New Site Published, But...

As of this writing, I'm still waiting for the request to propagate so jayscottphotography.ca links you to the new site, which can be seen at https://sites.google.com/view/jayscottphotography.

Eventually my URL will link there, but, for now, that's the direct route. Once everything is as it should be I'll tidy up this space so it looks more like it's primary purpose and less like a collection of unorganized links.

I'm glad to have been too busy to get the site up until now, but glad it's finished. Let me know if you spot any typos or dead links. Thanks!

Stagnant Looking Site - I'm Sorry

I'll admit that I fought it, a long time. Like an old geezer holding on, denying change, and insisting the good ole days were better, I fought my Facebook presence. Insisting the people who I wanted to interact with and who thought like I did would come to my site.

Excuses abounded and it took far too long to realize the true interaction does not take place in the comments section of my site, but the various groups and pages on social media. That's where you'll find the seemingly missing seven months of content. In order of posting frequency, Instagram, my Facebook profile (now exclusively for photography purposes and publicly viewable) and my Facebook Page (Jay Scott Photography).

I have a lot of plans for this site, and this blog will get a corner of that site, as well as much more frequent posts, in the new year, but until I make that happen, catch up with me on the various social media locations.

Thanks, and sorry to make the faithful visitors wonder what was going on, here.

UV Session 4 - Our Mermaid, Malorie

Certainly, it was my intention to give the previous post a fair amount of time at the top of the website, but not this much. The dilemma being that the communities and the networks are on social media so, as much as I have much greater control over the final appearance of everything here on my site, the action takes place on Facebook and Instagram, with Twitter bringing up third place. Once again, I prefer the format here where I can tell my story, where people can skim by what I have to say if they wish to. Often on social media the photos take center stage to the extent that often what the poster has to say is completely missed.

But I will start catching up with this post from the second ultraviolet photo shoot with Malorie Thomson all the way back from March 25.

 

   

 

 

When Malorie arrived, covered in gems and vibrant colours, I knew that we were in for an incredible day with some stunning results. Once we got her illuminated by only the black lights it was tough to take our eyes off of the glowing face and hair before us. I cannot express enough how impressed I always am with Jennilee's work. If you need outstanding makeup done I highly recommend her. The link to her page is at the bottom of the post, but check out Vamp Make-up if your need is unique. But, book early because she is pretty busy, and rightly so.

 

   

 

 

Unfortunately, I did not read the instructions on the reactive contact lenses used in the previous session with her. Because they were not stored properly, the contact dried out and were not safe to use any longer. I had plans for my other pairs, and thought about opening a second set for her, but am satisfied with the way her eyes looked because of the incredible makeup and the inky blackness that matches the whole underwater theme. As well, I Incorporated small kisses of light to illuminate her costume and those also served to bring her eyes out from the darkness, in the photos that the additional light was used.

 

   

 

 

After a few experiments, one including my favourite Rapella that I remember saving up for two by when I was about 11 or 12, we did a few close-ups and then moved into the real plan for the shoot.

 

   

 

 

I cannot take credit for the incredible styling of her wardrobe. My plan was to shoot to imply the mermaid with the tail. Thankfully, we had enough material and the creative work of Gerald and Julia, once again my assistants, to make a fabulous tail for Malorie. We weren't entirely certain what she was going to wear. A turquoise pair of backdrops that used to be a cover for a display easel that we toted with us to a variety of craft and art shows when I tried selling prints on the circuit did just fine. Of course, regular material like that did not reveal itself under black light, but that never stopped me from lighting it to give it the appearance I wanted.

 

   

 

 

All of those factors, the makeup, wardrobe, lighting, bequeathed giant clamshell, aquarium gravel, painted rubber ball from the dollar store, accompanied by plastic balls and three street hockey balls and an old fishing lure came together to make some pretty magical photos.

 

   

 

 

 

   

 

 

Once again, none of it would have been possible without the many hands that were there to make things happen quickly and smoothly, and bring my ideas to life.

