Blind Photography

November 16, 2011 11:37 AM

Blind Photography "Taking a picture is so easy, you just need a camera, decide at which moment to shoot, press the button and you have your picture. Why can't the blind do this?" (Previously 1, 2)
posted by spock (12 comments total)

I think used up the climactic joke in Pecker in previous threads.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 11:51 AM on November 16, 2011

Because all the sighted photographers will quit when their photographs are more interesting than theirs.
posted by cmoj at 12:12 PM on November 16, 2011 [1 favorite]

My own photography has moved past the point where I try to simply create something beautiful. I look instead for meaning in the things I photograph. I think that blind photography is mostly about meaning, and brings up important yet often forgotten basics - what is important to you about this location/thing/person you want to photograph? Remember that blindness is a spectrum - most blind people can see some light, and light is everything in photography.

You don't have to be able to see to recognise something in a subject that might be captured, or the motivation behind making these. I think it would be very interesting to see photos from that perspective - I would also think it very interesting to see themes and styles emerging from series of photographs.
posted by jimmythefish at 12:25 PM on November 16, 2011

Why can't the blind do this?

You mean like this movie?
posted by Relay at 2:04 PM on November 16, 2011 [2 favorites]

Taking a picture Making music is so easy, you just need a camera an instrument, decide at which moment to shoot play, press the button keys/strings/drumsticks, and you have your picture tune. Why can't the blind deaf do this?"

Nope, doesn't work either.
posted by gottabefunky at 2:48 PM on November 16, 2011

What do you mean that doesn't work either? Beethoven. Evelyn Glennie.

That attitude about music has driven everything from Misfits to David Byrne.
posted by cmoj at 3:00 PM on November 16, 2011 [1 favorite]

so simple, anyone can use it
posted by fuzzypantalones at 4:56 PM on November 16, 2011

Does anyone know if the document at the link is accessible?

I want to send this link to a blind friend, but it will be kind of pointless if it isn't accessible. Wouldn't that be ironic...
posted by mikeand1 at 5:11 PM on November 16, 2011

Mute rapping is way better.
posted by w0mbat at 11:04 AM on November 17, 2011

"Taking a picture is so easy, you just need a camera, decide at which moment to shoot, press the button and you have your picture. Why can't the blind do this?"

I'm not going to tell anyone they can't play photographer, but there is more to it than this.

Because, if this were the case, then every security camera in the world taking images on an interval would be a potential

It isn't about collecting photons on a retina and then on film, a CCD or CMOS array. It is about /seeing/. I'm sorry if that offends, but there is a lot of stuff others can do that I am no able to do. It is the nature of ability.
posted by clvrmnky at 9:55 AM on November 18, 2011

I realize photographers are going to feel defensive about this, but it's a matter of definition. Of course anyone can take a picture. As noted, you just have to be able to operate a camera. It produces a picture. Anyone who can get pigment on a surface can paint. Anybody who can make things vibrate can make music. Anybody who applies heat to organic matter can cook.

And, honestly, these really are a lot more formally interesting than most of the photography I see.
posted by cmoj at 1:59 PM on November 18, 2011

Man, am I the only one who found that digizine format insanely hard to read?
posted by antifuse at 11:47 AM on December 13, 2011