Holy shit I’m 40… and going blind.

Blurred Lines: The Life of a Photographer with Questionable Vision

Hey there, fellow shutterbugs and focal fiends! Today, let’s dive into the whimsical world of photography through the slightly smudged lens of someone who can’t quite see the back of their camera properly without their trusty specs , that's right, folks, it's me!

Picture this: You're out in the field, capturing the perfect golden hour shot, the light is just right, the composition is impeccable, and you can practically smell the Instagram likes rolling in. But wait, what's this? You can't quite make out if your masterpiece is sharp or if it's as blurry as your vision without glasses.

Ah, yes, welcome to the daily struggle of being a fucking visually challenged photographer. It's like playing a game of photographic roulette every time I press that shutter button. Will it be a crisp, clear image worthy of a gallery wall, or will it be a pixelated mess that would make even your granny cringe?

Let me walk you through a typical day in my visually impaired shoes. First off, there's the constant battle with my own eyesight. Sure, I wear contacts, but I can’t see shit closer than six feet and have you ever tried changing lenses in the middle of a dusty desert with sand blowing in your face? It's not exactly a recipe for success. So, I stick with my glasses, smudges and all.

Then comes the joy of reviewing my shots on the tiny screen of my camera. Is that a winning smile or a blurry blob? Only time – and a quick zoom – will tell. Of course, there's always the option of squinting and pretending everything is fine, but trust me, it's a slippery slope from there to accidentally deleting your memory card in frustration. There’s only so far you can hold your camera at arms length

But fear not, dear reader, for every challenge comes with its own set of solutions. I've become a master of the art of guessing focus distances, honing my instincts to rival even the most sophisticated autofocus systems. Who needs tack-sharp images when you've got the soft glow of artistic interpretation, right? Well, that’s what I tell myself

And let's not forget the beauty of post-processing. With a few carefully applied filters and a touch of magic in Photoshop, even the most out-of-focus shot can be transformed into a masterpiece. It's like turning lemons into lemonade, except instead of lemons, it's blurry photos, and instead of lemonade, it's… well, still lemonade, but you get the idea.

So, to all my fellow photographers out there who can't quite see the back of their cameras without squinting, I salute you. Embrace the blur, lean into the uncertainty, and remember – sometimes, the best shots are the ones you never saw.

My dad has the best excuse for his shitty eyesight, he states that “it’s not my eyes that are bad. It’s my arms that aren’t long enough”.

Beautiful words Dad.