[stylist] Blindness and photography

Sun Aug 8 15:42:32 UTC 2010

There is nothing like following your dream, no matter what anyone 
else thinks. I am also a performing songwriter and part of PAD, I 
think Robert was asking earlier. I do a loose blog on my site

http://www.braddunsemusic.com/blog.html

basically a live spew of mostly unedited thoughts which recently I've 
done a couple thoughts on following dreams. One of which is in a 
monthly story behind the song which I confess why the gal in the song 
has two different colored shoes on, while some might assume its due 
to my vision loss, it was not as you'd read :). Some blind folks are 
so over sensitive to being pegged as stereotypes they miss what they 
are meant to do, or at least infringe on what others are meant to do. 
Foul ball.  Just do what is in your heart and go for your dream no 
matter what anyone else thinks.  Those that  criticize with such 
claims, unknowingly expose their own insecurities, which may or may 
not have to do with their blindness. There are four bases and one 
chance  to stand over the plate.

Brad

At 10:20 AM 8/8/2010, you wrote:
>Peter,
>Bless you. This is right on and well-stated. I too worked as a 
>streetsinger. I sang in Philadelphia's Suburban Station and at 
>Penn's Landing year-round for over 13 years. There were some people 
>who objected to that. Although there is a rich history of excellent 
>blind street musicians, apparently some blind people feel that it is 
>only OK to be a troubadour if you're sighted. Incidentally, my work 
>led to many non street jobs. In schools I actually got to talk about 
>blindness issues and help bridge the gap of misunderstanding and 
>fear in the sighted world. I also produced 3 albums, wrote a book 
>and was chosen as the subject of an independent film.
>
>I hope you are still pursuing your dream. Nobody blind or sighted 
>should be stepping on other people's dreams. When it happens within 
>the blindness community, it always reminds me how true it is that we 
>are just like everyone else -- in this case, that's a shame.
>Donna
>
>Read Donna's articles on
>Suite 101:
>www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/donna_hill
>American Chronicle:
>www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885
>
>Connect with Donna on
>Twitter:
>www.twitter.com/dewhill
>LinkedIn:
>www.linkedin.com/in/dwh99
>FaceBook:
>www.facebook.com/donna.w.hill.
>
>Hear clips from "The Last Straw" at:
>cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
>Apple I-Tunes
>phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=259244374
>
>Check out the "Sound in Sight" CD project
>Donna is Head of Media Relations for the nonprofit
>Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind:
>www.padnfb.org
>
>
>On 8/7/2010 11:02 PM, Peter Donahue wrote:
>>Hello Elizabeth and everyone,
>>
>>      This reminds me of the reaction I got from some blind 
>> individuals I knew
>>in Massachusetts when discussing the possibility of blind persons becoming
>>guide dog instructors. These same people often criticized me for working as
>>a street musician rather than "being more gainfully employed." It was their
>>attitude, their unwillingness to explore possibilities, and being
>>unsupportive of my dreams and life goals that put myself and a few others on
>>the streets to begin with.
>>
>>      Not all of us are cut out to be writers or photographers but for God
>>sakes if a blind person chooses to become a guide dog trainer, a
>>photographer, a writer, or whatever let's support them and quit trying to
>>steal their dreams! I sent a message similar to this one to the NABS List
>>earlier this past week concerning a discussion of blind drivers. We're
>>federationists and our imaginative spirit and can-do attitude needs to shine
>>through at all times.
>>
>>Peter Donahue
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Elizabeth Sammons"<antigone at columbus.rr.com>
>>To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'"<stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2010 9:12 AM
>>Subject: Re: [stylist] Blindness and photography
>>
>>
>>Hi, Robert and all others.
>>
>>Yes, I'm in complete agreement that this is an interesting discussion, and
>>of course, knowing us as writers and thinkers, the discussion could and
>>should be 100% civil. (Smile.) I simply find it a mockery, a caper that
>>either wishes to say "Look at me, I can do this, too," to attract attention,
>>or else totally missing the idea of good photography. I know you did not
>>mean it this way, Robert, and while I agree that listening to a voice, a
>>bird song, etc., can help one to find the subject, the difference between
>>capturing that subject on a picture and making it artistic is the difference
>>between saying "Look, I know the alphabet and can write a punctuated
>>sentence!" and "Look what a fine sentence I just wrote, evoking the mind and
>>spirit of my subject." I don't feel that people who are blind should put
>>themselves out to pursue something for the sake of pursuit rather than to do
>>a good job any more than as I quoted "Beethoven's Nightmare" the deaf
>>group, they could call themselves quote real musicians end quote. For the
>>record, I think they take themselves with a lot of irony, which makes  the
>>band at least marginally acceptable in my view.
>>
>>Admittedly, I stand on the more radical edge of this field of thought, but
>>I'm putting  it out boldly for the sake of discussion. If anybody writes
>>something that makes me change my mind, I'll smile and let you know, though
>>please note, I am not  particularly trying to say here please change my
>>opinion on this matter.
>>
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>Elizabeth
>>
>>
>>
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Brad Dunse

Music is the only language in which you cannot say a mean or sarcastic thing

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