Tibi

Hi John
First Welcome on TL
and i,m glad to see your works here...
Good image and here give no restriction on imagines...here go everithing
Nice day John.
Braca

Amazing capture. Excellent sharpness and details.
Love the POV and the composition you did here.
Maybe the BG is a bit dark, but that can be fixed. See WS.
Wonderful post.
Pierre
:) Later

A very composed image, the person on the right of is the key, the look lost in the thought... Bravo very made.TFS.

Hello John, nie to meet you with this very good side portrait and landscape of your son and great note. I read it all. Very informative. And this must have been a great morning indeed. I can imagine you both very well.

This is a very nice image of your son feeling great by the river.

Take care, Yan :)

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1493 W: 126 N: 2163] (19716)
  • [2007-09-24 7:39]

Hello John, that's a peaceful scene with your son and the superb river in the back. Well done, thanks ! Great and touching note too.

Mario

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF