Well a new year has started, and I hope to continue to post on the blog. I’ve made some great friends already from this blog, and received some nice comments and e-mails; and that’s the key for any blog I guess. You want to make sure some one, any one, is reading what you have to say. I would like to thank all my friends for commenting and your continued encouragement to post.

We’d like to remind you to visit our friends too…
Cole and Skilled Companion Dog Ilia
Jeremy and his blog Not, Not Blind
‘L-Squared’ and Leader Dog Willow blog, A Dogs Eye View
Author, Stephen Kuusisto of the book and blog Plaint of the Blind
Matt Marcinek, a good friend, and fellow disabled judo player
Heidi Moore, USA Elite Judo Athlete / Coach (She’ll kick your ass!)
Kyle Lograsso, junior golfer (He’s only 7!) Kyle survived eye cancer, loosing one eye, and partiality sighted in the other… One AMAZING KID! Founder of Though Kyle’s Eyes Fund. (Say a prayer for Jeff, Kyle’s dad, he’s in Iraq right now with the USMC fighting for us…)

We’d also like to mention our continued support of Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), providers of highly trained service dogs for children and adults (Like our friends Cole and Ilia); and Ronald McDonald House Charities, providing a place to stay while children undergo medical treatments… Need a reason to support CCI or RMH? Just visit Cole’s web site!

And well, I guess I should give another plug for Cole because he thought they’re SO COOL; Challenge Air for Kids and Friends, (1-877-FLY-KIDS) a not-for-profit organization, that offers motivational, inspirational and life-changing experiences to physically challenged children and youth through aviation; and yea, I think they are way cool too!

Michelle (Cole’s mom) would be grateful if I also mention, Miracle Flights for Kids too. They are the nation’s leading nonprofit charitable flight organization. Since 1985, Miracle Flights has fulfilled its mission of helping families overcome financial obstacles by flying their seriously ill children to receive proper medical care and to get second opinions (they work for adults too!).

Skilled Companion Ilia, and Leader Dog Willow also remind me, please support your local ASPCA! Because our 4-legs friends need help too!

If I missed any one, I’m sorry, and please check the blog roll, and other links on the sidebar!

Have a happy and safe 2009!

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From the Letter Published in Rangefinder I got this nice reply from a reader…

Hi Richard,
Saw your letter in one of the photography magazines we get and had to write. I’m a photographer and I have 2 sons who were born legally blind. They have Nystagmus and also have Albinism.

Though born white as ghosts and legally blind, the pigmentation has increased in their hair and a little in their skin and I guess in their eyes as well because their eyesight has improved over the years. They are still very light compared to most people but they have learned how to deal with their physical shortcomings.

Both boys have been treated for years by doctors from Wills Eye in Philly and have had glasses and contacts to help their vision. The fact that they have monocular vision – they see with one eye at a time – I think helps when they take pictures with a camera through which we all see with one eye. A clear advantage in my eyes!

My older son, Ian, is now an attorney with a beautiful wife and 2 little boys and my younger son, Gabriel, just took over my photography business and has a beautiful wife and daughter.

I checked out your website and you have a great ‘eye‘, regardless of your vision stats. Just as my sons could never see the ball but adjusted their other faculties to compensate, you’ve learned timing and anticipation and used them to your advantage. Like my sons, I suspect your other senses are magnified to make up for any vision loss.

Anyway, your work is real nice and it was great reading your story. We’re located in Newtown Square just below King of Prussia and if you’re down this way, it would be a leasure to have you stop by the studio.

Best Holiday Wishes
Phil

Thanks Phil…

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Well seems I’m famous, I guess… A letter I wrote a few months ago was published in Rangefinder Magazine. The letter was published in the December issue of Rangefinder, page 21 “Problems and Solutions“…

From: R. Favinger (Me)~

I came across an article in Rangefinder when I decided to search for people like me.

Seems an odd search when you Google “Legally Blind Photographer” doesn’t it? I am legally blind; I have Nystagmus (CN). I’m 20/200 with glasses, and 20/400 without. I use a -3.0 diopter adjustment on my viewfinder and rely heavily on AF. But I don’t pick the easy subjects of portrait and landscape.

I’m a sports photographer. Funny enough, my favorite sport to shoot is baseball (Little League), and I am the official game photographer for our local league and district here in PA. I can’t see the ball, everything is timing and anticipation, though through the camera I can see almost perfectly. I watch the pitcher, time his motion, and fire for the swing. I listen to the players and coaches and know their plans before they do. Guy on 1st? Best watch 2nd! Guy on 3rd? You better cover home!

My only dilemma is almost never getting outfield shots. When the ball is hit, to me it is as good as lost because I can never see where it goes. I watch for the kid setting up in the in-field to catch the ball as it’s returned.

I don’t always announce my vision disability to potential clients because I fear they may overlook me or question my skill. But I feel it’s time for others to know. Some photographers really are blind.

If you’d like to learn more, feel free to contact me. My website is: www.favingerphotography.com.

Thanks for the very inspiring letter. I assume the article you found was about Michael Richard in the January 2007 issue. He too was legally blind and could only see light and dark, but produced startlingly beauti-ful imagery. ~ Editor

Kind of cool I think, a letter in a major national photography magazine.

This issue also displays some of the best pictures in 2008, check it out!

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