Show your most favourite photo. - DPChallenge Forums

06/30/2006 11:04:33 PM · #1

This image may not look much. It may look very simple and plain. But this image means more to me than any other image I have ever uploaded.

You see, this is my oldest son. He is 7 years old. For the first five years of his life he had virtually no hearing at all. It took five years of pleading for help before someobdy listened and when they took action. he heard almost for the first time in his life.

He heard noises he had never heard before. A simple ambulance siren previously would send him screaming into the house....noises hurt him badly. We couldn't go to fireworks, have smoke alarms or even wash the windows. It would hurt him.

And then finally someone listened to my please and he could hear for the first time. His head nearly fell off with turning to all these new sounds in the world around him. He previously never had friends and was beaten up daily by other boys because of his problem. He wouldn't dance, but instead would fall down in a crying heap. He couldn't hop on one leg. He was always falling down. He wouldn't get up in front of people....because he couldn't hear them. If I ever went to a performance by his class he would sit on the ground and not move. The school had to sneak me in and hide me so I could see a bit of the performance...but he always knew and wouldn't perform with his class. It would break my heart to see him just scrunched up in a heap. He couldn't handle wide open spaces or playing with other children.

The day I took this photo I was photographing the children playing. Nikolas did something he was proud of. He didn't know I was watching him. He started dancing and I caught it on camera. He was singing and dancing his steps in the light of the rising sun. He was happy. He had the world at his feet. He is now the top of his class.

We now have to get him fixed every few months.....but it is worth it.

This photo makes me happy.

So now it is your turn. What photo makes you happy....and why?

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

06/30/2006 11:37:06 PM · #2

Little Miss World

I really like candid photography. However I'm not very good at capturing them but I think this one came out ok. This was shot during Flores de Mayo, a Filipino festival held at the steps of the Texas capitol building in Austin. I shot this photo right as they marched up the sidewalk. She had problems walking in her dress and the adult holding her hand was losing patience with that but the girl was seem unfazed by it all. Earlier when the adults were frantically getting things ready she was playing by herself and just seem like she was in her own little world.

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

07/01/2006 01:52:26 PM · #3

Bump**********

Surely there are more favourite photos out there...come on everyone!

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

07/01/2006 01:57:38 PM · #4

Originally posted by Judi:

This photo makes me happy.

I rarely have (or make time) to sit and do much reading, but did so here,
and am glad I did. Touching story, and thanks for sharing it!

Some of the simplest things in life are the most meaningful.

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

07/01/2006 02:05:10 PM · #5

The Face of a Thousand Tales

Without a doubt, is mine, as I believe I captured the true character of a man, and did so with a candid.

Meet Walter.
Walter is a Father, a Grandfather, an American hero.

Walter is the name that seemed to fit his character, and honestly know nothing about the man. I saw him sitting on a bench, eating his lunch, and from the amount of personal effects beside him, can only assume he was homeless.
I didn't have the guts that day to aproach him, so I walked by several times, camera at chest level, and acted like I was fiddling with my camera, when I was in fact taking burst-mode candids, hoping to have captured the character I saw in his face.

I said he was a hero. I'm sure he is to someone, perhaps a Niece, a Nephew, a Grandchild, maybe even a person he rescued from a burning building, but we will never know, because I didn't have the guts that day to meet the man behind the face of a thousand tales.

Perhaps our paths will cross again one day, and that will be a day when I hope to hear of few of his memories, and meet "Walter".

07/01/2006 02:11:41 PM · #6

A touching story to say the least. And the added information on the photo adds a new dimension.

