Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Welcome To The Darkside
Some interesting light formations where coming out through my window and onto my wall one morning. I shot a few pictures of the light itself which did not turn out to be very interesting. I took a few more shots and suddenly realized that my hand was in one of the pictures creating an interesting shadow that was mixed in with the vine like light. Some enhancement and shadowing gives the lighting effect.
Photography
So I have bit the bullet and bought a new Canon Rebel EOS T1i. A digital SLR (stands for "single lens-reflex a fancy way of saying that what you see in the viewfinder is nearly 100% accurate to the image or light that is coming through the lens). I have spent quite a bit of time looking for the right camera and lens(s) to buy and I think I made a good choice with the amount of money that I could spend on a camera at this time. That is just the beginning, learning how to take good photographs that make the viewer wowed is another story entirely. You could have the most expensive equipment in the world but without the basic understanding of art and structure your photographs will be rubbish.
So why spend time learning photography and the art of taking great photos?
I am enthralled by the ability to capture beautiful moments in time that will last forever. When you take a photograph you will never be able to recapture the exact same image again. If you end up in the right spot at the right time without a camera you have lost the opportunity to shoot a spectacular moment.
Jay Maisel, one of the greatest photographers in history really summed up why he takes photographs in the following statement. "The serendipity of not knowing what I am going to shoot is what keeps me going." He carries his camera everywhere he goes and when he takes photographs they happen mostly spontaneously, he doesn't know what he is going to shoot until the opportunity arises. And that's really it, you never know what you are going to shoot and that is exciting. When you do capture the perfect picture it all pays off for having the know how to have made that image look amazing.
The art, creativity, and freedom of taking photographs is really surreal. I cherish to have the ability to be able to share photographs with my family and others. The experience of going back in time to when the photograph was taken is priceless.
Gabe
So why spend time learning photography and the art of taking great photos?
I am enthralled by the ability to capture beautiful moments in time that will last forever. When you take a photograph you will never be able to recapture the exact same image again. If you end up in the right spot at the right time without a camera you have lost the opportunity to shoot a spectacular moment.
Jay Maisel, one of the greatest photographers in history really summed up why he takes photographs in the following statement. "The serendipity of not knowing what I am going to shoot is what keeps me going." He carries his camera everywhere he goes and when he takes photographs they happen mostly spontaneously, he doesn't know what he is going to shoot until the opportunity arises. And that's really it, you never know what you are going to shoot and that is exciting. When you do capture the perfect picture it all pays off for having the know how to have made that image look amazing.
The art, creativity, and freedom of taking photographs is really surreal. I cherish to have the ability to be able to share photographs with my family and others. The experience of going back in time to when the photograph was taken is priceless.
Gabe
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Layers: Foggy Highway Morning
I am actually quite proud of this picture as it was taken on a whim while driving to Williams Lake for a morning shift (summer of 2010) at approximately 0630. It was shot with my simple point and shoot Panasonic Lumix. Notice the layering from top to bottom. Sky, trees, fog, barren grass, road lines. A cool effect. Picasa 3 used for editing. Death and Dying
Below is an experience that I had in the hospital recently.
A few weeks ago I cared for a palliative client. Palliative care is for persons who are nearing end of life as their condition may be deteriorating quickly and their overall prognosis is poor. Failing body systems caused by cancer, old age, trauma, disease, medications, etc. ultimately end in death. The particular patient I was caring for had extensive bowel cancer metastasizing to the pancreas, failing liver and kidneys, and oxygenation to tissues was becoming poor. When I cared for this patient I saw her deteriorate quickly; she was responsive to stimuli i.e. she would react to my voice or touch on the first day I cared for her, but on the second day she presented as unresponsive to stimuli (she was however still breathing and had a pulse).
I found that the most difficult part of caring for this patient was not that she was dying, it was the impact that her dying had on her family who came to the hospital to see her pass. As the patients primary care provider at the time I am responsible in caring for both the patient and family during the patients stay in the hospital. Your responsibilities as the nurse for a palliative client is to console the family, answer questions, effectively communicate to family members the patient's condition and measures of care, provide comfort measures to the patient (control pain, turn patient Q2hrs to reduce the chance of skin breakdown, clean mouth, etc), advocate for the patient, and collaborate with the patient's physician.
