MUMBAI: In January 2015, an ad for soap featuring Katrina Kaif drew four million hits online. The still photographs had been shot by 26-year-old Bhavesh Patel who was born blind. He had judged Katrina's height by her handshake, and followed her movements through her voice and the rustle of fabric. 



Over the years, Bhavesh and his sightless friends, Mahesh Umrania, Kanchan Pamnani and Harsh Vyas, have exhibited their photographs at India Habitat Center in New Delhi and NCPA in Mumbai, at the Kala Ghoda Festival, as well as the Indian High Commission in the UK. 

Two NGOs have armed them with a third eye. Sightsavers, in association with Beyond Sight Foundation (BSF), is training the blind to shoot, which is a feat considering that most youngsters have not held a camera before. A live demonstration takes place at Press Club Thursday. "On the first weekend in August, we will exhibit pictures of blind people taken by the blind themselves at Inorbit Mall, Malad," says Amal Gupta of Sightsavers. 



In 2004, BSF founder Partho Bhowmick was browsing the bookstalls along Flora Fountain when he came upon a magazine featuring blind lensman Evgen Bavcar. "The article triggered a fascination for helping the visually impaired discover photography," he says. Partially sighted people or those who have visual recollection are easier to train than those born blind. 



Some of Bhavesh's portraits and landscapes are so symmetrical and sharp, one cannot tell his handicap. Despite his enterprise, Bhavesh has no illusions about turning his hobby into a career. "Not many people would trust a sightless person to archive precious moments like weddings. I shoot independently, but it helps to have tips on the landscape so I know where to focus my camera. For now, I indulge my passion with my iPhone," he says.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Visually-impaired-shoot-into-limelight-by-taking-pictures/articleshow/47808332.cms