Elvis_L

07/01/2006 02:12:40 PM · #7

this is my favorite photo that I have uploaded here. I am not much for sentiment, but this holds a special place in my heart. This is my son when he was 3 weeks old. Odin was born 16 weeks premature and weighed exactly 1 pound. He was literaly smaller than my hand when he was born (and I have small hands) while my wife was recovering from the emergency c-section the doctor came to me. they told me that he was being taken care of but the chances were not good. the exact quote used was "If we had known how small he was we wouldn't have even tried to save him" That was one the most emotional moments of my life. I was sad, scared and angery all at the same time. My son spent 4 months in the hospital during whcih he had many surgeys at least one of which I specifically remember being told that he almost certainly would not surive. My wife lost 85 lbs while he was there. I had to drag her away from the hospital.
after 4 months I got the most wonderfull gift I will ever get. My birthday is on christmas, and on christmas eve 2002 we got to bring home our fragile son. all was not well yet though. he needed to have a monitor for his heart and that piece of crap had a false alarm every few hours. nothing like waking up in the middle of the night to an alarm which could mean your son is dead. after a while he continued to grow and the monitor went away.
So now he is nearly 4 and doing pretty well. he is very healty. He is covered in scars but I figure it will help him get chicks when he is older:) he needs some more physical thearapy most likely but at three already knows his way around a computer.

here is a recent photo of him. he is clumbsy but oh so beautifull.

Message edited by author 2006-07-01 18:13:46.

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

07/01/2006 02:15:31 PM · #8

That is beautiful Elvis. A birthday you will never forget.

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

07/01/2006 02:22:16 PM · #9

Originally posted by Elvis_L:

Holy *gulp* emotional story of hope!
Wow. Certainly puts the emphasis on what is important in life.
Thank You Elvis, for taking the time to share this.

(now where's my Kleenex....)

Tamron AF 100-300mm f/5-6.3 for Canon

07/01/2006 02:25:22 PM · #10

This is my hubbie's son, Vito. He turned 7 today, the 1st of july. We had to go to the hospital today, with his mum, because he was suffering a big astmatic attack. The doc's gave him prednisolon, so it was very heavy.

Vito (named after Vito Corleone) is a very special individual with heavy autism. He can't speak, and has an emotional age of Â± 2 years.

This photo has always been a favorite for me. He was just looking into his own world when I took this shot, so I had Â± 15 minutes to adjust my settings & composition. You can tell he's the best and most patience model I have had in front of my lens ;)

He always gives me the feeling nothing but love will be on his side, no questions asked. Thinking about him (we see him Â± once a month) and looking at this photo gives me the feeling of pure love.

SJCreagan

Canon EOS-10D

07/01/2006 02:33:09 PM · #11

Originally posted by Judi:

I thought I would start this thread after reading a few other threads and realised there wasn't a thread just for showing and discussing your most favourite image.

So here is the deal.

Show us your most favourite image that you have taken....but you need to say why.

This image is my most favourite image -

Wide Open Spaces

This image may not look much. It may look very simple and plain. But this image means more to me than any other image I have ever uploaded.

You see, this is my oldest son. He is 7 years old. For the first five years of his life he had virtually no hearing at all. It took five years of pleading for help before someobdy listened and when they took action. he heard almost for the first time in his life.

He heard noises he had never heard before. A simple ambulance siren previously would send him screaming into the house....noises hurt him badly. We couldn't go to fireworks, have smoke alarms or even wash the windows. It would hurt him.

And then finally someone listened to my please and he could hear for the first time. His head nearly fell off with turning to all these new sounds in the world around him. He previously never had friends and was beaten up daily by other boys because of his problem. He wouldn't dance, but instead would fall down in a crying heap. He couldn't hop on one leg. He was always falling down. He wouldn't get up in front of people....because he couldn't hear them. If I ever went to a performance by his class he would sit on the ground and not move. The school had to sneak me in and hide me so I could see a bit of the performance...but he always knew and wouldn't perform with his class. It would break my heart to see him just scrunched up in a heap. He couldn't handle wide open spaces or playing with other children.

The day I took this photo I was photographing the children playing. Nikolas did something he was proud of. He didn't know I was watching him. He started dancing and I caught it on camera. He was singing and dancing his steps in the light of the rising sun. He was happy. He had the world at his feet. He is now the top of his class.

We now have to get him fixed every few months.....but it is worth it.

This photo makes me happy.

So now it is your turn. What photo makes you happy....and why?

text

Message edited by author 2006-07-01 18:36:31.

Fujifilm XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

07/01/2006 02:51:12 PM · #12

Originally posted by biteme:

Vito (named after Vito Corleone) is a very special individual with heavy autism. He can't speak, and has an emotional age of Â± 2 years.

You can tell he's the best and most patience model I have had in front of my lens ;)

Hanneke

Give Vito his own camera. Start with a cheap one until they get the feel of it. They see the world differently. Instead of seeing the world in their face they start to see the world through the viewfinder and feel like they are viewing from their own little room. This helps them relax and open up more.