 

   

 

 

 

   

 

 

There is more to come. I have a number of great ideas that I would love to see become reality. That said, I don't want to be known as a one-trick-pony and do have some other fine non-UV work to share, in the near future. As well, the trees are in bloom and I need to get out shooting this week, before that short-lived beauty disappears on us.

 

   

 

 

Model: Malorie Thomson
MUA: Jennilee Cardinal-Schultz of Vamp Make-up and Edon Garland
Hair: Malorie, sprayed by MUA
Agency: Infinity Management

What is Lost Can Never be Saved

 

   

 

 

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The photo in this post had been brewing in my mind and heart for years, earlier than the narrative of this post. There will be no explanation of the title or contents. The symbols speak for themselves and, regardless of if you know me and my tastes, I expect this photo to tell its story by itself.

The concept had come together, the technique and the execution I was certain of how to accomplish completely in camera, with the most minor of digital processing to create the final image above that you see. Once again, my sincerest appreciation goes to my dad for his help building some supports and my wife for helping me to position a few things safely, without the whole rig coming crashing down. Perhaps one day I will post a behind-the-scenes photo, for now there are much more important things to discuss.

What pushed me over the edge with an urgency to create this photo was the second most significant negative change in my life that I have ever experienced, and by far the most stressful and prolonged. It's long so jump to the conclusion, if you'd prefer.

It's no secret that the Saskatoon Health Region is in a deficit position. Add to that the significant growth in our province's population, especially in the major centres, and you run into even tighter capacity to meet the needs of people. Not just as related to health, but transportation, policing, infrastructure or any of the other public services we use, benefit from and pay for on a regular basis. Many times since I began using the services of the Saskatoon Health Region's Home Care I was told by front line workers that I would end up using private care after growing weary of the bureaucracy and domineering of the publicly run system. 13 years later, those people who told me that were finally proven correct.

The Health Region was on a cost-cutting mission, especially reducing clients who require their services for a longer period of time per visit. What I require is more than a 15 minute meal prep or medication visit. Their attempt to force me out was not met without some resistance. Their methods and reasoning were regarding changes in policy and changes to best practices of care, changes that were implemented years earlier, but conveniently ignored until now. The current method of care was the method I had been receiving from the first day I was in City Hospital for rehabilitation over 19 years ago. It had not changed in quality or outcome or method, methods still used by the vast majority of peers I spoke to during the length of this fight.

Weak reasoning focused around an autonomic blood-pressure response, experienced by almost all quadriplegics, was the spindle they were teetering on. The autonomic response occurs whether I am in pain, being tickled or in the cooler section at Costco. Any stimulus below my level of sensation causes it. It happens, it's my body's way of communicating with me that something where I cannot feel it is occurring, subsides within seconds of alleviating the source, and in all my years with a disability has never been life-threatening. All of a sudden, this was a big concern for them. At their request I immediately booked appointments with the appropriate doctors to confirm that the way things were, and have been since my injury, was just fine. After those appointments it was very clear that I had the support and reassurance of both my family doctor and the other specialist with whom I've worked, closely. Both of those I had worked with much more recently and further back than the doctor whose opinion the Health Region chose to agree with. You'd think I was dealing with an insurance company.

Already, with Home Care, I had felt like a time slot to be filled, not a human being who wants to make the most of his life, whatever capacity it might hold. The unrealistic options being given to me would have cost the Health Region ridiculously higher amounts of money and been completely unscheduled, which would've made my life a matter of sitting around waiting for Home Care to show up. On enough days I already struggle to place a high enough value on myself, spending the best portions of my energy to bring value to my family, friends and society. The thought of this becoming my life is as discouraging and depressing as anything I had experienced. Breaking my damned neck wasn't even as discouraging because as soon as I was stable I was being encouraged by those who have gone before me, assuring me that you'll be back to living life, soon enough. Now, those whose duty it was to improve my ability to live a quality life, or the ones threatening to tear apart all that I had built.

Why not just give up the fight and seek care somewhere else? Firstly, because it is government subsidized. In fact, as I found out later, the subsidy for the 14 years prior to this had been calculated incorrectly and by my math, I had been overcharged by the Health Region for more than $20,000.

