Wichita EfexHDRdfos579-587

I originally posted a different exposure and version of this image in May taken from halfway up Mount Scott in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. The original post was a quick merger of a series of HDR exposures. As personal techniques improve as well as new tools being available, I have found revisiting earlier images is often worthwhile and so I have redone another HDR series trying to improve my technique. But this image also has personal resonance. In May I attended a Littlefield reunion in Oklahoma. My grandmother was a Littlefield but died when my mother was 11 years old, so I never knew my grandmother Mildred Littlefield. Last year I made contact and a bond with two wonderful Littlefield cousins. One of them is Edie Littlefield Sundby who is a bundle of energy and accomplishment. Edie also has lived for the past 5 years with advanced gall bladder cancer as described by her in the NY Times Well Blog. Today is August 28 and tomorrow Edie will undergo surgery to remove up to an entire lung inflicted with cancer secondary to her original cancer. This is to allow her to discontinue chemotherapy and establish whether or not her liver cancer has been stopped. Her strength is inspiring. Today I sent her a text message of support and her response was classic Edie - "It's a beautiful day in Palo Alto. A lovely time of year for surgery and recovery. Hugs on the Heartside." Mount Scott is about an hour from Edie's and my mother's birthplaces and I had visited it earlier in the day with Edie's husband, Dale. I knew that I had to return for a sunset picture. Tonight my wish is that Edie will have many more opportunities to see sunsets, be they in Oklahoma or anywhere else.