Survivorship & Photography by Rae and BP

Interview with Siri Okland for the Breast Cancer Awareness Challenge 2012

Rae’s Introduction
…Until we have a cure, early detection is vital…

As most of you know, October was breast cancer awareness month.  I was over the moon excited when I was asked to join hosting this years 2nd annual BCA challenge with Trinia (@trinia) Kris (@leftcoastadventures) Renee (@azulbandit) and Kelsey (@kelseyhope)  This was my first challenge on the hosting end of things.  I learned right away that there was a lot more work behind the scenes then I ever imagined but giving the challenge topic at hand, it didn’t matter.  Seeing the support by everyone and hearing their stories, made it all worth it.  When we first announced the challenge, we wanted to make sure we focused on raising awareness.  Just knowing one person booked an appointment and/or did a self examination made us happy.  I know each of my cohost and I were told on different occasions that our end of the day goal was affective.  It was so moving to have people come together and share their stories on how cancer had affected them, their families and/or friends.  Many just wanted to know how they could help (ie sponsoring, donating, promoting on their feeds or just asking others to join in.)  Before we knew it, the challenge just kept growing.  This is the community I love.

Our first place winner was Anna (@annacox) and Anna being the gracious women she is, kindly gifted this interview to our second place winner, Siri. .  We couldnt be more pleased with this interview and who you are about to meet.

BP’s Introduction
First off, BIG thanks to Trinia, Kris, Renee, Kelsey, and Rae for pulling off such an important contest. I have been totally moved by the stories and the photos that was shared all in the name of awareness for breast cancer. I’ve opened my story on one of the photos on my feed and so for those of you who haven’t read it, this, THIS cancer shit, has affected too many lives – most notably one who I love so dearly. My ask to the organizers was to not only have the involvement of Juxt, but to carry the story past the contest win and continue the education. As you’ve read above in Rae’s introduction, there are so many great stories of how this contest, this month has reached many people. Those affected in the past, those affected currently, and those who may be affected in the future, took a stand against this horrid monster. Breast cancer is only one of its ugly heads. We must continue to find ways to help those who are working on the cure. October was a rough month. There were 3 diagnosis and 2 scares just within my circle. Cancer has spread viral as usual AND in this day and age, our fight should take the same position – we go viral in stories, in education, and in support for those we love affected by cancer.

BIG thanks again to Trinia, Kris, Renee, Kelsey, and Rae…BIG thanks to all of you who contributed and spread the awareness about breast cancer…and BIG thanks to Siri for opening up her art, story, and life to the world.

Below you will find questions that Rae and I asked Siri. She, like her photographs, is truly inspiring.

Folks meet Siri.

“Found this little scared and frozen cutie in the street today. Seemed to have given up life, but after warming up, he flew up to the lamp in my bathroom. Next step: Convince him that others than Mom can feed him.”

It’s not often you get this close to a wild bird, and certainly not often a bird looks like it’s posing for you like this. As all of my pictures on IG, this is shot with my phone.

Siri on mobile photography

What is it about mobile photography that has you hooked?

I fully discovered the fun of mobile photography when I joined Instagram. Of course I had used the phone as a camera earlier, but mostly to document things that happens, like birthdays and stuff. With IG I discovered editing, which was new for me. I got hooked right from the start. First it was like “Hey, look what I can do!”, which in fact was more of a “Hey, look what the IG filters can do!” But the initial fascination over the filters faded after some postings. The overall reason that I still am hooked, is that mobile photography has made me see my surroundings with new eyes. Or perhaps I should say sharpened eyes. I also like the instant about it. You see something and snap a shot as you go. Sometimes I post it immediately, sometimes I use more time to watch it over.

What do you love about the community of mobile photography? how has the community helped you in process?

The fun of mobile photography is the sharing part. I follow great photographers from nearly all over the world, and love the diversity in motives, styles and preferences they show. Moscow subways, Hawaiian flora, Canadian nature, Indonesian fishermen or Iranian creations – I like to get square glimpses from total different everyday lives, I like to get other’s local views, other’s personal or artistic colored perspectives of their country’s directly into my phone. And I like to share my own photos too. The communities on IG are great. I’ve only met supportive people who cheer and clap each other’s back. Subcommunities like @joshjohnson, @colorsofthewwek and @dailyphototopics are great examples of this.

“Into the courtyard.”

There’s a lot of doors and gates on IG, and I can understand why. They are inviting, colorful and often small pieces of art. When I passed this one, I fetched the phone from my purse immediately. The color tones in this picture are one of my favorite palettes.

“Going to need one soon.”

Another example of how common objects can turn into something else, something different, something more, when you put it into a square on Instagram.

“Going to pieces.”

I don’t know why so many of us like macros, but it might have something to do with an urge to reveal the mystery of objects or nature – in this case wood. Peeling paint and other textures amazes IGers in the same way as art do to the audience in an exhibition. Who hasn’t put the face up close to a painting in order to study the traces from the paintbrush?

“Delightful in a hot summer’s day in Lisbon.”