On the day of the patient's death her husband phoned the hospital and asked me if his wife was going to die today. Not literally in those words but that is what he meant. How do you answer that question? I told him that the his wife was doing poor toady, more so than yesterday, and that we do not know when she is going to pass. He asked me if he should take the kids out of school to see her. I responded that he should come and see her himself and make that decision, I cannot make the decision for taking the kids out of school to see her as patients can still survive for many days in the same state that she is in but she could also pass suddenly.
The whole family (or those who could make it) ended up coming to see her. They said their good byes and mourned for her. Many tears were shed... she had a young daughter. She ended up dying a few hours later after the family arrived (this is a phenomenon that happens quite regularly, the patient holds on to the last thread of life until family members say their good byes or at least come and see them in their final hour).
This is a bit of a morbid situation yes, but it is important to think about death and how it affects us personally and others around us. I thought about this situation extensively after it had occurred because I have not had many patients die under my care.
So what did I learn and what do I know?
1) A persons perspective of death is obviously effected by the experience of death in their lives. Many people have never seen someone die or had someone close to them die. The effect of death may have a very different impact on this person than someone who has been through the process of death and mourning of a loved one. The experience of death can be very negative, on the other hand death can be seen as very peaceful, and it is for many people. It can be seen as a beautiful transition from one life to the next. Many people die in their sleep or otherwise painlessly.
I do not know how I would react to the death of one of my family members. At this time because we are all so young I think it would come down fairly hard. But I know there would be light somewhere at the end of that tunnel. My spiritual beliefs would comfort me because I do believe there is life after death, I know that I would see that person again.
2) Why am I thinking about this? Well unfortunately or fortunately in the nursing profession you are thrust into situations where death is imminent and you are a crucial piece in the dying process for helping the family and the patient transition from life to death. It is key to have an understanding of the death and dying process in the nursing profession because you will undoubtedly be exposed at one time or another.
3) Death and dying experience, life experience, and maturity is key to finding the appropriate way to communicate with family members and close friends of the patient who is dying.
4) It is critical that as a nurse you are able to dissociate yourself from the situation. If you get too emotionally attached to the patient or the family you will suffer from increasing distress and negativity in similar situations ending in burn-out. Maintaining a caring presence for the family is key but a balance must be made with your inner-self and the context of the situation.
5) I did alright. I was able to console family members to the best of my ability and experience at the time. I was thanked for my care.
6) Death is a part of life and is a transition into what we do not know, and that is why it can be a source of fear for people. It can also happen at anytime, making the thought of death for yourself or a loved one even more scarier. I have decided to not be afraid but instead to be prepared, I want to have lived as righteously as I could have during my life so that when I do come to the time of death I can reflect and say to myself that I did what I was meant to do.
Gabe
A few weeks ago I cared for a palliative client. Palliative care is for persons who are nearing end of life as their condition may be deteriorating quickly and their overall prognosis is poor. Failing body systems caused by cancer, old age, trauma, disease, medications, etc. ultimately end in death. The particular patient I was caring for had extensive bowel cancer metastasizing to the pancreas, failing liver and kidneys, and oxygenation to tissues was becoming poor. When I cared for this patient I saw her deteriorate quickly; she was responsive to stimuli i.e. she would react to my voice or touch on the first day I cared for her, but on the second day she presented as unresponsive to stimuli (she was however still breathing and had a pulse).
I found that the most difficult part of caring for this patient was not that she was dying, it was the impact that her dying had on her family who came to the hospital to see her pass. As the patients primary care provider at the time I am responsible in caring for both the patient and family during the patients stay in the hospital. Your responsibilities as the nurse for a palliative client is to console the family, answer questions, effectively communicate to family members the patient's condition and measures of care, provide comfort measures to the patient (control pain, turn patient Q2hrs to reduce the chance of skin breakdown, clean mouth, etc), advocate for the patient, and collaborate with the patient's physician.
On the day of the patient's death her husband phoned the hospital and asked me if his wife was going to die today. Not literally in those words but that is what he meant. How do you answer that question? I told him that the his wife was doing poor toady, more so than yesterday, and that we do not know when she is going to pass. He asked me if he should take the kids out of school to see her. I responded that he should come and see her himself and make that decision, I cannot make the decision for taking the kids out of school to see her as patients can still survive for many days in the same state that she is in but she could also pass suddenly.
