The Iowa Photo: Framing the shot

I first met Doug Kirk at a dancing class for people with Parkinson’s disease. Doug and his wife Sheila Kirk were the only couple in attendance so I stopped after class to ask them about their story.

Doug was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 40. He received a deep stimulation surgery to help with his pain, which dramatically improved his condition. However, he still was experiencing pain and stiffness. Sheila encouraged him to become more active and the two started attending classes for people with Parkinson’s at HallMar Village in Marion. The classes range from boxing to dancing. Doug says he can feel a dramatic difference in how his body feels when he is active versus when he is not.

Biking is one of the couple’s biggest passions in life. They have surrounded themselves in the biking community and go out on bike rides at least two times a week. Parkinson’s often exhausts Doug, so a trike with a motor on it was an ideal upgrade for him that lets him keep up with his friends and not have to worry about maintaining the balance required for a two-wheel bike.

I followed the couple to the Cedar Valley Nature Trail in Hiawatha where they met up with friends for a quick bike ride. I noticed several breaks in the tree lines that framed Doug nicely as he lead the group around. This sparked the idea that I wanted a unique way to show Doug riding his trike, while showcasing the environment he was riding in. The low hanging tree allowed me to intentionally frame him in the bottom corner so the reader’s eye would lead you directly to him in the photo.

This photo is one of my favorites I captured while covering the couple and lends nicely to the active lifestyle Doug leads.

Doug stated that he was fortunate to be diagnosed at a young age where he could make changes to help his Parkinson’s early. This story, to me, shows how important community and resiliency is. We often get thrown tough situations in life and it is how we choose to respond that defines who we are.