I know....All three of my children are ASD...including Kita. That is why they all have cameras...that is why I have seen the huge difference it has made to each of them individually.

Try it.

ursula

Fujifilm X-T2

07/01/2006 02:55:44 PM · #13

Wow, those are some stories. I don't know what to say. My life seems so very simple and easy all of a sudden. I don't have anything like that. Wow.

07/01/2006 02:59:09 PM · #14

Originally posted by ursula:

Wow, those are some stories. I don't know what to say. My life seems so very simple and easy all of a sudden. I don't have anything like that. Wow.

Ursula, sure you do. As you can see by these stories it doesn't have to be anything major in the world to others...but only to you. That's what life is all about.

We all have interests and times where we just go crazy...but that is how we deal with lifes stress. What is most important is life is what is right in front of you and in your heart. Look deep and you will see it.

07/01/2006 02:59:20 PM · #15

Hmm I don't know. I don't think your kids are as autistic as Vito. Right now he's able to turn off the water-tap from the shower, he can pull his pants up, stuff like that. These little things seem to be quite easy, but every little thing is a huge improvement for him. We're still waiting for the little miracle that makes him talk a little bit, but the chance is very small he will ever be able to talk. We're still hoping, though.

I think, when I give him a camera, there are 3 options:

1: he throws it away
2: he dismounts it (I hope this is the proper word for it)
3: he bites it

;-)

Message edited by author 2006-07-01 19:02:46.

Fujifilm XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

07/01/2006 03:04:21 PM · #16

Originally posted by biteme:

Hanneke...do you realise what you have done. You have made me smile. You see...a few years ago my children were like Vito. But with strong management and a very tight team of professional workers they are doing well. My aim is to have them live a normal life. And if I keep going the way I have been then they will.

My youngest one fooled all the doctors. They never thought he would walk or talk. He did start to walk just before he was two (with physio 3 times a day) and can now run and jump. He eventually talked after having to do sign language for a very long time. We then set a long term goal to go to normal school. Well guess what. We have just been told that next year he will be going to grade 1. We have made it.

Some children get help quicker and more concentrated than others. I only wish that other parents out there with these children would help them where they are needed and not turn a blind eye to it. It is a condition that will never go away but can be improved to different extents depending on the child and his/her surrounds. Not all children will live a normal life.

The padre out of the show 'MASH' has a son with ASD. He had to finally give in and institutionalize his son when he turned 19. So it can effect anyone.

Just smile Hanneke...you are not alone.

ursula

Fujifilm X-T2

07/01/2006 03:06:04 PM · #17

Originally posted by Judi:

Originally posted by ursula:
Wow, those are some stories. I don't know what to say. My life seems so very simple and easy all of a sudden. I don't have anything like that. Wow.

Ursula, sure you do. As you can see by these stories it doesn't have to be anything major in the world to others...but only to you. That's what life is all about.

We all have interests and times where we just go crazy...but that is how we deal with lifes stress. What is most important is life is what is right in front of you and in your heart. Look deep and you will see it.

:)

I fell in love 31 years ago with this guy, we married a couple months after meeting, had 5 children, moved around a lot; we've had a rich and peaceful life. Now only 2 children are left at home. We still love each other, maybe more now than before. He hardly ever lets me take his picture, but occasionally he will, and those pictures mean a lot to me:

07/01/2006 03:09:22 PM · #18

Originally posted by ursula:

Ursula, it was there all along. You don't need to look far to see what your world is all about. And you have captured some beautiful photos to treasure your feelings about this man. He shows a lot of love in his eyes. Thankyou for showing us.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM II

07/01/2006 03:13:01 PM · #19

The problem in this situation is that we don't have the full responsibility of his education (don't know how to say this). We see him once in a month one weekend. Of course we want to teach him things and try to be as structural and consequent as possible. But the problem is, his mother isn't. (I don't want to talk negative about his mum, so I'll leave it to this)

My hubby and I talked a lot about the situation, and the only way to give him the strong management and proffessional help he needs is to keep him here. His mum, of course, would absolutely NOT allow that, and she's totally right about that. Vito is her life. And of course, we accept that, but it's hard to live with.

colyla

Canon EOS-50D

07/01/2006 03:19:19 PM · #20

Originally posted by biteme:

too bad you can't go back to court and get full custody of him :/ the more his mom delays getting the help he needs the more she is crippling him...

