Blind Photographer Animal Magic
Welcome back!
Wildlife photographer Alison Bartlett’s set of skills bears a distinction that separates her from the rest — the exceptional artist captures nature on film despite being completely BLIND. Her highly-acclaimed animal photos will be showcased in an exhibition at the library in New Milton, Hampshire next month.
Photo Daily Mail
Alison ’sees’ with her ears and listens for rustling in trees and grass to snap wildlife. Her hearing has become so acute that she can pick up the sound of a bird’s wings flapping or a squirrel nibbling before zeroing in on them with her camera.
Her friend and confidant Jenny Gilleland assists her on shoots in telling where to point the camera at the creatures.
Fellow photographer Jenny Gilleland accompanies Alison on shoots and points her towards the creatures. Photo Daily Mail
Photo the Sun
“Jenny tells me where the animals are and says things like ‘birds at two o’clock’ — and it can get very precise, like ‘birds at seven minutes past two.’ says Alison. “She will give me approximate distances and I simply aim the camera, focus the lens and take photographs.
“Of course others have to tell me whether they are any good.”
Alison Bartlett draws on her experience from the days when she still had her sight to capture animals in her garden and countryside. The amateur photographer and former horse riding instructor began to lose her vision in 1979 from diabetes, and lost it entirely in 1992. “I can tell if it is light or dark, but that is all.” she says.
But she held on to her passion for photography and wildlife and persevered in striving to envision the creatures that she couldn’t see.
Alison can pick up the sound of a bird’s wings flapping. Photo Daily Mail
“I was determined to carry on with things I’d always done. I started in my back garden because I knew where everything was, and all the distances and angles, and I learned to listen for the animals.” says Alison.
“I got my first camera when I was 12 and I fell in love with it because I was always an arty person. I have always loved photography and animals and I always took photographs of wildlife — even when I started to lose me sight.”
“I could hear the birds’ wings flapping and I have two squirrels in the garden and I’ve given them names and can hear them eating and arguing with each other.”
Using her hearing, Alison zones in with her camera on a squirrel nibbling.
Photo Daily Mail
Alison goes out into the local countryside frequently with fellow photographer Jenny Gilleland who helps her.
“I do not hold back and will walk through streams and cross country if that is what it takes.”
Alison adds, “It hurts that I can’t see the pictures — but the pleasure it gives others is reward enough for me. If it encourages other blind people to continue hobbies, it’s worth it.”
She has now amassed countless pictures that a professional would be proud of which will be exhibited in her home town of New Milton, Hampshire. “I’m delighted that I’ve taken enough to hold a small exhibition.” she said.
Alison uses a digital Nikon D-40 camera and her exhibition will be held at the local library next month.
Sources: Daily Mail and the Sun
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Now this is what I call news! God, this is amazing! I think this woman “sees” more than we ever will!
This is a classic example of the power of the human spirit, refusing to yield the capacity to create despite the physical handicap suffered.
I admire such people and I congratulate you for this post. I will use this in our training for the blind this February and will give full credit to your site in our materials. Tell me if that’s alright with you.
–Durano, done!
Oh my. I can’t take pictures like that, and I don’t have any eye problems. You got to admire the talent when you “see” it.
This story touches my soul and reminds me gratitude is an action word so when I say I can’t does it mean I won’t!? Therefor, with determination, strength, compassion, patience and love….hope lives on in the words “Anything Is Possible”. Thanks You, sharing this story is greatly appreciated! Michele
Wow, cool, your blog to me into a strange world, and I liked it, and collection, I hope that will give more surprises in the future.
Alison certainly has an amazing spirit, Mig. I could only hope to be half as courageous if I were to lose my sight.
Definitely, Durano! She’s an amazing inspiration. She has my deepest respect as well.
By all means, Durano, I think her story is something to be widely shared! What do you do that you’re working with the blind? If you don’t wish to say publicly, you can shoot me an email any time … the link is on the left sidebar for contact Deborah, just above my pic. But don’t feel pressured by any means to do so if you don’t want to say, I’m just being curious.
