Photo From Montauk

Today I have Brian's voice. He is dictating over the phone.

I cant' wait to leave in October. Today I m working on the route, I have to take low altitude because of my brain injury. I've also been doing water therapy so I can step up into my trailer. I am practicing stepping up. It sounds easy, but it is like an Olympic event for me, very difficult. I've been practicing holding the camera and releasing the shutter myself. I shoot everything on film so I have to wait for the lab. Does that date me or what? I do everything slow anyhow. I'll post a photo of my new images when they come back from the lab. The ones I took on my own. It is interesting. As I keep practicing it will get better and better. Talk to you all later.

Day 5 Photo From Montauk

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon reviewing Brian's photographs, immersed in his landscapes. Seeing so many of them together was almost like taking a journey with him. Afterwards, I was scheduled to drive an hour and half to a remote high school, to watch my son's team play basketball. I was tired and not looking forward to it.

I live in a landscape that I happen to know Brian liked quite a bit, he photographed in New Mexico often for J Jill. Coming from upstate New York, like Brian, I never could imagine living in the desert. But I have grown to love the color brown, not just brown but sage and sand and adobe and rammed earth and terracotta flying by the car window. And I have come to appreciate open space; highways that disappear into a faraway blur of dust. Though I forget to look out my windshield on a regular basis, being consumed with the grocery list or how fast I need to get from point A to point B.

But soon after getting in the car, I began to think about Brian's upcoming cross-country trip. And for the next hour and a half I remembered how much fun it is to just get in the car and drive. I felt like I was in high school again. But instead of the green trees of upstate New York, there was the sun setting over a giant mesa, the San Felipe Casino with the crazy neon sign, the crossing over the Rio Puerco (pig river! my favorite), tribal lands, trailer parks, a church with a silver dome made out of tin foil. I wondered which things would catch Brian's eye, if he had been in the seat next to me. I understood completely what a blast it is going to be for him to get out again in the landscape he loves. And I couldn't wait for him to be able to get in the car, and just drive.

Jeane

This post is just a taste of the inspiration this project is bringing to those who choose to be part of it. Please feel free to join in and have your eyes opened in a new way. This journey is not just about Brain Trauma, it is about opening everyone up to the unlimited creations that are here and you are part of. CM

Day 4

When Brian Photographs, he has a different process in handling the camera. His camera is attached to a small gorilla tripod so he can hold it, as his grip is compromised. When he sees something he wants to shoot, he is handed the camera, and he finds the perspective. Who ever is with him, which is mostly his mother Sandra, pushes the shutter release for him on his cue. Quite the patient trusting photographic experience.

This can happen on the drive to and from rehab evidently. This is the same bridge on Blog #1. Change is at hand.

Day 3

The Tree that stood strong to the blizzard. I like this photo because I see it as strength in the chaos life can bring. Brian's life was pretty chaotic that winter. Sometimes holding on is not the answer. Surrendering and letting go allows new to seed and growth.

That little tree is gone now but, Brian is here and growing stronger in many ways that he could not have imagined.

Day 2

This photo is one of Brians favorites. The location is on his parents property in Garrison New York. The landscape Brian has available has been limited to the house he is living in due to his life style now. Fortunately it sits on a large piece of land. He shoots mostly from the porch. So you see he has become a master at looking for a different perspective, in his world of home and rehab. Of course we know our world is inside of us. It is how we choose to see it, no matter what is available. So my point of view is, this is a pretty beautiful abundant world Brian is and is living in.

This trip across the United States is going to be a huge challenge and change for Brian. He is in training for it every day.