SJCarter

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/01/2006 03:20:34 PM · #21

This shot means the most to me. I know it's probably narcissistic because it's a SP, but I don't think I've ever captured such a strong emotion before - or the essence of a person more completely. I was "posing" for the camera (obviously) and running through images and emotions in my mind. This shot was taken during an especially difficult and trying time in my personal life and portrayed exactly how I felt. Empty. Hollow. Completely drained of all energy to care anymore about anything. Depressing, I know. But, I was able to get past it after capturing it on film (so to speak).

Plus, this photo represents my first real foray into editing (new technique to me at the time). And this shot was one of the winners of Dangenart Gallery's "Peek Through" competition - the first juried contest I ever entered. So, it means a lot to me on a lot of levels. It gained me confidence emotionally and photographically - a panel of experienced judges validated that I had some talent. :-)

Sorry my story is not as moving as some of the previous ones, but this is by far my "most favourite" photo.

07/01/2006 03:21:52 PM · #22

don't get me wrong, Vito is on a special school and gets all the help he needs over there. But, his mum is as chaotic as hell, so that's not really an improvement for his situation.

Anyway, enough about this, ok? let's get back to other favourite photos :)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

07/01/2006 03:27:24 PM · #23

Originally posted by SJCarter:

It doesn't need to be moving to the world...but it moves the world for you. That is important...that is your favourite photo...and for good reason. We all have issues and skeletons in the closet...it is how we deal with them that makes your life that extra special.

Ristyz

Apple iPhone 12 Pro

07/01/2006 04:34:42 PM · #24

The cat that called me. 8 years ago I went to the vet's office to get a cat (my hometown vet often has some extras lying around) He had three up for adoption, 2 older cats and this one. This cat showed outside the door of the clinic the night before and meowed and hollered until let into the clinic 45 minutes later. He would just not be ignored. He was stinky, covered in mud and full of earmites. He was a mess. I really wanted a young cat so I decided to take on Mr. Stinky. The vet kept him another two weeks while I was gone & they cleaned out the ears, gave him all his shots and 2 weeks later I took the still stinky cat home and named him Oliver (as in Oliver Twist)

Fast forward 18 months later in a different city. He had been missing for 36 hours. I looked everywhere and so did my housemate. Late at night I went outside to cry where no one would see/hear/bother me. I heard a meow. Fat chance.... there are many cats in the neighborhood. I went searching, it was pitch dark, I think I found him!!!! My housemate had to help, he couldn't move & I couldn't reach him over the short wall. Together we got him, he was paralized. Off to the vet.. Not good news, he had a broken back & pelvis. After 2 days of fluids it seemed he had a little bladder control and could move his back toes so we decided to give him a chance. He came home and lived in a human baby crib for 2 months. He healed! You would never know but for a slight limp and an odd bump in front of his tail.

Over 8 years he went everywhere with me. Loved the car. Loved going to my parents hour 3 hours away. Loved to walk in their garden and wildlands. Would follow me wherever I went for acres. He was my buddy and soft shoulder through some hard times (including his) This cat & I were so bonded and even more after his wreck with the dog that almost killed him.

Fast forward 6 more years, living back in my hometown. Ollie threw up, as cats do from time to time, and went into a seizure. Panic, trip to the vet. Utlrasound, meds for an enlarged heart. A rare cardiomyopathy. The meds did him well for about 3 months and then he started getting tired again. He threw up & passed out 2x in one day. I knew he was done. He knew he was done. He was sliding and about to be miserable for the rest of his life. I couldn't bear the thought of him dying while vomiting so I made a decision. He loved to go outside but couldn't where I live so I took him to my parents house and let him loose in the garden one last time. He gave me the above image (and many more) on that last day. In the pictures there is no sign of how sick he was but I knew. Later that afternoon I took him to the vet and said goodbye, then took him home and buried him in his favorite garden.

Funny thing is, that cat NEVER meowed except the 2 times he needed to so I could find him.