Very well said, Michele
Jerry, I can’t even come up with the words so say how incredible she is. More than those affected by blindness can take home some inspiration from this lady’s bravery.
Hehe, I do come up with some unusual things at times, Inflatable, and you can count on finding more in the future
I was actually torn between going with a very bizarre story for Thursday, or a new discovery of life, and decided to go with the latter, which should be up in a bit.
well pictures are absolutely fantastic.i guess a person who can see cant get such.
Hi Deborah,
I’m into management consulting geared towards countryside development. Projects we do are normally government or foreign funded with a sprinkling of privately funded initiatives.
We organize communities, provide technical and business training (gender focused,) initiate product development and livelihood opportunities for the communities, then upgrade these so that we can link them to mainstream markets. We do these in rural and urban centers in the provinces.All decisions involve the community members we organize. Mostly, these are among farmers and fisher folks along the coasts. All initiatives are linked to environment protection and preservation, education, gender issues, and community empowerment.
There are sectors like the blind groups in certain areas who we encourage and train to be productive. Much of our initial tasks are on creating confidence and skills, then link them with cooperatives we helped establish so that their contribution can be defined and involved. There are tasks that we know the blind can do but their belief in their limitations are hindering their potential. This is where I’d like to use this story and photos as a way of showing them their perceived limits are all in their minds, and that they have to transcend these boundaries.
We have already figured a way to let them feel the photos.
I hope I have made this looooong explanation clear.
Thanks! –Durano done!
Wowsa Durano, I’m very impressed! Expecially with the fact that you’re doing so much to help those who really need emotional and mental support for the blind
That’s amazing that you’ve been able to help them to ’see’ photos.
None of us can actually say how we’d react under the same circumstances until something actually happens to us.
I had a cousin who was shot in the head by his brother while they were hunting wild birds. He ran out from the woods to chase one, and that’s when the fatal blow hit. Miraculously, he wasn’t killed, but he was blinded. He went on to get a seeing eye dog, but was so depressed with his life that he committed suicide several years after the accident. I was just a kid myself at the time. Had he had professional support, he may still have been alive and functioning happily today.
Deborah,
That’s a very disturbing story about your cousin, and I’m sorry.
There have been stories similar to this on those who became blind at a later stage due to some accident or illness. It’s a defeatist attitude i know, but to lose your sense of sight which you enjoyed for sometime can be psychologically paralyzing.
We have Braille sets that describe the story and photos. We then emboss the images and add texture like fur on the animal, grass, leaves and bark of trees. It’s a lot of work and artistic effort but we have the guys to do it. Even if it’s only a small segment of the community we cover, we see to it that we give them the same care and attention to get them out of the depressed state they have been so used to. They are already handicapped, we don’t want to add to that by giving them less than the others.
Thanks for your interest. I appreciate it. –Durano, done!
Thanks, Durano. I can honestly say that I’d find it paralyzing myself.
It sounds like a lot of painstaking work to create the Braille sets, but the reward of giving something like that to the blind would be more than worth it.
I forgot to ask … you mentioned ‘provinces.’ Any chance that this is here in Canada?
Thanks Deborah. On the question of location, we’re working in Southeast Asia. –Durano, done!
Cool! I’ve been meeting a number of people here from your neck of the woods
Alison, you are truely inspirational. Your work shows that to really see what is going on around us we must first calm our minds and then listen good. Most people just look. They may have eyes, but fail to see.
Regards
Keith
Well said, Keith, Alison is an amazing inspiration.
Thanks Deborah. On the question of location, we’re working in Southeast Asia. –Durano, done!
well pictures are absolutely fantastic.i guess a person who can see cant get such.
Amazing work! I can’t imagine the amount of patients this must take.
i dont like it
it is amazing what people can do,
when they put their heart and dedication into it.
you see rare cases of these amazing instances happen,
and you just think “wow”, i can’t imagine being blind.
but going out and being a photographer,
enjoying what you always wanted to do,
even while being blind is simply incredible.
you have some very good stories on here.
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I really liked your blog it will open many folks eyes on this subject. Very well written and will be looking forward to reading more in the future.
amazing! what an inspiring story!!