do you know someone like this you’ll be chatting to them and all of the sudden
chatting to them and all of the sudden
chatting to them and all of the sudden they will interrupt and say whoa look at
they will interrupt and say whoa look at
they will interrupt and say whoa look at the lady’s shoes or oh what a pretty
the lady’s shoes or oh what a pretty
the lady’s shoes or oh what a pretty flower over there or I’m sorry but I
flower over there or I’m sorry but I
flower over there or I’m sorry but I have to say your top is so cool
have to say your top is so cool
have to say your top is so cool have you seen Finding Nemo I’m dory I’ve
have you seen Finding Nemo I’m dory I’ve
have you seen Finding Nemo I’m dory I’ve been distracted and absent-minded all my
been distracted and absent-minded all my
been distracted and absent-minded all my life my friends got used to my
life my friends got used to my
life my friends got used to my scatterbrain and is my fascination for
scatterbrain and is my fascination for
scatterbrain and is my fascination for little details and the ability to frame
little details and the ability to frame
little details and the ability to frame things with my eyes that later drove me
things with my eyes that later drove me
things with my eyes that later drove me to fall in love with photography in fact
to fall in love with photography in fact
to fall in love with photography in fact is these two qualities that I use to
is these two qualities that I use to
is these two qualities that I use to decide what makes a good photo one of my
decide what makes a good photo one of my
decide what makes a good photo one of my main influences is Japanese philosopher
main influences is Japanese philosopher
main influences is Japanese philosopher and amateur photographer Daisaku Ikeda
and amateur photographer Daisaku Ikeda
and amateur photographer Daisaku Ikeda he writes in this hectic age it is
he writes in this hectic age it is
he writes in this hectic age it is important for us to stop from time to
important for us to stop from time to
important for us to stop from time to time take a deep breath and look closely
time take a deep breath and look closely
time take a deep breath and look closely at ourselves and the world around us
at ourselves and the world around us
at ourselves and the world around us some of Ikeda’s photos were taken during
some of Ikeda’s photos were taken during
some of Ikeda’s photos were taken during brief moments of rest on his travels and
brief moments of rest on his travels and
brief moments of rest on his travels and just like him I was also traveling quite
just like him I was also traveling quite
just like him I was also traveling quite often when I started doing photography
often when I started doing photography
often when I started doing photography one day I was waiting for my train
one day I was waiting for my train
one day I was waiting for my train connection and I saw this amazing winter
connection and I saw this amazing winter
connection and I saw this amazing winter dawn and I felt so much gratitude for
dawn and I felt so much gratitude for
dawn and I felt so much gratitude for being there and seeing it that I felt I
being there and seeing it that I felt I
being there and seeing it that I felt I had to share it with others so I took
had to share it with others so I took
had to share it with others so I took out my mobile phone and I took a photo
out my mobile phone and I took a photo
out my mobile phone and I took a photo of it and then later on I discover the
of it and then later on I discover the
of it and then later on I discover the macro button on my mobile phone and I
macro button on my mobile phone and I
macro button on my mobile phone and I started
started
started in fig pictures of little details
in fig pictures of little details
in fig pictures of little details flowers in street gardens tree branches
flowers in street gardens tree branches
flowers in street gardens tree branches and flowers in the tree branches it’s
and flowers in the tree branches it’s
and flowers in the tree branches it’s just fascinating so much fun and not
just fascinating so much fun and not
just fascinating so much fun and not only that I found that these images also
only that I found that these images also
only that I found that these images also gave joy and made a difference in the
gave joy and made a difference in the
gave joy and made a difference in the day of the person that I share it with
day of the person that I share it with
day of the person that I share it with my friends my family via email via
my friends my family via email via
my friends my family via email via social media so photography became a way
social media so photography became a way
social media so photography became a way to express gratitude for what I see and
to express gratitude for what I see and
to express gratitude for what I see and share positivity with others you might
share positivity with others you might
share positivity with others you might think there’s nothing special about this
think there’s nothing special about this
think there’s nothing special about this but the truth is for the last fourteen
but the truth is for the last fourteen
but the truth is for the last fourteen years I have been slowly losing my sight
years I have been slowly losing my sight
years I have been slowly losing my sight so why do I do photography if I can’t
so why do I do photography if I can’t
so why do I do photography if I can’t see very well
see very well
see very well let me tell you I have an eye condition
let me tell you I have an eye condition
let me tell you I have an eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa which is a
called retinitis pigmentosa which is a
called retinitis pigmentosa which is a bit of a mouthful so I call it one key
bit of a mouthful so I call it one key
bit of a mouthful so I call it one key vision what it means is that I am slowly
vision what it means is that I am slowly
vision what it means is that I am slowly losing the ability to see around the
losing the ability to see around the
losing the ability to see around the corner of my eyes and in dim light so
corner of my eyes and in dim light so
corner of my eyes and in dim light so this is how I actually see that photo to
this is how I actually see that photo to
