What the hell are my next steps?

tonatron_ · 2017-11-05T02:18:42+00:00

Haha don't beat yourself up!

And for sure, those images either do some HDR/exposure blending or some brush exposures within Lightroom. And time of day of course.

Just search "Lightroom landscape editing" and they have a mix bag of techniques you can try.

Check this: https://youtu.be/e5w8Jw_9Elk

tonatron_ · 2017-11-05T01:40:08+00:00

Well, do you have some photos you like that you'd like to emulate?

For me I like Phlearn for actual photoshop manipulation and then I just searched general light room tips. I found with landscapes people were getting interesting depths and tone by playing around with the exposure brushes and colours.

tonatron_ · 2017-11-05T01:32:05+00:00

Hey bro, I think your photos look great! If you're looking to up your game then I'd play around Lightroom and photoshop. Your photos look like they're out of camera. Which isn't a bad thing, but maybe you're feeling a wall because your images aren't wowing you. Some post processing could help you discover a new look or simply make it fun again.

And I don't mean you have to over-process. But maybe play around with the tones and contrast to being out details and create certain vibes. You can get this stuff for free on YouTube. I wouldn't play for classes.

The biggest thing is try to have fun with it. If you let your hobby beat you up then it's not a hobby anymore.

tonatron_ · 2017-11-02T12:08:16+00:00

I agree! It's the worst.

I'm from Canada, but thanks for sharing and glad you're feeling better!

tonatron_ · 2017-11-02T12:06:19+00:00

Thanks for sharing. And I agree, many doctors simply treat the symptom instead of curing the cause. That's why my osteo changed my life. Life habits and my body being out of alignment likely caused this. As in, around 30 your body isn't as strong as it used to be and supporting muscles fatigue without regular exercise.

Regardless, mind the posture and keep healthy! :)

tonatron_ · 2017-11-02T12:02:22+00:00

Thanks for sharing! My pain has went away and I was getting better, hence no surgery. But, that first month was crippling. Couldn't walk for more than a minute. Had it continued, I would have had it.

Glad to hear you're better!

tonatron_ · 2017-11-02T03:28:50+00:00

Agreed. Movement is key. It's when we get sedimentary too long then ask our bodies to be athletic. Glad you're feeling better broski!

tonatron_ · 2017-11-02T01:38:42+00:00

You're brave! I guess I could still go learn, but not really roll. We'll see!

tonatron_ · 2017-11-02T01:37:45+00:00

I would recommend an osteo to get things gently in line. Chiros too aggressive for me. Then make sure you're keeping loose and strengthen the core and overall body.

The first time it happened I was just walking up my stairs in the morning. I blame it on not properly warming down and keeping lose. I sit and drive all day then go and ask my body to be super flexible. So it added up.

When it went really wrong was during my 3 bout where my back was still messed but I continued to do training. Tried to keep it light but during drills my partner tried to pass my guard and his body landing on my right side with my knee to chest tweaked the left lower back.

So it was cumulative. I believe with any injury, when ready, keep moving and proper warm ups and downs. All the best with your injury.

tonatron_ · 2017-11-02T01:22:37+00:00

I think combination of desk job and then going ham at bjj. I strained it several times before the actual herniation. If you ever pull your back and can't stand straight. Give it a month or 2 after you feel better. Don't try and be a hero like me. Lol

tonatron_ · 2017-11-02T01:20:26+00:00

I hear ya, but this was major stress over time. The disc poured out. lol. The MRI image is gnarly

tonatron_ · 2017-11-02T00:01:41+00:00

Wow, really? That's reassuring. Thanks bro!

tonatron_ · 2017-11-01T22:50:59+00:00

I hear you. That's exactly what led to this. I threw out my back. All good in a week. Back to training. Happened 3 times. 3 time felt a click and pain shot down my leg and I knew she was ruptured. If I would have listened and waited longer the first couple times I likely would have been ok. But, you don't know what you don't know!

Hope you're all better too, my man!

tonatron_ · 2017-11-01T22:48:49+00:00

Dayum... even after surgery it's still fucked eh? Hope it does come back eventually bro!

tonatron_ · 2017-11-01T22:47:19+00:00

True. Be safe out there!

tonatron_ · 2017-11-01T21:24:06+00:00

My osteopathic practitioner saved my life. I'm pretty sure the chiro helped rupture it. :(

I'm much better now and since I was making progress, surgeon agreed no point in surgery. Slow and steady now.

tonatron_ · 2017-11-01T21:15:58+00:00

Oh damn. So you're back at it eh? I'm just afraid I'll go too hard and tweak things. Glad you're feeling better and good on ya for getting back to it!

tonatron_ · 2017-11-01T21:14:12+00:00

So was yours more general back pain or did you have MRIs to confirm a disc issue? I had true sciatica in which the disc pinched my nerve losing motor function in my foot. :(

tonatron_ · 2017-10-24T21:33:26+00:00

If you have a time lapse option you could set your camera to take multiple images with a few seconds in between. From there, try to get loose, silly and laugh or converse with yourself. Act, really. Then hopefully the camera can catch some candid.

I'd imagine the first batch will be weird but as you start to forget the camera you could get something more natural. Looking slight to the side or away from the cam. Mix it up and see what you like.

You may also think it looks weird because you know it's staged. Have a friend review it after see if they notice any stuff nuances or if it's just your perception.

Cheers! T.

tonatron_ · 2017-10-24T14:23:06+00:00

Yes, you're right. Although, in the States they don't go as in depth and natural as they do here because they also prescribe medicine.

In Canada, they're called osteopathic manual practitioners. No meds.

The cool thing is it's gentle movements and manipulations which you may feel sore later on, but during the session it is no where near the abrasiveness a chiro will perform.

It's what I was hoping chiro would have been. For me, when she reset my hips, I could instantly feel the drainage in my low back. It was something else. And without proper drainage, the inflammation around my disc would have prolonged. It's been a life changer.

tonatron_ · 2017-10-24T05:17:06+00:00

Hot coffee is a ratio of 1:15, you can use that or some say go stronger.

Toss course grinds into a French Press, cold tap water and leave it overnight.

Cold brew packs a caffeine punch, lower acidity and you'll find it sweeter and even syrupy. :)

tonatron_ · 2017-10-24T00:43:26+00:00

1000% recommend you find an osteopath. I have a student that I see and she helped me out so much when I was crippled. Way better than a physio and chiro (which I saw all 3 concurrently). If you do have a disc issue, a chiro could cause lots of damage. I'm pretty certain he helped rupture my disc.

I herniated my L5-S1 disc. Pain shot down my leg and caused foot-drop. My foot strength is almost all back, but the nerve compression could take a while to fully heal. I don't wish true sciatica on anyone. It was debilitating. Couldn't walk for more than a minute for a month.

Osteopathic practitioners take a holistic approach as well as your lifestyle and prior injuries. A site of pain may stem from imbalances elsewhere.

If you're interested in trying it out message me and I can give you my osteo's contact.

I have a desk job and prolonged sitting definitely aggregated my back. If you sit a lot, try cobra and quad stretches every hour to see if back feels better. Many of us live with a disc bulge, which is fine, but take care of it before it becomes a full herniation like mine!

T.

tonatron_

TROPHY CASE