trialsofaninvisbleillness-blog

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Monday feels..... I remember doing research on orangutans for a colle paper and realizing that we can learn so much from these loving and intelligent apes. Orangutans are found on Borneo and Sumatra. They live 35-45 years, they live most of their life in trees, and what I think is super cool, they are able to swim and dive! This beauty is a female and is from the St. Louis zoo. @stlzoo #52bracketeers #natgeoyourshot #natgeo100contest #natgeowild #natgeotravel #instatravel #orangutans #monday #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #ape #disabledphotographer #fibromyalgia #cancersurvivor #stlouiszoo #explore #missouri #animallovers #yourshotphotographer #photooftheday #pictureperfect #love (at St. Louis Zoo) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca0LdWkPC4J/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I really think there isn't an animal I don't love. They all have their own uniqueness and qualities that are just amazing! Some cool facts about these amazing creatures. A female runs the pack, once females are sexually mature, they leave and form their own pack. The Alpha female is usually the only one to breed, average is 10 pups, but can have up to 20! The pack is very altruistic. They bring food back to the old, sick, and puppies. We could definitely learn alot from their family oriented natures! And they rarely fight over dominance. Puppies get food first, even before the alpha. They hunt in packs, with a 80% success rate, which is huge! They can run 35 mph for over 3 miles, and can even do short bursts up to 40 mph! Their markings are all unique, just like a zebra or giraffe. Painted dogs will never be domesticated. They don't trust anything, especially humans. They are definitely smart! Lastly, painted dogs are very endangered. There are less then 7,000 left in the wild. @oregonzoo #52bracketeers #52framesphotographers #52frames #52frames_ruleofthirds #natgeoyourshot #natgeo100contest #natgeowild #natgeotravel #natgeo #instatravel #photooftheday #pictureperfect #pnwphotographer #photography #affinityphoto #canine #wildlifephotography #wildlife #gooutside #disabledphotographer #fibromyalgia #cancersurvivor #oregonphotographer #oregonzoo #animallovers #animallovers (at Portland, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cau_kRbPYw-/?utm_medium=tumblr

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This bald eagle may be .issing an eye, but it is still majestic! Sometimes it's easier to think having a visible disability would be easier. People seem to believe you more when they can actually see it. But when you have invisible illnesses, people tend not to believe you when you say you're hurting too much or the fatigue is unbearable. So you push yourself more then you should to fit in and not look like all you do is whine and complain. I'd love to get, at least, a part time job, but I can't guarantee a time or day that I can have a voice and be able to move. Even with a lot of caffeine, sometimes my body just says no. My career was all about talking and helping others. Now I'm trying to find something I can do, on my own time, and make some extra money. I want to start selling some of my photos in digital form and eventually prints and framed prints. I need to feel like I'm more then my disability. Fibromyalgia may win more days then I ever want to admit, but I won't let it win everyday. Here's to everyone fighting a chronic illness, we are more then our disorder. @portlandzoo #52bracketeers #52frames #52framesphotographers #natgeo #nationalgeographic #natgeoyourshot #yourshotphotographer #natgeo100contest #natgeowild #instatravel #natgeotravel #travelphotography #traveloregon #portlandoregon #Oregon #portlandzoo #baldeagle #bird #wildlifephotography #wild #majestic #love #disabledphotographer #chronicillness #invisibleillness #cancersurvivor #fibromyalgia (at Portland, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/CanL6nePQFT/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Another flamingo! I could hang out in the bird aviary all day long taking photos! Unusual facts about flamingos....A group of flamingos is called a "flamboyance". Fits them perfectly! @theportlandzoo #52bracketeers #52framesphotographers #52frames_photographers #52frames_ruleofthirds #ruleofthirds #natgeoyourshot #natgeo100contest #natgeowild #natgeotravel #Oregon #portlandoregon #portlandzoo #photooftheday #pictureperfect #pink #flamingo #bird #animalphotography #wildlifephotography #disabledphotographer #pacificnorthwest #cancersurvivor #fibromyalgia #chronicillness #instatravel (at Portland, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cakk2wPPrz7/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I am definitely on a bird kick! This bald eagle is in an aviary with 3 other ones, abd they all are missing an eye, and I believe 1 is missing part of a wing. I love that their numbers are increasing in the wild. We even have 1 in our neighborhood. Unfortunately that means more chances for injuries. Please be careful and watch out for wildlife! They live here, too. @portlandzoo #natgeoyourshot #52bracketeers #natgeo #natgeo100contest #natgeowild #natgeotravel #photooftheday #instatravel #disabledphotographer #fibrowarrior #photographer #pnwphotographer #Oregon #exploreoregon #baldeagle #bird #wildlifephotography #nature #cancersurvivor #gooutside #love #portlandzoo #portlandoregon #portaitphotography (at Portland, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cah-bmLP9fv/?utm_medium=tumblr

