Where is the Signal? 9.1

Photographer

Masaaki Toyoyoshi

Category

Fine Art Photography - Cityscape

Company

Submission Group

Professional

Year

2024

Country / Region:

Japan

I am visually impaired due to glaucoma, and I have almost no vision in my left eye. The disease has also affected my right eye, with around 30% of its visual field lost. I experience symptoms like distorted depth perception and visual hallucinations, where objects that are far away may appear closer, and things that aren't there can seem real. Additionally, I am sensitive to light, which means that streetlights, car headlights, and illuminated shop windows easily overwhelm my vision, causing the colors and scenes in front of me to shift constantly. In this work, I used multiple exposure techniques to express the ever-changing view that I perceive in my daily life. The effects of glaucoma on vision vary from person to person, but due to the damage to the optic nerves, those of us affected live in a world that is distinctly different from those with normal vision. This photograph captures a crosswalk in front of Tokyo Station, shot using a retinal projection camera kit designed for people with low vision. Through this piece, I aim to convey the unique visual challenges I face and offer a glimpse into the altered reality that people with glaucoma may experience. It is a reflection of how my vision constantly adapts to the fluctuating lighting conditions and how it creates a visual experience that is fragmented and sometimes surreal. Although the world remains visually recognizable, the way I see and interact with it has fundamentally changed. This artwork seeks to bridge the gap between how people with glaucoma perceive the world and how it is seen by those with normal eyesight.

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