Here's a unique session. In one day Rex goes from long hair to......well.....you'll have to watch

Check this band out. The lead vocal is the son of a dear friend and photographer. We've purchased the rights to use they're music for our slideshows.
http://www.myspace.com/cedaravenue

Here is one image that shows her strength and independent spirit.....

On Karly's lap is the keyboard she uses to communicate with.

She types with the aid of her mom's gentle, stabilizing assistance, and her mom then translates her words to voice.

Here's another image I loved from Karly's sessions...

In the foreground is her piano. In the background is the keyboard she and her mom use to communicate.

I just love the light across her fingers....:o)

Well...it's 2:22 am and I'm still thinking about the session I had with Karly this afternoon. She and her mother, Lois, her Stepfather Greg, and her good friend and caregiver Emily came to my studio to review and choose from the images we've created recently.

We've been working together recently because Karly has finished writing, composing, and now recording songs and poetry for her very first CD. What makes this so unusually amazing is that, as I mentioned in my last post, she lives with Rett syndrome.

To understand what that means, there is a link later to click on. I've also copied some info below to give just the basic descriptions of the syndrome.

Because of Karly's inability to keep eye contact or speak with her mouth, control many motor functions, and so-forth, her parents have described how many people don't seem to communicate with her in a meaningful way....speaking to her like she's a child instead of the amazing 24 year old woman she is.

Well I'm telling you that she is absolutely incredible!!! Her attention to detail and her appreciation for even the subtlest artistic nuances of the images she chose was awe-inspiring! Not only that, but her decisiveness as to where she would like to put any given image to use was a testament to her outstanding artistic gifts.

I've been truly inspired by the time I've been privileged to spend with Karly.

I'll be posting more info about her CD and where to purchase it as soon as I have that info. I've also attached one image, and there will be more to come.....

Jeff

Here is that link again: http://www.rettsyndrome.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsectio...
And from the NINDS: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/rett/detail_rett.htm

Here is some info from the NINDS site:

Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmenal disorder that affects girls almost exclusively. It is characterized by normal early growth and development followed by a slowing of development, loss of purposeful use of the hands, distinctive hand movements, slowed brain and head growth, problems with walking, seizures, and intellectual disability.

The disorder was identified by Dr. Andreas Rett, an Austrian physician who first described it in a journal article in 1966. It was not until after a second article about the disorder, published in 1983 by Swedish researcher Dr. Bengt Hagberg, that the disorder was generally recognized.

The course of Rett syndrome, including the age of onset and the severity of symptoms, varies from child to child. Before the symptoms begin, however, the child generally appears to grow and develop normally, although there are often subtle abnormalities even in early infancy, such as loss of muscle tone (hypotonia), difficulty feeding, and jerkiness in limb movements. Then, gradually, mental and physical symptoms appear. As the syndrome progresses, the child loses purposeful use of her hands and the ability to speak. Other early symptoms may include problems crawling or walking and diminished eye contact. The loss of functional use of the hands is followed by compulsive hand movements such as wringing and washing. The onset of this period of regression is sometimes sudden.

Apraxia — the inability to perform motor functions — is perhaps the most severely disabling feature of Rett syndrome, interfering with every body movement, including eye gaze and speech.

Children with Rett syndrome often exhibit autistic-like behaviors in the early stages. Other symptoms may include walking on the toes, sleep problems, a wide-based gait, teeth grinding and difficulty chewing, slowed growth, seizures, cognitive disabilities, and breathing difficulties while awake such as hyperventilation, apnea (breath holding), and air swallowing.

Today I get the privilege to work with Karly again. She is an amazing woman that is making a CD of music and poetry that she has written and composed. What's even more incredible is that she lives with Rett Syndrome. Here's a link to understand: http://www.rettsyndrome.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsectio...

I've already done one session with her to create some beautiful portraits of her.....today we get to create some art with the near her piano at her home.

Here's a link to Karly's blog: http://spiritdances.wordpress.com

I was privileged to be asked to be mentor at After Dark Austin. It will be a learning explosion for professional photographers.
https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:37509.2400405669/rid:c15...

I had a blast today with all of the students. Talking about the ideas of what makes a great photograph ART with passionate people always jazzes me up. I hope that all of you students had fun and that the chocolate and granola bars hit you well:o)

It is already the end of the year for the 2009 Seniors. The year went fast. We are just finishing up a few shoots and invitations for our awesome seniors. Elizabeth and her mom were so amazing to work with. We are looking forward to starting 2010 Senior portraits. During May we have amazing deals!!!

Family