[stylist] Blindness and photography

[Robert Leslie Newman]

Elizabeth

Hmm, on the specific issue of some blind folks getting into --- showing off,
like doing something just to prove that they can do something --- well,
personally, I'm past that stage of -- call that sort of thing as
"acceptance," by the blind person themselves or the blind guy's attempt to
get the sighted world to accept him/her. 

So as for my part of this discussion, it is more along the line of knowing
that some of us blind folks can take photos and get some that are acceptable
and may get some that would be considered as being very good, too. (Not all
sighted folks can take a good photo, either.) 

thus, in general, my initial response to your email was a --- matter of
seeking out where you were coming from and equally , as I would do with any
questionable comment by whomever about the abilities of a blind person, I
wanted to counter what you were seeming to be saying; as it were, you took
the glass as being half empty and I was saying it was half full.

Robert Leslie Newman
President NFB Writers' division 
Writers' Division Website-
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
Personal Website- 
http://www.thoughtprovoker.info

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Elizabeth Sammons
Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2010 9:12 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
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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