When Taiwo Lawal first heard that she could become a photographer despite being blind, she found the idea difficult to believe.
“At the start, I kept wondering how a blind person could learn photography. I thought it was impossible. But the person who introduced me to it said it was possible. So, I agreed to do it,” Lawal recalled.
Her decision marked the beginning of an unusual journey that would see her develop photography skills and pursue the profession despite the challenges associated with her visual impairment.
At the time of the report, Lawal, who was 35 and from Ondo State, had been learning photography for about three years. She had since developed considerable knowledge of cameras and the techniques required to take photographs.
But how does a blind photographer operate a camera?
According to Lawal, she relies largely on her sense of hearing, touch and communication with the people or objects she photographs.
“If I want to take a picture, I would go to where the person is and feel his location. Then I would communicate with the person to sense the direction, as the sound of the person tells me where he or she is,” she explained.
Lawal said she had also learnt about various parts of a camera, including the lens, viewfinder and LCD screen. Her approach to photography, however, involves using her other senses to understand her surroundings.
“When I want to take pictures of nature, I first feel the object by touching it, then move back and take the picture,” she said, explaining that she could create mental impressions of objects through touch.
For Lawal, photography became more than a skill. It offered her an opportunity to challenge assumptions about what people living with disabilities could achieve.
Her personal journey had also been marked by difficult circumstances. According to the account published at the time, Lawal and her twin sister were born blind, while their mother later left the community after the circumstances surrounding the twins’ birth became known.
The report also stated that doctors had initially predicted that the twins might live for only six years. Despite that grim prognosis, Lawal continued to live her life and pursue her ambitions.
Her experience became an example of determination and resilience, particularly for people living with disabilities who often face additional barriers in education, employment and professional development.
However, Lawal still needed support to acquire further training and equipment that could help her develop her photography career.
Her story demonstrated that disability does not necessarily prevent a person from pursuing a chosen profession when given the opportunity, training and support needed to succeed.
This story is based on an earlier report published by The Punch and has been rewritten for historical publication on TrendscopeNews.
Original source: The Punch, “Incredible Woman: Story of Nigeria’s First Blind Photographer.”
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