this is how I actually see that photo to make life even more interesting I’m also
make life even more interesting I’m also
make life even more interesting I’m also very short-sighted and overly sensitive
very short-sighted and overly sensitive
very short-sighted and overly sensitive to the light so you see I’m the typical
to the light so you see I’m the typical
to the light so you see I’m the typical blind person with dark glasses and white
blind person with dark glasses and white
blind person with dark glasses and white cane who can actually see we do exist
cane who can actually see we do exist
cane who can actually see we do exist over time my photo collection grew and
over time my photo collection grew and
over time my photo collection grew and grew photography became a way to get in
grew photography became a way to get in
grew photography became a way to get in touch with my creativity to say you know
touch with my creativity to say you know
touch with my creativity to say you know what I can still see and I’m grateful
what I can still see and I’m grateful
what I can still see and I’m grateful for it and I’ve been able to take part
for it and I’ve been able to take part
for it and I’ve been able to take part in very interesting projects and meet
in very interesting projects and meet
in very interesting projects and meet lovely people
lovely people
lovely people this passion of mine I’d like to share
this passion of mine I’d like to share
this passion of mine I’d like to share some of my journey with you today a
some of my journey with you today a
some of my journey with you today a couple of years ago I started going to
couple of years ago I started going to
couple of years ago I started going to gigs with this friend of mine who wanted
gigs with this friend of mine who wanted
gigs with this friend of mine who wanted to start what’s on in the worship music
to start what’s on in the worship music
to start what’s on in the worship music scene so she would go out write reviews
scene so she would go out write reviews
scene so she would go out write reviews about gigs on her blog and I would
about gigs on her blog and I would
about gigs on her blog and I would collaborate with photos and this is how
collaborate with photos and this is how
collaborate with photos and this is how plugin amp her project was born soon
plugin amp her project was born soon
plugin amp her project was born soon enough my photos started being used by
enough my photos started being used by
enough my photos started being used by artists in social media they started
artists in social media they started
artists in social media they started appearing in newspapers and the band’s
appearing in newspapers and the band’s
appearing in newspapers and the band’s thanks to that exposure started taking
thanks to that exposure started taking
thanks to that exposure started taking part in festivals signing on to PR deals
part in festivals signing on to PR deals
part in festivals signing on to PR deals and even going on to tour on a national
and even going on to tour on a national
and even going on to tour on a national level now if you can’t see very well
level now if you can’t see very well
level now if you can’t see very well going out in a dark music venue to take
going out in a dark music venue to take
going out in a dark music venue to take photos it’s a little bit crazy and I
photos it’s a little bit crazy and I
photos it’s a little bit crazy and I have to be honest I was terrified I
have to be honest I was terrified I
have to be honest I was terrified I thought I’m gonna start tripping over
thought I’m gonna start tripping over
thought I’m gonna start tripping over musicians instrument I’m gonna start
musicians instrument I’m gonna start
musicians instrument I’m gonna start walking into everybody I’m gonna get the
walking into everybody I’m gonna get the
walking into everybody I’m gonna get the shot wrong is going to be a disaster but
shot wrong is going to be a disaster but
shot wrong is going to be a disaster but the little story voice in my head said
the little story voice in my head said
the little story voice in my head said what did you try this why don’t you use
what did you try this why don’t you use
what did you try this why don’t you use the camera like that so I found creative
the camera like that so I found creative
the camera like that so I found creative to create creative ways of navigating
to create creative ways of navigating
to create creative ways of navigating music venues avoiding
music venues avoiding
music venues avoiding walking into people editing images it
walking into people editing images it
walking into people editing images it was good and I’m actually quite proud
was good and I’m actually quite proud
was good and I’m actually quite proud with the resultant we saw these are also
with the resultant we saw these are also
with the resultant we saw these are also a few of the bands that have got quite a
a few of the bands that have got quite a
a few of the bands that have got quite a bit of exposure out of plugin am still
bit of exposure out of plugin am still
bit of exposure out of plugin am still dolmen
from certifier and speaking each others
from certifier and speaking each others also do check out plugin um music
also do check out plugin um music
also do check out plugin um music network on Facebook some facts the theme
network on Facebook some facts the theme
network on Facebook some facts the theme picking up researching for this talk the
picking up researching for this talk the
picking up researching for this talk the link between creativity and resilience
link between creativity and resilience
link between creativity and resilience has been well studied and resilience is
has been well studied and resilience is
has been well studied and resilience is the ability that we all have to recover
the ability that we all have to recover
the ability that we all have to recover from traumatic challenges the author
from traumatic challenges the author
from traumatic challenges the author Ruth features in her book everyday
Ruth features in her book everyday
Ruth features in her book everyday creativity says creativity is not
creativity says creativity is not
creativity says creativity is not something that only belongs to artists
something that only belongs to artists
