Legally Blind Photographer Finds Ways Around Barriers

By: Margaret Larsen (Anchor)
and Scott Rensberger (Reporter)

Margaret Larsen: Sometimes people find themselves challenged by physical barriers that appear to be insurmountable. This is often when the human spirit responds finding a way around those barriers and that is exactly the story reporter Scott Rensberger found today after taliking to a Seattle area photographer who is blind.

Robert Wright: Sometimes you get the best view looking up.

Scott Rensberger: Henery Ford once said, "Don't find fault. Find a remedy"; word to live by for 38 year old Robert Wright.

Robert Wright: I've been photographing since about 1975.

Scot Rensberger: Taking photographs is a hobby for millions of Americans, but there is a big difference between Robert Wright and the rest of us.

Robert Wright: If I look as this tree, for example, I don't see each leaf, but I see the rough outline of a tree.

Scott Rensberger: In 1955 Robert was in a car accident, that left him legally blind. Robert was only 16 days old at the time.

Robert Wright: My head went and hit the dashboard of the automobile and it caused brain damage.

Scot Rensberger: Robert says it was not easy growing up visually impaired. People repeatedly told him about his limitations.

Robert Wright: I was always aware, that certain things were harder for me to do, but I did not want to let other peole's evaluations of what I could or could not do, stop me from at least pursuing what my personal interests were.

Scott Rensberger: Nineteen years ago, Robert picked up a camera to show the world, that a legally blind person can take pictures. At first, his photographs were out of focus, but then technology produced an Auto Focus Camera. Robert says "The meaning of life isn't about what we can't do". and we shouldn't let people judge us on our weaknesses.

Robert Wright: I'm trying to set examples for people with any kind of disability, but more specifically, for people that are legally blind or worse... that the meaning of life (what gives life purpose) is not the achieving of a goal, but is simply setting them and working towards them.

Scott Rensberger: Scott Rensberger, KIRO, News Channel 7.