The whole family (or those who could make it) ended up coming to see her. They said their good byes and mourned for her. Many tears were shed... she had a young daughter. She ended up dying a few hours later after the family arrived (this is a phenomenon that happens quite regularly, the patient holds on to the last thread of life until family members say their good byes or at least come and see them in their final hour).
This is a bit of a morbid situation yes, but it is important to think about death and how it affects us personally and others around us. I thought about this situation extensively after it had occurred because I have not had many patients die under my care.
So what did I learn and what do I know?
1) A persons perspective of death is obviously effected by the experience of death in their lives. Many people have never seen someone die or had someone close to them die. The effect of death may have a very different impact on this person than someone who has been through the process of death and mourning of a loved one. The experience of death can be very negative, on the other hand death can be seen as very peaceful, and it is for many people. It can be seen as a beautiful transition from one life to the next. Many people die in their sleep or otherwise painlessly.
I do not know how I would react to the death of one of my family members. At this time because we are all so young I think it would come down fairly hard. But I know there would be light somewhere at the end of that tunnel. My spiritual beliefs would comfort me because I do believe there is life after death, I know that I would see that person again.
2) Why am I thinking about this? Well unfortunately or fortunately in the nursing profession you are thrust into situations where death is imminent and you are a crucial piece in the dying process for helping the family and the patient transition from life to death. It is key to have an understanding of the death and dying process in the nursing profession because you will undoubtedly be exposed at one time or another.
3) Death and dying experience, life experience, and maturity is key to finding the appropriate way to communicate with family members and close friends of the patient who is dying.
4) It is critical that as a nurse you are able to dissociate yourself from the situation. If you get too emotionally attached to the patient or the family you will suffer from increasing distress and negativity in similar situations ending in burn-out. Maintaining a caring presence for the family is key but a balance must be made with your inner-self and the context of the situation.
5) I did alright. I was able to console family members to the best of my ability and experience at the time. I was thanked for my care.
6) Death is a part of life and is a transition into what we do not know, and that is why it can be a source of fear for people. It can also happen at anytime, making the thought of death for yourself or a loved one even more scarier. I have decided to not be afraid but instead to be prepared, I want to have lived as righteously as I could have during my life so that when I do come to the time of death I can reflect and say to myself that I did what I was meant to do.
Gabe
Moon Nebula
February 19, 2011 at 2100. A bit pixely, a slower shutter speed would have given it more detail and better exposure. Nonetheless I like this photo because I get the feeling of the moon sinking into nebula like clouds. Edited with Picasa 3
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Snow Shoeing
We had some snow shoeing fun at Lac Le Jeune lake in February 2011. This was the first time I went snow shoeing and it was great exercise on a beautiful day. While we were hiking on trails and the lake itself I realized how fortunate we were to be able to have the freedom to go out in our backyard and experience this environment. Thanks Ashely for making this happen!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
2010 Pictures
To Dave, Alena, Anara
I made a slide show of pictures that I (and family) took in 2010, including photos of our Christmas in 108 Mile Ranch. All the pictures were shot with either my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 (a simple point and shoot camera) or an even worse cheap digital camera that my parents own. Some pictures actually turned out not half bad and I thought that I made a rather decent slide show with Picasa 3. I tried uploading my slide show video to blogger with failed results as the image quality is absolutely terrible. So for now I will post a few of the best photos taken in 2010 by myself or family. I cannot wait until I am no longer a starving student and then I may actually be able to afford a decent SLR with the accessories needed to take more quality photos. I will send a disc with the slide show soon.
Take care,
Gabe
I made a slide show of pictures that I (and family) took in 2010, including photos of our Christmas in 108 Mile Ranch. All the pictures were shot with either my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 (a simple point and shoot camera) or an even worse cheap digital camera that my parents own. Some pictures actually turned out not half bad and I thought that I made a rather decent slide show with Picasa 3. I tried uploading my slide show video to blogger with failed results as the image quality is absolutely terrible. So for now I will post a few of the best photos taken in 2010 by myself or family. I cannot wait until I am no longer a starving student and then I may actually be able to afford a decent SLR with the accessories needed to take more quality photos. I will send a disc with the slide show soon.
Take care,
Gabe
Sunday, February 6, 2011
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