Blind photographer takes art a notch higher

Though visually impaired, Richard Rono can focus and capture https://cdn.standardmedia.co.ke/images. (Photo:Nikko Tanui/Standard)

By NIKKO TANUI

Kericho, Kenya: A sharp eye is one of the most important attributes in photography, since the art requires someone to see what may pass an ordinary observer.

But Richard Rono or Mr Mobile, as he is fondly known in Litein town, Kericho County, is a blind photographer and a good one at that.

Seeing him go about his trade is amazing. He arranges his subjects, checks their heights using his hand before stepping back a few steps, takes a few seconds, then the camera clicks.

Knowing the effects of sunrays on quality of pictures, he determines its direction using his trademark baseball hat.

“People thought it was impossible for a blind person to take a good picture, but they have realised nothing is impossible if you dare,” he says.

Rono uses a person’s voice to determine his or her height and therefore frame and takes a photograph that will leave the owner pleased.

For group photographs, he physically arranges the subjects in a line.

The 42-year-old says he lost his vision in 1995, while working as a tea taster. “One day as I was working in the factory, a metal chip flew from one of the machines hit me in the eye damaging my eyes’ roots and I ultimately lost my sight,” he recalls.

LOST SIGHT

The father of six from Kibalgong village could no longer work at the factory and returned home.

But while contemplating taking his life because of the misfortune, members of the Kenya Society for the Blind, Kericho branch, admitted him for rehabilitation and training in collaboration with Sight Savers International.

“I was getting tired of depending on others and I also wanted to provide for my family like any other father and husband. Through the help of Kenya Society for the Blind and Sight Savers International, I discovered the loss of eyesight was not the end of the world,” he says.

After the training, Rono says one of the ideas that popped in his mind was photography, his childhood hobby.

But he recalls how it was difficult to convince anyone that despite his blindness he could take a good picture. “Many doubted I could capture a photograph worth taking home. But I told them to give me a chance and not to even pay me anything until they saw their photographs,” he recalls.

Rono says of the first roll of film of 36 photographs he used only six photographs were not as good as the rest.

 “After the first people got their photos, word went around of a blind photographer in town. Many people curiously came looking for me to put my photography skills to test and unwillingly gave me business,” he recalls with a smile.

The National Council for Persons with Disabilities was so impressed by his work they bought him with a Sony digital camera a few months ago. In a week, Rono takes 30 to 40 photographs.

And during the interview, he received a call from a teacher from nearby Kibulgong Primary School telling him that Kenya Certificate of Primary Education candidates were waiting for him to take their farewell party photographs.

“Rono is one of the shining examples that people with disability can be dependable members of the society, since he has taken his talent to another level,” says Kericho/Bomet Kenya Society for the Blind and Sight Savers project officer, Mr Eric Mawira.

He proudly says Rono is the most popular local photographer for birthday parties, graduations, weddings and even funerals. Mawira says Rono’s photography skills are amazing and they always hire his services when they have an event.

EXPRESSED DOUBT

“It is amazing what Rono can do. It serves as an encouragement to people. Do we have a reason to complain of joblessness?” he asks.

Mr Lawrence Korir, one of Rono’s clients, says when he first posed for his photograph he had doubts he would get an image worth framing.

“I thought I would get a photograph with my image out of focus or not centred. But when he brought it to me, I did not believe it and I could not deny it wasn’t him who took the picture,” he says.

Mr Albin Kirui says when he met Rono and was told he was a photographer he not could help but put him to test.

“I took the first photograph and paid for it feeling I had thrown my money away but when he brought it to me, I couldn’t help but take three more on the spot,” he adds.