Tag: portrait

Portal to another World

On By Fred KingIn 2024, bubble, cancer, cancer clinic, Ireland, personal, Seattle, Thoughts, wandering photographer2 Comments

Finished 3rd round of chemo a couple of weeks ago. That part is going as one would expect- usual side effects that pass after a week or so. My anemia is negatively affected by the chemo so I now have to get a Retacrit shot every week ( side effect of the shot is a constant, massive headache 🤕). As much as I like the staff at the clinic….seeing them weekly was not on my radar. The normal weekly dose of Retacrit is 20K units. I’m given 40K! It’s become a real battle between Anemia and Cancer 🤷🏼‍♂️😙. A bit absurd, but what can you do? It’s fun to watch the doctors as they react to these skirmishes.

The fourth ( and perhaps last 🤞🏻) chemo is coming up on Tuesday, next week.Enjoying feeling normal -relatively speaking-for the next few days.

The title of this blog post is a reference to a song lyric by Dublin singer, songwriter, writer & guitar player, Keeley Moss. Her band, KEELEY, is pretty amazing. Like me, she is a True Crime buff, and has a WordPress blog, The Keeley Chronicles, which is dedicated to the 36 years old, still unsolved murder ( in Larne, Northern Ireland-Ballypatrick Forest)of 18 year old German student/tourist, Inga Maria Hauser, in 1988. It’s a heartbreaking case that Keeley Moss has presented in a multitude of chapters or posts on her blog, with sensitivity and insight.

Anyway, here is a shot of me during round 3 of chemo, recently. Not bad for almost 73! Lol!! No close ups allowed! I’m more comfortable being on the other side of the camera lens 😉.

My best to all!

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

💪🏻👍🏻💙.

Second Chemo

On By Fred KingIn 2024, B&W, black & white, cancer, cancer clinic, Fall, iphone 12, nature, Nature, Personal History, Seattle, Thoughts, wandering photographer, West SeattleLeave a comment
Was a long one yesterday, 4.5 hours. Mostly due to extra labwork to check on my kidney function – would I be able to handle a dosed down Carboplatin infusion ( one of two chemo drugs I’m getting). This particular lab had to be sent up to the main hospital lab, rather than the in-clinic lab. I was given an injection of Retacrit, which should increase my RBC. I’ll have to get this injection and kidney testing with each cycle of chemo, but I’m still on track to finish by November and then do a PET scan and assess where we are.

Can’t say enough good things about the Oncology staff and especially the nurses. It’s got to be a taxing job, on many levels. I have a great rapport with my Oncologist-brilliant guy!

It’s nearly the official start of Fall.

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

All good 👍🏻💪🏻🙏🏻.

Health Update

On By Fred KingIn family, iPhone12, Personal History, portrait, Thoughts, wandering photographer2 Comments

A month ago I had lower back surgery. Simultaneously, I was also dealing with a different hospital /doctor group for my cancer. I have an inoperable tumor in my upper left lobe/lung. Juggling two critical health issues at the same time was more than enough for me to deal with. I haven’t posted as I have rarely left the house, hence, no new photos to post. I actually have a few from before surgery, but it’s tough to get past the circumstances of surgery, etc.

This morning I got a call from the doctor working on my cancer case. The two biopsies they took 10 days ago were NEGATIVE. This was the best news. Now things are in motion to treat the inoperable tumor with Targeted Radiation. Next week the the Radiation Oncology doctor from another clinic will be contacting me to schedule an intake exam and treatment schedule.

I’ve left out a couple of health related issues that have occurred in the past month; I’ve lost 35 pounds, kidney function dropped, etc.

Targeted Radiation has its own set of side effects. I feel good about handling just one treatment course. Had one or more of the biopsies been positive I would be facing chemo in addition to radiation.

I was so relieved to get the good news this morning; nearly in tears. My family and more have been so supportive these past few months;prayers, hugs, chicken soup….

My goal has been to stay alive and relevant for as long as is possible. Today’s news gives me hope that I still have work to do and things to photograph in this crazy world we live in.

Blessings to all,

Fred,

The wandering photographer

📷🎞️

Ireland 2014

On By Fred KingIn Blue Sky, clouds, coast, iPhone4s, Ireland, Lake, nature, people, portrait, river, rocks, Samsung ST150, Travels, tree, UncategorizedLeave a comment

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES
SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

A sampler of Irish landscapes taken in 2014. The Cliffs of Moher* are behind me and the other three images are from two different spots in the Irish countryside.

*I still haven’t mastered the ‘selfie’.

Hello Fresh

On By Fred KingIn LES, Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City, Nikon D610, portrait, street, Streets, Travels, UncategorizedLeave a comment

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Two Whole Foods employees, in the Lower East Side (NYC). After trying to convince me to try home delivery, even though I live 3,000 miles away. The girls insisted I take their photo. We also spent time sharing family info, etc.

“I’m Kenny Banks”

On By Fred KingIn LES, Manhattan, New York, Nikon D7000, portrait2 Comments

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Here’s the story on this series of photos: I was in the LES (Manhattan) during CMJ shooting street scenes between sets at The Cake Factory and other clubs, when this guy comes out of a pizza place holding a $.99 slice, blurting out “Take my picture”! ( repeatedly, till he caught my attention). “I’m Kenny Banks”! I don’t know who Kenny Banks is, but this guy seems to think I should. He carefully places his slice of pizza in his car, an older, black Mercedes, and walks up to me and says, again: “take my picture with my car”! So, why not, I will play along. People around us are stopping and wondering just what is going on and why is this guy is loudly barking out “Take my picture”. I quickly take a few shots of him as he goes through this set of gestures. When I am finished shooting he goes back in the car, as I think we are done, and comes back with a CD and business card which states he is really “Kenny Banks”. He goes on to explain that he recorded with Kool and The Gang way back when and actually did some writing and background vocals for that group. He asked that I send him copies of the photos, which I did after I got home in Seattle. I emailed him files of the above photos and have not, to this date, heard back from him. He currently his a part of this group called The Rhythm Makers which do a lot of gigs around NY.

I debated with myself about doing this post for a couple of months. I finally decided last night that maybe the time was right. Tomorrow I will post some of the images I was actually shooting when Kenny Banks briefly passed through my life :-).