FSB099: Alex de Jong
December 17, 2009 by Ron Dawson
Filed under FSB Radio
What would you do as a visual artist if you lost the ability to see? How would that affect your life? There often comes a time in a person’s life when he or she is faced with a decision that can have a profound impact on the rest of their life. When life, in all of its ebbs and flows, throws a curve ball you didn’t see coming. Today’s guest had TWO such curve balls. First, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Then, as a result of that tumor, he lost his eye sight. Alex de Jong is a symbol of how far the human spirit can go when given the right perspective. Alex will share with us how he got into photography, and how he copes with his physical condition. I hope you will be inspired by his tenacity and outlook on life. To find more inspiring photographers who are blind, visit blindphotographers.org.
Next week we’ll be on Christmas break and will most likely run a previous show. Then, on January 1, we kick off the year big. It’ll be our 100th episode and the launch of a brand new website (hopefully it’ll be completed by then). And our guest will be none other than that Canon rapping, “Twilight” taking, wunderkind photographer Joey Lawrence (aka Joey L).
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Would Alex like to joine other blind photographers on Blind Photogaphers group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/blind_photographers_ ?____Everyopne interested in visually i8mpaired photography or blindness issues are welcom to visit, join the group abd share.
Great interview, Ron. It's amazing how far into it you got before he even *mentioned* that he is blind–just another photographer in his own perspective. Quite inspirational.
Great interview, thanks! I knew that Alex was using The vOICe on his Nokia phone as a kind of visual viewfinder, but this interview adds a lot of interesting and impressive context to his work and personal background.
Best regards,
Peter Meijer
The vOICe for Camera Phones with Java ME
http://www.seeingwithsound.com/midlet.htm
Great interview. Thanks for sharing the world of blind photographers.