SF0 / Toom / Seeing Beyond Sight Photo Challenge

30 + 15 points

Seeing Beyond Sight Photo Challenge by Toom

May 27th, 2007 12:13 AM

INSTRUCTIONS: Seeing Beyond Sight has partnered with SFZero to challenge you to see the world differently - with more than your eyes.

Welcome new users: SFZero is an ongoing game in which you can choose to participate (or not) after you do the Seeing Beyond Sight Challenge.

Click here for new user registration.

1. Blindfold yourself.
(wear shades or tape your eyes shut)

2. Go out in public and make your way in the world.
(go 1 block, 1 hour or 1 roll of film; go with a friend or alone; make up your own process)

3. Photograph things you notice. And, just notice.
(What do you notice differently about objects, people, actions, interactions?)

4. Embrace the whole experience as much as the picture taking.
(Engage. Have a conversation with people you encounter. Take it all in.)

5. Share your story.
(For each photograph write a caption about your experience - a few lines or several paragraphs if you want.)

6. Challenge some friends to do it.
(email them the link: sf0.org/seeingbeyondsight)

Please don't post all the pictures from your shoot, but chose 1 to 3 that are the best images or are most telling of your experience. Caption the photos describing something about your experience - that is as important as the image itself. Longer stories are welcomed and may be added to www.seeingbeyondsight.org.

If you depend on your eyes to get around, then it is hard not to use them. Although you can tell us about how difficult it is to be blind, focus more on what you noticed about the world as you embarked on this journey.

This experience isn’t about blindness – it is about seeing, noticing and paying attention with more than your eyes.

This challenge was inspired by SEEING BEYOND SIGHT: PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLIND TEENAGERS, a new book published by Chronicle Books.

I arrived at the start point fairly late, hope I will still have time to participate and have some fun. That's the thing with these Events. You don't get THAT much information, so you have no idea what you are in store for.

I didn't have a partner. I guess you could say I was a total loner. I arrive and I see Ian, relaxing and throwing back a cold one. He offers to take me out and the adventure begins.

I set the pictures in the order of which they were taken, and they each tell the story a bit better than me describing the actions.

- smaller

First picture

I believe this is right outside the start point. The adventure begins.

I almost tripped on this guys burlap strap.

Why was this guy balancing on a strap tied between 2 poles or posts? Better yet, how did i get a perfectly framed shot of it?

inside a tour bus... or a party bus?

I found a bus parked in front of a hotel. I found the doors (which were opened) and talked to the driver for a bit. He was relaxing and said I could take a picture. It was a cool bus.

emergency!

I attempted to snap a picture of a firetruck i heard coming from a few blocks away. And look! It is running a red light! Damn law breaking fire fighters.

YIKES! A PIT

Just like any videogame ever made: A Bottomless pit in the middle of a path. Now all i need is a lava level and a sewer level.

Blind guys get all the loving

These ladies pretty much pulled me over and asked to take a picture with me.

this man is NOT Steve McQueen

I stumbled upon what I believe was a Steve McQueen Art gallery opening. This man was really nice, but was also trying to ask me to leave since this was an invitation only event.

Ned.

If I recall, this guys name is Ned. He was really nice! He sold my guide a street sheet, and he was moving around really rapidly when i was trying to take his picture. He told me I'd have to find him with his voice so he was moving around me really fast. I got a pretty good shot of him!

oh, san francisco, you lovable old city.

Approaching Union Square. It's sometimes hard to take the time and let it soak in how incredible this city looks sometimes. I love this picture.

nice lady!

This lady was really nice. She wanted to take my picture, but I said "Only if i can take yours". So we did a barter of goods, and this is my reward. Cheers, nice lady!

hardest challenge of the day.

These steps were incredibly difficult to navigate. The grass patches between each stone made it feel like a step down was incoming. And then sometimes there would be a step there. I almost fell on my face 3 different times here.

Macys? more like MAZEY's.

Navigating the Macy's isles was a challenge. A kind lady was directing me towards the perfume/cologne section. She had high-heels and was stepping louder than normal to help me out. I felt like i was turning radical angles every few steps, and constantly going in circles. this picture was taken after i reached the counter and i turned around to see this maze i somehow made it through.

the invisible woman