Secondly as to why not give up, because it was wrong for them to push me out. A citizen of the Health Region has a right to the public service (barring any misconduct or disrespect, obviously none of which would come from a person like me) and for them to dictate my life and my care was wrong. Meetings with individuals like one of the Region's bioethicists (the man who, through this whole process, I had great respect for because of his fairness, levelheadedness and reasoning) along with a plethora of other people in positions you don't just casually make a meeting with, resulted in what I will consider an acceptable compromise.

I am aware of those who went outside of their duties on my behalf. I'm not certain they would have had I not fought so hard, maintained communication by writing in order to catch inconsistencies and liars in their lies, nor if hadn't had occasional inside bits of information from eyes on the inside for me to catch them off guard with during certain meetings. My overall feeling at the end of it was that I felt fairly well equipped to push back. I cannot imagine how difficult it had been for those who had no choice but to give up, when being pressured so hard by people in authority they should be able to trust. I know there were more before me because I spoke with people and I know for a fact that I was the last client with my type of care to be "addressed". I do not know, had I been the first, if I would have set a precedent for people to demand what they have a right to, but that is in the past.

The one person in authority, who I would have expected to have had my back, did not. Decades of success were thrown out the window because of a best practices change that suited the current financial situation. One of the phrases you'll often hear from any reputable source is that no two spinal cord injuries are identical. The new best practices policy, ironically, does not work perfectly for everybody and, in fact, often works more poorly for those who have been using the previous method for the majority of their disabled lives. The new best practices method is inadequate to complete the care properly and the alternative using newer technology is viewed by some as destructive in the long term. It could be compared to running your sharp kitchen knife through the dishwasher. It may be easy and save a few minutes in the beginning, but once that blade is dull and all of your food preparation takes longer each and every time, in addition to adding the danger factor of using a dull knife, you have significantly harmed the usefulness and life of that knife, forever. Knives can be sharpened while damaged human reflexes cannot.

One's right to self-determination, a human right, was in question. I won't get into the details except to say that because of the change in what is considered best practices, I remind you, ineffective or a great number of paraplegics and quadriplegics, is no longer considered ethical to "force" someone to complete the care. By forcing a health region employee to complete the care it supposedly violates them. But, according to the Health Region it's acceptable to disallow a client any right to planning and living their lives (because the caregiver could arrive at any time of the day) and also is acceptable to use technology without long-term study and potentially destructive to the client. I cannot help but ask who will be forcing physicians opposed to Physician-Assisted Suicide to do something they are morally against, if the time in this country comes. But, I digress.

Thankfully, my resolve made for the agreeable compromise I spoke of. That compromise was the quick approval of me for the Health Region's individualized funding program, where I am allotted funding to pay for private care, care that is not cheap for anyone simply seeking it without financial help. This is a much more costly option for the government and taxpayers but, it's federally funded so the provincial government, and local health region, doesn't care because they get to pass the buck/bill. Politics, good governance and financial prudence at its best!

After a brief but reasonable conversation with the fully medically trained private caregivers, they happily received me as a person to be cared for. No longer am I a time slot to be filled but someone whose business is appreciated and whose satisfaction is wanted. In fact, I feel total freedom to adjust the schedule when needed in order to take advantage of an opportunity that may come my way which necessitates an adjustment. In addition to the reasonable people I work with now, those who give credibility to my intelligence and my unwillingness to harm myself, understand that it is a team effort. They know that I'm happy to advocate for my own care, with them reliably there, when I need any support. As mentioned, which brought them reassurance about any of the a rational concerns brought about through this rigmarole, I had the support of those physicians who knew me best and who live in the real world, not the one of theoretical medicine which tries to squeeze unique individuals into the same mould.

Had Home Care management not lied to me and tried to deceive me, but come to me stating the situation and worked with me to make the change, I would not have been so steadfast in my resolve. That our healthcare system could attempt to do such a thing to me, in Canada, frightens me. Without the support, experiences and information I had available to me I have no idea what would've happened. Any lingering bitterness comes from those lies and deception, and the amount of stress and hopelessness I endured, when I should have been exuberant enjoying the growth and development of our daughter.

