The rolling photographer, Erik Corduwener

16 Oct

I was formerly a member of the Breda photo group, and now I have joined the Belcrum photo group. I used to have my own darkroom and printed on barium paper. After some time, I stepped away from photography to focus more on my family.

Five years ago, I experienced a serious accident that left me in a wheelchair. I was diagnosed with a high spinal cord injury (C4), which has paralyzed me from the nipples down, also affecting my little and ring fingers. Despite this challenge, I strive to turn my disability into a strength and explore what I can photograph. I've noticed that my observational skills have improved significantly.

The first photo I took after this change was of Marijn, another photographer who is also wheelchair-bound. He had worked tirelessly to set up an exhibition, which I was glad to attend. During this visit, I captured my first serious portrait in a long time. I asked him to look directly into the lens so I could connect with him through his eyes. The sunlight in the location was harsh but came in low, creating beautiful lighting. All of my portrait photos are taken with natural light and are only slightly enhanced in Lightroom.

The second shot was of the older man who initially did not want to be photographed because he was asked that a lot. I eventually convinced him by showing some of my own work.
For this shot in a chapel with difficult light, I went for subtlety in the shot and had him look over me a little, this also matches his appearance. Working with the elements that are there and looking, taking stock of what is present for a good shot, it is wonderful when this comes together in one shot.

At an art fair, the supervisor was surprised when I approached him; the grazing light was perfect, and we also had an interesting model available. He was pleased with the shot afterward. The last portrait in this series features the man on the terrace, where we initially enjoyed a pleasant conversation while sipping cappuccinos. After our chat, I asked if I could take his portrait, and I found that using both an aperture of f/5.6 and a final shot at f/1.4 worked beautifully, allowing the background to blur nicely.

The photo of a young woman had captivating eyes that demanded attention. Taking this into account for the composition, the framing was significant. The position of her hands and the sunlight filtering through her hair completed the image.

My ring finger and little finger are affected by my spinal cord injury. As a result, they are always bent, and this position worsens during spasms. Additionally, my fine motor skills are not what they used to be. Often, I feel the urge to hit the table with my fist out of frustration. The annoyance can be quite high when things don't work as they used to. However, thanks to therapy, I can do more than before and am learning to manage these challenges better. Fortunately, there are moments when I can reach out and press the shutter of the camera. Below is a sequence that starts with my fist in the middle and the photo of my open hand and ring as number three.