something that only belongs to artists we all have it and we can express it in
we all have it and we can express it in
we all have it and we can express it in the way we react to our daily challenges
the way we react to our daily challenges
the way we react to our daily challenges in fact connecting with our everyday
in fact connecting with our everyday
in fact connecting with our everyday creativity can make us more productive
creativity can make us more productive
creativity can make us more productive improve our quality of life and even our
improve our quality of life and even our
improve our quality of life and even our health also the emerging field of
health also the emerging field of
health also the emerging field of positive psychology recommends
positive psychology recommends
positive psychology recommends harnessing creativity as a way of
harnessing creativity as a way of
harnessing creativity as a way of leaving more happy and productive lives
leaving more happy and productive lives
leaving more happy and productive lives this is what I feel I do with
this is what I feel I do with
this is what I feel I do with photography I can’t change the fact that
photography I can’t change the fact that
photography I can’t change the fact that I’m losing my sight but I can’t change
I’m losing my sight but I can’t change
I’m losing my sight but I can’t change how I react to it and I believe everyone
how I react to it and I believe everyone
how I react to it and I believe everyone is capable of the same in their personal
is capable of the same in their personal
is capable of the same in their personal situation
situation
situation so through photography I wish to connect
so through photography I wish to connect
so through photography I wish to connect to the birthplace of hope in every
to the birthplace of hope in every
to the birthplace of hope in every person’s life taking part in pluggin amp
person’s life taking part in pluggin amp
person’s life taking part in pluggin amp was a lifeline for me I was going
was a lifeline for me I was going
was a lifeline for me I was going through a very difficult time I started
through a very difficult time I started
through a very difficult time I started having more problems with my night
having more problems with my night
having more problems with my night vision even in familiar routes like
vision even in familiar routes like
vision even in familiar routes like coming back from work and in daylight I
coming back from work and in daylight I
coming back from work and in daylight I started walking into everything to make
started walking into everything to make
started walking into everything to make matters worse I also started having
matters worse I also started having
matters worse I also started having problems
problems
problems reading small print so I knew it was
reading small print so I knew it was
reading small print so I knew it was time to take action to consider using
time to take action to consider using
time to take action to consider using our why cane and look into assistive
our why cane and look into assistive
our why cane and look into assistive technology and I’m not going to lie to
technology and I’m not going to lie to
technology and I’m not going to lie to you it was very difficult to the point
you it was very difficult to the point
you it was very difficult to the point of being sign off from work for a while
of being sign off from work for a while
of being sign off from work for a while and I even thought I was not going to be
and I even thought I was not going to be
and I even thought I was not going to be able to carry on doing photography but I
able to carry on doing photography but I
able to carry on doing photography but I did not give up I forced myself to go
did not give up I forced myself to go
did not give up I forced myself to go out to the park and take photos to
out to the park and take photos to
out to the park and take photos to listen to my little dory voice and try
listen to my little dory voice and try
listen to my little dory voice and try different ways of framing and editing
different ways of framing and editing
different ways of framing and editing images with the determination to take my
images with the determination to take my
images with the determination to take my work out to keep more exposure to my
work out to keep more exposure to my
work out to keep more exposure to my photography and this year I had my first
photography and this year I had my first
photography and this year I had my first breakthrough in April my work was part
breakthrough in April my work was part
breakthrough in April my work was part of a shot in the dark a documentary
of a shot in the dark a documentary
of a shot in the dark a documentary about flying photography featuring my
about flying photography featuring my
about flying photography featuring my work alone and the work of two other
work alone and the work of two other
work alone and the work of two other photographers based in the Midlands a
photographers based in the Midlands a
photographers based in the Midlands a shot in the dark is openly available on
shot in the dark is openly available on
shot in the dark is openly available on YouTube and not only that I had the
YouTube and not only that I had the
YouTube and not only that I had the opportunity to also exhibit my work
opportunity to also exhibit my work
opportunity to also exhibit my work alongside the work of the other two
alongside the work of the other two
alongside the work of the other two photographers in the launch of the film
photographers in the launch of the film
photographers in the launch of the film in Manchester and I’m now really
in Manchester and I’m now really
in Manchester and I’m now really focusing on working on my passion for
focusing on working on my passion for
focusing on working on my passion for small details through nature and
small details through nature and
small details through nature and architectural photography so these are a
architectural photography so these are a
architectural photography so these are a few of my latest dozen Jepson Gardens
tenerife I’m Frank Ferguson to finish I
tenerife I’m Frank Ferguson to finish I would like to share a few things that
would like to share a few things that
would like to share a few things that I’ve learned through coming out of the