Conclusion (TL;DR)

1. The government was trying to manage the overcapacity state of healthcare in our province. I would be pretty certain in saying that they did not tell health region management to lie, bully and pressure people out of the system. And, don't blame the Saskatchewan Party. The individualized funding program has been around since the NDP were last in power. It's not Brad Wall's steps towards privatization of our healthcare.

2. Go ahead and throw as much money as you want at hospitals. All the staff and all the money you could throw at it, as it exists now, will not make more beds. Trying to get people home and under Home Care as long as they need it, as soon as possible, is trying to free up those beds for the next people needing one.

3. So, throw more money at Home Care, right? The steady decline in what care aides are able to do has been obvious to me ever since I began receiving the services. Along with that, morale has plunged and far too many of the best caregivers have had enough and either moved on to something else, or lost their drive to do the best they possibly can. Meanwhile too many of the people around them do a half-assed job so when they do try to go out of their way to do something that really makes a difference in someone's day, it's probably not on the list of designated tasks, and they get reprimanded by management for it, instead of praised for making a difference and showing what it looks like for an organization to care about people.

4. While some employees cut corners, make significant mistakes or have repeat injuries because they do not follow their training, what can be done to make the lives of clients better by care aides is throttled because management wouldn't possibly think of calling out an individual on their laziness or ineffectiveness. If they did, their union would (and has) defend them in obvious cases of wrong behaviours. The result is to diminish everyone and what they are allowed to do for people, damage their reputation and leave the problem for the next shift to deal with.

5. Do I think that private healthcare is better? Not necessarily. It's more costly, in the long run being paid for by insurance or other subsidies results in cost cutting which results in reduced quality of care. For now, I know that I am treated like a customer who they want satisfied and loyal. I would love to see our public system revitalized, but there is no accountability, threat of reprimand or loss of shareholder confidence. We are the shareholders and it doesn't really matter which boss we vote for.

Somewhere in there there needs to be some hard work, a huge attitude adjustments and the courage to call out individuals on poor work ethic and bad attitude, and much more positive reinforcement of staff doing a great job. Organizations on all sides should know better than to protect their members, employees, managers and clients from improper behavior. When you don't, everyone looks bad and the mandate of healthcare being a team effort becomes a laughably depressing ideology.

UV Session 3 - Malorie Thomson

   

 

I'm hooked. It's as simple as that. Every time we complete another one of these ultraviolet sessions I am astounded by the results. As with any work most photographers do, they grow tired and jaded of looking at the photos over the long term. When you spend hours working on them they lose their impressiveness and that's what I found with the past black light shoots. I still loved the results, but they weren't as amazing when you stared at them for a long period of time.

 

   

 

The amazement returns the minute you see your model walk-in, with another round of amazing makeup, and creating more magic begins anew.

   

 

Missy Makeover was booked up and I'm very happy that Mark Tiu was able to refer us to Jennilee of Vamp Make-up, who did a beautiful job on Malorie. The fine work of Mel Corkum from Alchemy Clothing and Salon on the hair was the final touch to complete the entire costume which was a wonderful delight to see glowing before our eyes.

 

   

 

I was very grateful for the help from Gerald Murray and his girlfriend, Julia. Those extra sets of hands, especially another woman for wardrobe adjustments, are not just handy, but essential for the things that I am physically unable to do. I am grateful for the people who have made these shoots possible and I am happy to organize and share the opportunity to participate in a shoot like this.

 

   

 

For the photo below, I was glad to have an opportunity to once again work with my gift from Angie this Christmas, my Lensbaby with the Sweet 35 optic. It's a tool and not to be abused, but for one fine shot I'm quite pleased with the result. However, it is a manual focus only lens and in a pitch black garage with only the UV fluorescence it was tricky to nail that focus in the sweet spot.

 

   

 

Without question, the most complex photo was the absolute best shot of the day, once again not possible without Julia running the smoke machine. When I bought that little thing for its first use at the CPA Help-Portrait event all the way back in 2013, I had no idea that this little tool would be so useful in adding that extra element of uniqueness the way that it has. Without it, I don't think that my favourite self-portrait from last summer would have been all that it was.

