The most challenging photo I have ever taken!
Due to an unfortunate series of events that includes an awkward landing on a wakeboard at the end of summer and a big accident in a wave in Hawaii in autumn, I managed to severely damage my back.
When I arrived home from Hawaii at the end of November, I was severely limping. I thought that this was only due to the tendon that I had torn in my knee in the wave. Luckily it was a relatively small tear that fixed itself pretty quickly and I was able to bear weight on my knee again.
It was then that I realised I was no longer limping due to the pain in my knee but due to the excruciating pain in my lower back and down my right leg.I limped around for a week while having treatment with a physiotherapist and osteopath who were desperately trying to fix me but had no luck in relieving my symptoms.
On the Sunday morning on the first weekend of December I woke up, looked out of the window and to my surprise we had had deep snow overnight. Excited at the prospect of some winter photography, I leant over to wish my girlfriend a good morning and to tell her how snowy it was and in doing so I must have done a movement that completely finished me off.
From that moment on I was unable to walk!
After a few weeks of being bed bound and having doctors throw every drug they had at me, I finally managed to see a consultant at the hospital. Once they had carried out an MRI it became apparent that I had herniated a disk in my back!
As soon as he pulled up this image on the computer screen, I thought WOW, no wonder I am in so much pain and unable to walk. You can see here that most of the disks in my spine are white which means they are healthy and hydrated and don’t protrude out. Clearly the black disk with the huge bulge that is pressing on to the white chord (which is my spinal chord & nerves) is whats causing me all the trouble.
I am now 3 months in and after a procedure where they gave me an epidural injection in to my spine consisting of steroids, anti inflammatory and a nerve blocker, I am slightly more comfortable but by no means fixed.
Excited at the fact that my dolphin print had arrived I very slowly unwrapped it and put it up. (luckily it is very light)
Due to the fact that the print was due to be picked up soon by the client that had ordered it, I thought I had better get a photo of me next to the image to show how good it looks and how big it is.
Working on my own I hobbled slowly around the house setting up a camera on a tripod and did my best to position it so that you couldn’t see the reflection of everything in my front room due to the glossy surface of the print. Once satisfied with the positioning, I put the camera remote in my hand and carefully held the picture taking care to tilt it enough so that you couldn’t see the reflection. Whilst doing this I had to also stand up straight (well as straight as I could) and try to smile whilst taking a professional selfie!
I found the whole taking a picture of myself and smiling without looking awkward quite a challenge. I felt like my mouth was rigid and presenting an awkward grin. When I finally loosened up a bit and started laughing at myself when thinking about how awkward, silly and weird it was that I was doing this, I kind of forgot what I was doing and relaxed enough to get a reasonable photo.
If there is any advice I can offer its this:
Don’t take your health for granted as we mostly don’t worry about something until it is gone. Eat well, exercise reguarly and don’t take unnecesarry risks as prevention is always better than cure!
Oh and buy a dolphin print as it will look amazing in your bathroom!
On a serious note, If you are interested - please let me know and I will take you through the sizes and prices
This product gives it a vibrant, minimalistic & modern look that would suit any room. These metal panels also work particularly well in a bathroom or kitchen due to there resistance to temperature and moisture.
Also available in different sizes & products. Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing one.