[stylist] Blindness and photography

[Robert Leslie Newman]

Brad, well written! what you wrote, was in general what I was meaning of
personal choice, doing it for me and not really caring how someone else
thought about it. and as I say, I'm mature enough, comfortable in my
blindness, that I don't need to prove anything to anyone. 
 


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 BDM
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 11:55 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Blindness and photography

Since you asked about opinions Robert :). In response to someones recent
post. I too am not a nay sayer, optimistically an optimist :), and also an
encourager and not complainer by nature. So  the following comment is meant
to be taken in that light. I don't quite understand the point of it being a
mockery as a blind photographer, professional or just someone clicking pics
for a visual journal of their own or loved one's lives. I agree with the
breaking news of fried potatoes thing, that's just folks exposing a lack of
mature insight, or being able to actually think things passed the shallow
threshold of being amazed we breathe on our own. But I'm not getting the
mockery thing or how could taking pics as a blind person really make us
happy or be enjoyable. I think it is a matter of the perspective of the
reasons "why" we do what we do. If I can take a picture and regardless if
I'm blind or not, it makes one say, "What a cool shot that is, I've been to
that place?" Or "That is just a cool sunset shot", and they enjoy it,  isn't
that what it is about? I write  songs and perform them and yes I do like the
process, I enjoy it for what it is, but what makes me write is to  try to
evoke some emotion in a listener, take them on a mini-emotional trip. I know
there are people who sing better, play better, write better,  entertain
better, just like they might center an object in  a pic or what not better
but that's OK with me. My drive as a writer is to let others enjoy or feel.
They show their appreciation and I enjoy that in return. It isn't about my
playing, writing or singing, its what it evokes from others that matters to
me and drives me to continue.  My wife is no photographer she basically puts
whatever she's taking a picture of  in the center of the screen and, bam,
clicks it and its done. Yet she got really good composition comments  from a
professional photographer on one of her pics. She doesn't even know what
that is.
And I don't wish to beat this example to the ground as I'm sure we've all
heard it a thousand times if  even once,  but it is relevant . 
The deaf musician who plays xylophone or whatever it is, in an orchestra.
She in no way has the same enjoyment perspective as we do, but she enjoys it
in her own way that matters to her and she's living the dream she wants
regardless. Isn't that what it is all about? 
Probably more  applicable are blind web designers, beats me how they do it
but they are out there, I can't do it, but that isn't my dream either. If we
wish to be seen as just people minus a label, we need to be secure in
ourselves enough to allow us to be who we are  as well. There is much more
to the picture than  pressing a button, there's the  people you get to meet
while taking it, there is the vacation you are on, the triple story house of
cards that is about to blow over if a flea jumps on it before you can snap
its proof of existence... whatever. People want to do things because of the
feeling it gives them, how are we to question the  origin of that feeling in
whatever they decide to use as a vehicle. *smile*.

Brad


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