Lead image by Walter Rothwell. Used with permission.
Photography inherently is all about seeing: we talk about seeing the light, the creative vision, etc.–but this is all typically based on someone having 20/20 vision. But what if you don’t?
There are photographers with really bad eyesight out there that actually helps them to sometimes get the images that they want. In fact, sometimes it pushes them to go for specific genres, really work hard at them, and excel. I myself am legally blind–both with and without glasses. But it hasn’t stopped me from creating one of the world’s largest indie photo blogs, paying employees, networking, etc.
Steven Hazlett
Photographer Steven Hazlett is a fellow NY native and has been shooting for many years.
In our interview, he tells us about how he frames his portraits:
“Iâve never really thought about it before, but I think it certainly has to do with the lower spectrum of my peripheral vision, which is pretty much gone. So the majority of what I focus on are peopleâs eyes, which in practice brings me closer to my subjects. It works for me, because everything else is secondary when it comes to truly connecting with a person through the lens.”
Check out our feature.
Nils Karlson
Photographer Nils Karlson suffers from glaucoma and states that it effects the ways that he sees sometimes. But it hasn’t stopped him from creating really cool projects, let alone adorable ones.
In our short feature, he states:
“I started photography in my late 30âs, almost a decade after I got a glaucoma diagnosis, which affects my eyesight â my right eye is useless for photography, so I adapted and became left-eyed.”
Check out our feature.
Walter Rothwell
Walter Rothwell has done a whole load of incredible projects and discerns scenes typically by contrast. This is because he’s half blind. Still though, he’s done panoramic street photography and a number of other incredible projects overall.
Of anyone on this list, he’s also probably the most accomplished.
Check out our feature.
Francesco Nacchia
Francesco Nacchia has a very interesting visual impairment. He’s color blind–but that hasn’t stopped him from creating food images with lighting that look almost painterly. But to him, he has no particula style, he just shoots.
Check out our feature.
