Assistants, instincts, sound, touch, workshops, text-to-braille convertors, special printers, photo editing apps. ANANYA BORGOHAIN explores what helps the visually impaired to take photos
Is the art of photography accessible to only those who can seeIJ Is sight indispensible to capture an imageIJ Mostly, the question will be made with a firm, “obviously”, but in essence, it is not as obvious as one might deem it to be.
Blind photography is still a novel concept in India but one can be hopeful that this art will attain more resonance with time. Merchandise that could equip blind photographers is limited and cameras specifically designed for them have not been manufactured yet. Many make do with the breeze of the wind, the fragrance of the environment, the cacophony of the perpetually busy world, the heat of the sun, the dust on the street and the kindness of a stranger. Hopefully, enhanced technology and skilled supervision will bring more popularity and clarity to their output.
Photography by visually challenged people has been displayed for a long time now and as time graduates, it is gaining more momentum. Popular blind photographer, Sonia Soberats, for instance, turned to photography after losing her sight. She captures her images using the touch, scent and sound of her objects. In an interview, she had once mentioned that she would ask her subjects about the colours of their hair, skin etc, after which she would ask her assistant to open the shutter, and using various light sources, including flashlights and Christmas lights according to the complexion of her subjects, she would create her image.
In blind photography, the photographers make note of the sounds as well as textures of their subjects. Their inherent inquisitiveness towards exploring a space or an idea can help them innovate techniques to do so. There are direct text-to-braille convertors through which they can configure the technical aspects such as exposure, depth, and shutter according to their convenience.
Other than that, visually challenged photographers have also mentioned using special printers that generate a layered, 3D printed image, offering a tangible feeling of the photograph to them. In fact, there are also e-schools for them to learn photography (www.blindwithcameraschool.org being one, for instance). Photo editing apps like Camerabag and TiltShift are user-friendly for people without sight and can be used to enhance their pictures.
In India, blind photography is still an unusual pursuit but it looks like a quest one should look forward to. Sightsavers, “a development organisation that works to prevent avoidable blindness, restore sight and advocate for social inclusion and equal rights for people with disabilities” organised an exhibition of photographs taken by, and of, the visually challenged, at the British Council, New Delhi, in the week of International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
These photos are a part of ‘The Blind View’ campaign, which is a unique photography workshop that two organisations working for the welfare of the visually impaired have collaborated upon — Sightsavers and Beyond Sight Foundation.
Speaking on the occasion, chief guest Padma Shri Raghu Rai, arguably the most iconic photojournalists in Indian history, said: “I believe what they (the visually challenged) have captured is much purer than what others do because they are uncorrupted souls. Woh mann ki aankhon se dekhte hai. That innocence is what refines their talent.”
Partho Bhowmick, Founder, Beyond Sight Foundation, also offers them assistance in familiarising them with various nuances of photography. He said, “We trained them to click pictures at a workshop that we had organised some months ago. Our supervisors were well-trained but we also registered the presence of some really talented participants, one of them being Bhavesh Patel, who is known for having done a photo-shoot with actress Katrina Kaif.”
Others present at the event were renowned photographer and photojournalist, RN Mohanty, CEO, Sightsavers (India) and Gill Caldicott Director Operations, British Council India. The foundation was particularly thankful to Princess Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi, who is one of its official board members. Till date, it has been successful in reaching out to 53.4 million people, conducting 36.2 million eye treatments, and performing 4.9 million eye operations.
The exhibition entailed around 30 photographs pertaining to different themes which the visually challenged participants had taken of others like them. The photographs offered viewers glimpses of the everyday life as well as the myriad talents of the visually challenged. They were seen dancing, performing arts, working at their office, and so on.
Although only one of the photographers was present at the venue, he was not hesitant in enlightening others as to how the visually impaired produce photographs.
Ketan Kothari, an advocacy manager who also works for disability rights, took up monument photography earlier this year. Besides assistance from volunteers, passersby and his intuition, Kothari uses his iPhone and its automated amenities to take photographs. “Well, if the differently abled could be lawyers, singers, mountaineers, why not photographers as wellIJ” he asked.
True to the spirit, the evening also witnessed moving and inspiring musical performances by the visually impaired singers, which was organised by the Hosla Charitable Trust.
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