My family were on holiday in Lisbon, where it was extremely hot. Outside the aquarium we were drawn to this huge fountain. There was a wall of falling water, and we all were happy to get cooled under it. The waterfall was so noisy that we couldn’t hear each other, and we all screamed of joy. I like the dress in motion and the gesture my daughter is making when the cold water hits her neck.

When did you join IG? And how do you feel about the shift in how this app is being used?

I joined IG in April this year. I didn’t expect anything from it, just wanted to check what kind of app Facebook found it so important to buy. Despite this I got hooked immediately, as I told before. I understand that some people regret that IG has turned into more of a social community than an artistic arena. I haven’t been around long enough to observe this shift, but as far as I see, IG works well serving both those functions. There is space enough for everyone. Of course one can regret though, that great tags are being “polluted” by people who don’t have photos that fit the theme, but just want to get seen.

What are your go-to editing apps?

In about 7 out of 10 photos, I stick to the filters IG provide. On my way I’ve tried six or seven editing apps, but dismissed most of them. For my own photos, I don’t like too much edit, but Snapseed is my friend. If Snapseed can’t help me to get where I want to go, I check Photo fx. If I’m not satisfied, I simply don’t post. Along the way, I’ve improved in controlling (some of the) the factors before I shoot, and that’s a greater joy than heavy edit, I think.

Siri and Her Story

Were you surprised with how much positive feedback you received on the image posted of yourself? and how do you feel about it?

Yes, I was really surprised and overwhelmed by the support and positive feedback I got after I posted this self portrait (which – that is important for my to underline – my husband shot). A whole lot of IGers told me that the photo touched their heart. Cancer affects many people, directly or indirectly, so I guess it’s easy to draw some lines to one’s own life. I was deeply touched by the encouragement people gave me, and also touched by the stories some of them shared with me.

Can you provide stories of your journey (finding out about the diagnosis, your reaction, and/or family reaction)?

When I got the cancer diagnosis the first time, of course the world fell apart for me and my family of five. I didn’t see that one coming at all. Our three girls were 9 years, 4 years and 11 months, so my husband and I had no choice but manage the situation. Breaking down was not an option. I was breastfeeding the baby when I got the diagnosis. After the mastectomy a week later, it was quite weird: At one side the lifegiving milk were flooding. At the other there were nothing but potential death. My husband was great during this time (as always). To me, it was a great sorrow to lose a breast, but his humour helped a lot: To me, it doesn’t matter. You know I’m not good at thinking of two things at the same time anyway, he said. The nicest thing someone ever told me. Ever!

Having someone to care about is a good medicine and helps you through the days. When our youngest picked the day after I got the diagnosis to walk her first steps, it got clear to me that life goes on, and I was definitely going to fight to be a part of it! And here I am!

“Blue vases in silhouette”

This window is in my parents’ house and I’ve seen it for years, but after starting IG photography I SAW the beauty of it for the first time. That’s what thrills me here: It makes me see my surroundings differently. This picture is one of my earliest, and I keep coming back to it because it reminds me of this discovery.

“Broken angel and bulbs at wait.”

This photo is an example of the fun of challenges. The task was something like “still life with three objects”. I looked around in the house to find a still life that fitted, because I didn’t want to make it easy by putting something together myself. In this vase I had stored some used bulbs waiting to be recirculated and an angel waiting to be mended. Decorative leftovers.

“From the beach today.”

What can I say? Nothing trumps the nature.

As a cancer survivor, did you find the need to reprioritize things in your life and if so, what?

Actually, I never felt that I had to reprioritize any major directions in my life. My husband and I already had put family first, so there were no need to change something in that regard. It was a good feeling to be content over this. When it comes to minor insignificances, such as shining windows and stuff like that, I’ve learned to say to myself: Frankly, I don’t give a damn!

What are some words you would like to give to a woman and her support systems who are currently going through this horrible situation?

It’s not easy to give general advices to others, because there are no rights and wrongs when it comes to handling cancer and coping with the pain, the fear, the treatment, the existential loneliness. We are all different, and have different needs. But I can tell what helped me, though, and that was a couple of things: A lot of talking and practical help. The first one was a natural result of me being open about what had happened to me and my family. The second one was a natural result of the same.

If I shall give one advice to people who know someone who is ill, there is one thing I want to stress: Try to help and be there for them also after the initial shock and crisis. It’s a long run to recover, and they need someone at the later soup stations of this marathon run as well.

At last, I want to tell how grateful I am to live in the western part of the world, where we are lucky to have good health care. Not everyone in the world has drawn that winning ticket. I’m fully aware that I am healthy because of medical research that has been going on for decades in order to find cure for cancer. Therefore I’m thankful for every coin people generously donate to research and grateful for every pink ribbon I see.

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 Thank you Siri. Thank you Rae.

 This article is dedicated to all the survivors and supporters of cancer. 

You are always in our thoughts and prayers.

God Speed. – We Are Juxt

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 Below you will find the photos tagged to #BCA_Challenge2

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