Beyond sight: How blind photographers are redefining visual art in India

Indian Express

10 hours ago

Written by Amit Chakravarty
For most, photography is about capturing what the eye can see. But for Vivek Yeralkar, who gradually lost his vision, it has become a way to experience the world on his own terms through sound, memory, and technology.
Yeralkar is among a growing number of visually impaired photographers in India exploring photography not as a visual medium, but as a sensory and conceptual one. Helping lead this shift is Partho Bhowmick, a Mumbai-based photographer and educator who founded the Blind With Camera initiative in 2006.
His workshops encourage visually impaired individuals to use other senses, touch, sound, and spatial awareness to understand and frame their surroundings.
'Blind With Camera works to help visually impaired people become part of society and culture. It teaches them art that doesn't rely on vision, giving them pride, purpose, and hope in their new way of 'seeing.' It also helps give them a voice and brings people together, making society more understanding and accepting.' Bhowmick says.
Since its inception, 'Blind With Camera' has trained over 1,800 people across India and abroad. It has also launched an open-source e-learning platform for blind photographers, developed with IIT Bombay, and curated multi-sensory exhibitions that invite both sighted and non-sighted audiences to experience photography in new ways.
Advancements in technology have made this art form more accessible. Apps like Microsoft's Seeing AI describe scenes aloud; vOICe converts visuals into soundscapes; and others like Tech-Freedom integrate scene reading, object recognition, and currency detection, features that allow visually impaired users to explore their surroundings independently.
In blind schools across India, students are now being introduced to these tools not only for daily navigation, but as part of creative expression.
For some, photography has led to professional opportunities. Bhavesh Patel, who has been blind since early childhood, made headlines in 2014 for shooting a commercial campaign for Lux featuring actress Katrina Kaif. He used sound cues like the rustle of fabric to frame his subject.
Patel now uses his phone camera for daily tasks, such as taking a picture of his shirt and effectively colour coordinating his entire ensemble.
Yeralkar, too, has found purpose beyond the lens. A silver medalist at the West Zone Abilympics, he says photography helped him rebuild confidence. 'I needed physical help to get around. But after rediscovering photography, I felt renewed purpose and could navigate independently again,' he said.