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It was a very cold day when we visited the Portland zoo. The Orangutans were sitting in the sun huddled in their sheets. I so understood! I wanted to also soak up the sun while wrapped up in a blanket to minimize the effects of the freezing wind we had! Orangutans are such amazing creatures!! They are so caring and intelligent! It's awful what we do to them in the wild. @theportlandzoo @dailyhiveportland #52framesphotographers #52frames_photographers #52frames #nikonframer #52bracketeers #natgeoyourshot #nationalgeographic #nature #naturephotography #natgeo100contest #nationaldogday #instatravel #traveloregon #explore #gooutside #photooftheday #photographer #pnwphotographer #disabledphotographer #fibrowarrior #cancersurvivor #orangutans #wildlifephotography #red #love #portlandoregon #portlandzoo (at Portland, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/CacwdAbpTCt/?utm_medium=tumblr

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This is a beautiful spoonbill. I love photographing birds, I know the basic ones, but would love to learn more. I think they are such amazing and beautiful creatures! One day I'll be photographing them in the wild, but until then I can practice and share their beauty from zoos. I know zoos don't have a great reputation, but over the past 20+ years they have really changed and are focusing on keeping threatened and endangered animals alive with strong DNA so that, hopefully, one day their children can be released into the wild, where they belong. @theportlandzoo #52framesphotographers #52frames #nikonframer #52frames_ruleofthirds #natgeoyourshot #nationalgeographic #natgeo100contest #natgeowild #natgeo #natgeotravel #instatravel #bird #spoonbill #white #disabledphotographer #fibromyalgia #chronicillness #wildlifephotography #wildlife #animalphotography #photooftheday #pnwphotographer (at Portland Zoo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaaTk0SvNI7/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I have always loved flamingos. The sounds they make,their pink and black feathers, and those long legs....they are amazing creatures! For some crazy reason flamingos have become the spirit animal for the Statler family, which let's me know I married into the right family! #52framesphotographers #52frames #52frames_ruleofthirds #natgeoyourshot #natgeo100contest #natgeowild #natgeotravel #instatravel #flamingo #pink #bird #wild #animalphotography #photooftheday #pictureperfect #disabledphotographer #fibromyalgia #cancersurvivor #portlandoregon #exploreoregon #gooutside #love #pnwphotographer #pacificnorthwest #zoo #wildlifephotography (at Portland, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaXsQVxvpqA/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I had fun playing around for last week's #depthoffield. I wanted to use nut and bolts, but we just had some screws. And they worked. I prefer cat catching organic moments with my camera, but sometimes it's a lot of fun to make something out of nothing and see how it looks. Creativity is a good thing to practice and keep working at. #52framesphotographers #52frames_depthoffield #52frames #52bracketeers #depthoffield #bokeh #cityscape #creativity #create #natgeocreative #insta #Instagram #photooftheday #pictureoftheday #pictureperfect #photographylovers #photography #disabledphotographer #fibrowarrior #cancersurvivor #spoonie #chronicillness #chronicpain #chronicfatigue #invisibleillness (at Aloha, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaK0BTpvWle/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Going through my pictures from Illinois I ran across this one I took of a bobcat. One afternoon I took Amara to the zoo in Soringfield and we had a great time wondering around and looking at all the animals. Ok, I did the looking and Amara just enjoyed the ride in her stroller. I am missing my nephew and his family. I can't wait to see them again! #52bracketeers #52framesphotographers #52frames #52frames_depthoffield #natgeoyourshot #natgeo100contest #natgeowild #natgeotravel #travelphotography #travelgram #photooftheday #pictureoftheday #catsofinstagram #bobcat #instatravel #Instagram #illinois #springfieldillinois #zoo #gooutside #exploreillinois #explore #disabledphotographer #cancersurvivor #fibrowarrior #fibromyalgia #wildlifephotography #photographer (at Springfield, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ7kmADP-id/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I took a sunset picture and turned it into a black and white. Black and white can add so much drama to a shot. I know they say to not do a sunset picture as a black and white. But, why not do both? I took a RAW photo and edited as is, in color, then did it again on B&W. I love editing RAW photos because you have so much more control over colors and other options; like contrast, highlights, and shadows. #52bracketeers #52framesphotographers #52frames #52frames_blackandwhite #pacificocean #pacificnorthwest #oregoncoast #travelphotography #exploreoregon #traveloregon #hugpoint #beach #natgeoyourshot #natgeocreative #natgeo100contest #natgeolandscape #yourshotphotographer #photooftheday #photographer #disabledphotographer #oregonphotographer #blackandwhite #sunset #clouds #rocks #explore #gooutside #love (at Hug Point Oregon Coast) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZuf5yyvudJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