I’ve learned through coming out of the
I’ve learned through coming out of the closet has visually-impaired first of
closet has visually-impaired first of
closet has visually-impaired first of all I’m registered legally blind I have
all I’m registered legally blind I have
all I’m registered legally blind I have to use a cane I have difficulty reading
to use a cane I have difficulty reading
to use a cane I have difficulty reading small print but I can still see
small print but I can still see
small print but I can still see confusing well according to the RNIB 93%
confusing well according to the RNIB 93%
confusing well according to the RNIB 93% of people register blind and partially
of people register blind and partially
of people register blind and partially sighted in the UK have got some vision
sighted in the UK have got some vision
sighted in the UK have got some vision it’s just not as good as normal vision
it’s just not as good as normal vision
it’s just not as good as normal vision but we can perfectly leave our lives
but we can perfectly leave our lives
but we can perfectly leave our lives with the use of a few adaptations in
with the use of a few adaptations in
with the use of a few adaptations in fact what a few of us are very witty
fact what a few of us are very witty
fact what a few of us are very witty problems or solvers
problems or solvers
problems or solvers every time I’ve met somebody else living
every time I’ve met somebody else living
every time I’ve met somebody else living with sight loss have learned something
with sight loss have learned something
with sight loss have learned something new there are tricks for navigating
new there are tricks for navigating
new there are tricks for navigating venues for avoiding knocking things over
venues for avoiding knocking things over
venues for avoiding knocking things over on the table for thirteen steps you name
on the table for thirteen steps you name
on the table for thirteen steps you name it there’s a solution for it and that’s
it there’s a solution for it and that’s
it there’s a solution for it and that’s every day creativity in fact you might
every day creativity in fact you might
every day creativity in fact you might not believe it but I’m used to having
not believe it but I’m used to having
not believe it but I’m used to having monkey vision I mean I can’t remember
monkey vision I mean I can’t remember
monkey vision I mean I can’t remember what it’s like to see normally and this
what it’s like to see normally and this
what it’s like to see normally and this surprises most people around me for
surprises most people around me for
surprises most people around me for example when I told one of my specialist
example when I told one of my specialist
example when I told one of my specialist Dominique I am oh I am an amateur
Dominique I am oh I am an amateur
Dominique I am oh I am an amateur photographer
photographer
photographer he was so baffled he invited me to do a
he was so baffled he invited me to do a
he was so baffled he invited me to do a talk at the staff meeting and he was
talk at the staff meeting and he was
talk at the staff meeting and he was great because they shared how it enables
great because they shared how it enables
great because they shared how it enables me to enable them to understand what
me to enable them to understand what
me to enable them to understand what it’s like to live with sight loss and I
it’s like to live with sight loss and I
it’s like to live with sight loss and I feel this must be a practice more spread
feel this must be a practice more spread
feel this must be a practice more spread in the Health Service because from a
in the Health Service because from a
in the Health Service because from a personal experience losing your sight
personal experience losing your sight
personal experience losing your sight can be a scary thing and retinol units
can be a scary thing and retinol units
can be a scary thing and retinol units must be more humane big places where
must be more humane big places where
must be more humane big places where people is treated with
people is treated with
people is treated with technically regardless of their side
technically regardless of their side
technically regardless of their side condition I also share an article I
condition I also share an article I
condition I also share an article I wrote about photography with the people
wrote about photography with the people
wrote about photography with the people doing a white country I was doing YK
doing a white country I was doing YK
doing a white country I was doing YK training with and later on it made it to
training with and later on it made it to
training with and later on it made it to workshop vision magazine which support
workshop vision magazine which support
workshop vision magazine which support around 500 people living with silos in
around 500 people living with silos in
around 500 people living with silos in work sure when I started doing
work sure when I started doing
work sure when I started doing photography
photography
photography I thought I was the only one if not one
I thought I was the only one if not one
I thought I was the only one if not one of the few visual in Faragher firs but
of the few visual in Faragher firs but
of the few visual in Faragher firs but as I later found out there’s many of us
as I later found out there’s many of us
as I later found out there’s many of us out there and like to finish by sharing
out there and like to finish by sharing
out there and like to finish by sharing some of their work with you Tanveer
some of their work with you Tanveer
some of their work with you Tanveer Naomi Bush from the UK Hattie Cole from
Naomi Bush from the UK Hattie Cole from
Naomi Bush from the UK Hattie Cole from the UK and roof follows from Australia
and Julie Carbonell from my home country
and Julie Carbonell from my home country of Venezuela just like them just like me
of Venezuela just like them just like me
of Venezuela just like them just like me you too can turn anything around be
you too can turn anything around be
you too can turn anything around be creative look at things differently you
creative look at things differently you
creative look at things differently you have nothing to lose thank you
”
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