Patients, staff and visitors at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital are having their days brightened by a special photography exhibition – in which all of the photographs have been taken by people living with sight loss.
Dozens of photos are on display along the hospital’s level 2 corridor, showcasing the talent and unique perspectives of a group of vision impaired photographers.
The Vision Norfolk photography group is organised by the county’s sight loss charity, as part of its wide-ranging programme of social and leisure activities designed to tackle the social isolation which can result from sight loss.
The vision impaired photographers use a range of equipment, from smartphones to sophisticated SLR cameras, to capture their images. The group meets twice as month, once to head out and take photographs together, and once to review and discuss the images they have taken.
“This is an opportunity for a wider audience to experience the world through the eyes (and lenses) of our talented vision impaired photographers,” said Helen King, leisure activities co-ordinator at Vision Norfolk.
“These are the corridors which lead to the hospital’s eye clinic, so we hope that the exhibition will reassure and inspire people on a sight loss journey that anything is possible.”
At a special preview evening of the exhibition at the hospital, vision impaired photographer Rachael Andrews, who is one of the people whose work is on display, said, “I have very little vision; I like a challenge, which is why photography is my hobby.
“Independence for me is not just about ‘can I go out?’, independence for me means ‘can I express myself as a photographer?’.
“We may all go to the same place, but we will all come away with different images. Taking pictures allows us to express ourselves artistically which we wouldn’t be able to do on our own.
“This exhibition shows that vision impaired people can be visually creative. There is no barrier to that; you can do it even with very little vision.”
Vision Norfolk’s photography group is open to anyone with a vision impairment, whether a beginner or an experienced photographer. More details a https://www.visionnorfolk.org.uk/get-support/activities/photography-group/.
The exhibition runs until the end of January.
