There are many ways for disabled photographers to overcome impairment in order to take up or to continue with photography.
The techniques used by members of the Disabled Photographers’ Society are as individual and varied as their disabilities. And while there are common ways around things there is no one size fits all solution.
For a vision impaired photographer, the answer may be to use a laptop as a camera screen or viewfinder. Nikon produces a LAN Adaptor, which connects to the base of a camera and transfers an image via IEEE 802.11b/g techology to a laptop.
As the wireless link is bi-directional, with appropriate software, this also allows the user to set most of the camera operating parameters from the laptop screen, and even focus and shoot at the touch of a button.
The image is displayed in real time, and stored onto the laptop’s hard drive. The software works well under Dolphin’s Lunar computer screen magnification software. This sytem has meant that at least one of our members has been able to continue with photography, despite failing eyesight.
A wireless link is not a cheap option however, but most camera manufacturers produce software which allows the user to trigger their camera from a computer, via a lead, and for the images to be stored directly on the computer. Canon usually provide such software free with their cameras, but other manufacturers may make an additional charge.
Another useful gadget is something called a Zig-View. This is essentially a small camera which fits over the viewfinder of a camera with a separate small screen that can be detached and used as a remote shuter release.
A video out lead comes as a part of the kit and can be used, with a TV, to give a much larger viewfinder image This gadget is useful to those with a visual impairment, but also to those with phyisical problems, particularily wheelchair users.
One very common question, which we are asked regularly, is one that affects amputees and stroke victims: “is there a left handed camera?”. The loss of the right hand or arm presents a unique problem, how do you opperate the shutter?
Well, the answer is simple and cheap, if the left hand or arm is intact and functions, turn the camera upside down and use the left thumb to opperate the shutter. This works especially well with the smaller digital cameras which are now available.
So what if can not use either arm? There are various tripods, clamps available that can support the camera and a standard remote release can be modified to be triggered in the mouth, by gripping it in the teeth.
The image below was shot by John Miller, a tetraplegic, using just such a system. John can hold the camera, but has no function in his fingers. He triggers his camera, a Canon 10D SLR, via a standard Canon remote release with an additional piece of grooved plastic glued to the button. Teeth in the groove he just bites to take the picture.
Ok, he was helped into the aircraft and the manoever was practiced several times before they got the shot, but that’s half the secret and the fun. By the way there is no digital trickery in that image, it was shot on good old film, in a Canon EOS 3, they just got the timing spot on.
If needed, cameras can be mounted on a wheelchair, scooter or even a walking stick, you just need to ask or think a little lateraly sometimes, and to keep persevering.
We are currently trying to develop a system with a motorised camera mount linked to a small touch-screen computer, not a cheap option, but what price do you put on the joy that a photograph can bring and the feeling you get when you capture ‘that image’? Priceless, as they say!
Tom Molloy is Chairman of the Disabled Photographers' Society