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One of our favorite places to visit is Gug Point. It is a magnificent piece of beach, but the best time to visit is low tide, otherwise there really isn't a lot of places to walk. We got lucky and hit it just as low tide was starting. Between the rocks, the storm clouds, and the sunsetting between the clouds....it is a perfect picture of the Oregon coast. #52framesphotographers #52bracketeers #52frames #Oregon #oregoncoast #oregonphotographer #photooftheday #pictureperfect #pictureoftheday #natgeoyourshot #natgeo100contest #natgeolandscape #yourshotphotographer #gooutside #travelphotography #traveloregon #instatravel #Instagram #disabledphotographer #photographer #pacificocean #coast #storm #sunset #water #rocks (at Hug Point Oregon Coast) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZsJWl7vQ5r/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I got lucky enough to snap this picture of a seagull flying really low along the sand. There is nothing more peaceful then the beach at sunset. #52bracketeers #52framesphotographers #52frames_hellofrom #Oregon #oregoncoast #oregonphotographer #pnwphotographer #pnwlife #pacificcity #natgeoyourshot #natgeo100contest #natgeowild #photooftheday #photographylovers #photographer #photography #affinityphoto #affinity #sunsetphotography #sunset #coast #pacificocean #peace #zen #seagull #52frames #instatravel #Instagram #love #beachday (at Cape Kiwanda Beach) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZk4goIvxwa/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I am so behind in posting! This picture was taken for @52frames #breaktherules I want to thank them so much for making this one of the top 52 photos of the week! I have learned and have grown so much by being part of 52frames. I can't believe I'm starting my third year! Here's to another crazy year filled with adventures and LOTS of photos! #52framesphotographers #52frames_breaktherules #52frames #52bracketeers #catsofinstagram #cat #cateyes #blackandwhitephotography #blackandwhite #animalphotography #animallovers #animal #adoptdontshop #adopted #cleo #natgeoyourshot #natgeocreative #natgeo100contest #photooftheday #pictureperfect #pictureoftheday #disabledphotographer #fibrosucks #cancersurvivor #love #my girl #nikonframer #affinityphoto #pnwphotographer (at Portland, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZKecYJvCc_/?utm_medium=tumblr

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More baby alpacas! @oakwoodgardens #52bracketeers #52framesphotographers #52frames #natgeoyourshot #natgeo100contest #natgeo #natgeotravel #yourshotphotographer #travelphotography #explore #Oregon #pnwphotographer #pnwlife #pacificnorthwest #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #alpacasofinstagram #alpaca #gooutside #photooftheday #photography #animallovers #animalphotography #animal #disabledphotographer #fibrowarrior #spoonie #chronicillness #invisibleillness #cancersurvivor (at Alpaca Farm & Gardens) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYC8o9bvV5n/?utm_medium=tumblr

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That look! I so hope one day I'll have my own herd (?) Of alpacas! Among many other animals..... @oakwoodgardens #52bracketeers #natgeoyourshot #natgeo100contest #nationalgeographic #natgeotravel #photooftheday #pictureoftheday #animallovers #alpacasofinstagram #alpaca #blackandwhitephotography #nature #naturephotography #yourshotphotographer #bnw #animalphotography #disabledphotographer #cancersurvivor #fibromyalgia #spoonielife #pnwphotographer #Oregon #oregonphotographer #pnw #gooutside #explore (at Alpaca Farm & Gardens) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYAMZ7lvfpj/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Merry Christmas! 🦌☃️🎄🎅🤗🥰😘 #52framesphotographers #52bracketeers #52frames #natgeoyourshot #natgeo100contest #natgeolandscape #natgeotravel #natgeo #mtsthelens #snow #mountains #travelWashington #travelphotography #washington #gooutside #explore #clouds #photooftheday #photography #disabledphotographer #fibrowarrior #cancersurvivor #christmas #merrychristmas #familytime (at Mt. St. Helens Volcano) https://www.instagram.com/p/CX7MIKqvc92/?utm_medium=tumblr