 

   

 

The planning for the next two UV shoots are well underway. Unfortunately, we learned that the lifespan of these contact lenses are shorter than indicated so either we need to plan shoots closer together or just consider them single use. No one's vision and eye health is worth risking for some photos. That said, they took the whole shoot to another level and I will be getting my hands on at least a few more pairs to make sure I am stocked because I certainly don't want to go backwards in complexity with these sessions.

 

   

Model: Malorie Thomson

Makeup: Jennilee Cardinal-Schultz of Vamp Make-up

Hair: Mel Corkum of Alchemy Clothing and Salon

Agency: Infinity Management

18 Months Old and Her First Haircut

 

Look at that face! Whenever I look back six months or a year I know that it's the same little girl and can see her in every photo and every behavior. But to look at that change is just something else.

    

 

I'm pretty sure that as time goes on we will be immeasurably grateful for the monthly photos of her. Of course, Angie has done an amazing job doing her best to capture our very busy and ever moving girl by taking snapshots on her phone. Those moments and video clips are very special, on their own. But, I hope that the monthly efforts we have made to take some shots like this will be an invaluable keepsake archive.

As the post title says, today was her first haircut. Angie's friend did an amazing job on a very neat trim in the back, where Fiona needed it the most. Her bangs still have a ways to grow to catch up but that style she now has just elevates her to looking even older than she already does, naturally.

A nice detail shot of feet and her first clippings was in order and I knew my mom would appreciate that. :-)

And, the final result in the back, layering and all.

90s Punk Rock Collaboration

   

Model: Lesley Pickering of Infinity Management

Hairstylist: Taylor Froese (Taylorfroesedesign)

MUA: Ashley Dormuth  

 

Feels almost as long ago as the 90s since this gathering happened. I know that I've been behind in posting, but this is ridiculous. As much as I'm not Facebook's biggest fan, it is where everyone is, communicates and collaborates. To not use it for these purposes would be to miss out. Each year of organizing Help-Portrait is no different. It's a good platform to efficiently reach a lot of participants. Unfortunately, those requiring updates by other means are either an afterthought, or another consumption of time that isn't always free. As a result, social media has seen more attention than my website.

   

 Model: Kealy Cheyenne Heeg of Infinity Management

Hairstylist: Taylor Froese (Taylorfroesedesign)

MUA: Caitlin Wiklun

 

I was given a late invitation to this shoot. Had it been sooner I would have happily helped in the planning, though the organizers did a great job. I left the little hall in Clavet, Saskatchewan, feeling like it was in the top five best times I've ever had. And that included the downside of fighting the cold I had at the time. A weak voice from my cold was gone for days after directing with all I had over the excellent music, curated by Sean.  

   

Model: Kymm Wright of Infinity Management
Hairstylist: Taylor Froese (Taylorfroesedesign)MUA: Caitlin Wiklun  

 

I believe it was that cold of about 12 days, with the cough lasting over a month, that kept my sleep poor and my head in a fog, this long. My productivity is returning, I've participated in another collaboration, that those of you who follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, will know about, and I have planned more UV and themed shoots. The momentum continues, to my satisfaction.

   

Model: Lesley Pickering of Infinity Management
Hairstylist: Taylor Froese (Taylorfroesedesign)MUA: Ashley Dormuth  

   

   

Model: Lori Cherkowski of Infinity Management
Hairstylist: Laryssa ScottMUA: Ashley Dormuth  

 

This Monday will be another UV. Next Saturday is an informal shoot the breeze, each other and still life, along with any questions and conversations that arise. Following that, I'll see where plans go. It all seems so much easier since I've had such an opportunity to network and meet some great people in the industry.

   

Model: Sean Arcand of Infinity ManagementHairstylist: Laryssa Scott  

 

As mentioned, there will be a number more UV shoots, but my preferred makeup artists, who have the right skills and makeup, are busy. Booking early should solve any availability issues.

The themed shoot coming up involves a little digital work before and after the session, and this will be my first time using this method. However, as I learned in the past, if I apply the theory that I've learned as I have with past techniques, the results will be very predictable and that's what I'm hoping for. If they are not, I know I will have no problem adjusting while we shoot to make certain we get the result we want. It might be a little bit trickier because it requires the preparation, the shooting and the postproduction to all play nicely together. I'm pretty sure I am well prepared, though.

 

   

Model: Lesley Pickering of Infinity Management
Hairstylist: Taylor Froese (Taylorfroesedesign)MUA: Ashley Dormuth

 

I realize I haven't said a whole lot about the talent of this 90s punk rock, but I am very grateful to have been included. Working with such energetic people who absolutely fit the theme and enthusiasm made the day great. I'm glad I didn't give in to my cold, but pushed through to produce some results that went straight into the portfolio.

 

   

 Model: Kymm Wright of Infinity Management
Hairstylist: Taylor Froese (Taylorfroesedesign)
MUA: Caitlin Wiklun

 

I believe that there is a value to consistency in the appearance of your final images, but I wanted to apply processing to the photos that would fit the person, their outfit and the lighting. In some cases that was very edgy and with high contrast, in others it involved more softening of skin and textures. I was happy with the results and most definitely found my job to be a whole lot easier working with these professionals. That said, there was still room for me to direct and communicate what it was I was trying to make happen.

 

   

Model: Kealy Cheyenne Heeg of Infinity Management

Hairstylist: Taylor Froese (Taylorfroesedesign)

MUA: Caitlin Wiklun  

 

I wouldn't have minded having the opportunity to change backdrops a little bit, but we were absolutely maximizing the space available to us in the hall that we had. We had five people shooting in a space not more than 20' x 40', at most. This included tables and space for the makeup artists and hair stylists, as well as an area for people to mull about when they were taking a break. There was a pool table in a lower area, that I couldn't get to. It had some character and I took a few shots from a distance but they just didn't stand out enough for me to share them. The basement had a lot of character, but the narrow staircases leading down there were not going to be friendly to me, even though they would've made superb backdrops.

I'm not upset because I feel like I made great use of the one wooden door I had to work with. Sometimes constraints produce the best creativity and results. 

   

 Model: Raylyne Jensen of Infinity Management
Hairstylist: Laryssa Scott
MUA: Caitlin Wiklun

 
Model: Nikki Marie Larson of Infinity Management
Hairstylist: Laryssa Scott
MUA: Ashley Dormuth

What you may have noticed is that there were a greater number of photos of Leslie. I didn't plan this, but her outfits and her look reminded me of a friend from my past, ironically significant in the 90s. This, combined with the photos I had found ideas and inspiration from, made for her spending the most amount of time in front of my lens. I don't think I realized all of this until processing the photos, thinking about the results, listening to the same music we listened to that day and finding memories, themes and feelings resurface from that decade in my life. The subconscious can be a very interesting and powerful thing.

 

   

Model: Lesley Pickering of Infinity Management
Hairstylist: Taylor Froese (Taylorfroesedesign)MUA: Ashley Dormuth  

 

As I said regarding the space, we made due. But, I think it might be my turn organize something again pretty soon and I have a few other places that might be a little more accessible, more spacious and only a little bit more costly than this hall in Clavet, and it was pretty cheap for the day. We talked about a few themes for the next one and I actually might need to take some time to watch a few movies, listen to some music and see if I think it would be the right theme. If I do, I'll confer with others and start inviting people to be a part of it.

 

   

 Model: Raylyne Jensen of Infinity Management
Hairstylist: Laryssa Scott
MUA: Caitlin Wiklun

 

Until then I will continue to try to keep the balance between processing current work, planning future work, planning social gatherings and informal shoots, and trying not to get too anxious for spring and the spontaneity of dropping a post on Facebook to say I'm going shooting somewhere and seeing who shows up.

   

 Model: Nikki Marie Larson of Infinity Management
Hairstylist: Laryssa Scott
MUA: Ashley Dormuth