My original intention, preparing for other TEDx event, was "Seeing through the lens" but I changed the theme to "WYSIWYG", despite the fact that many people did not get it as a former IT warrior myself, I believe there are at least some people, especially in IT, web creators and designers, get what I want to say, and this allowed me to cover all Technology, Entertainment and Design.
The talk covered the fact that I was into technology and photography, I lived in un-Japanese-like life, value my independence, responsibility and freedom, that were suddenly taken away by a stroke caused by my inheritent and incurable heart disease. As soon as I lost my vision, I taught myself how to use a computer, luckily I had a MacBook Pro and iPhone with VoiceOver screen reader technology. Soon after, I learned about echolocation that bats and dolphins use, and Daniel Kish, who is the first one that I know of, to apply echolocation for human use, calling it "Flash Sonar." Though the surrounding "society" were skeptical about it, I decided to get out from the bed and went for the journey of discovery and recovery, meeting Daniel for Flash Sonar training.
Since then, I enjoy my independence, responsibility and freedom of expression, travelling around and taking pictures. With a appropriate help, and support, right tools and understanding of family, friends and society, the possibility of people of disability becomes unlimited.
What I couldn't cover, but intended to cover, werehow my life before losing sight was, the detailed information about how sonar works (replaced by demonstration at the talk)and surprisingly, I didn't mentioned any details of how the heck I take photos even though I'm blind! When I was going through the demonstration of "seeing by hearing" using a sonar, thought I won't finish it in adequate time, I instantly summarised the photoshooting technique part from few paragraphs to 2 sentences as I talked. That's why I was nervous and worried if I can convey my message by making it too short. In other words, I saved something to talk about if I'm given an another opportunity to talk at other TEDx event in future! (I said "by "my knowledge and instinct" to set shutter and aperture, or leave them Auto instead of giving any senses I use, framing and measuring distance, shooting moving subjects, a hidden technique called "the sixth sense" to shoot a landscape photo and so on)
I have given many presentations in Japanese, but I guess it's been the first time I gave a speech inn English since I became blind. I would say if I had more time to prepare, I'd done it better, but I'll leave it up to you, seeing is believing. You'll find out what I mean when the video comes on YouTube soon.
What You See Is What You Get.
Thank everyone who has supported me through this project. Special thanks to
Jonathan Mann
for the awesome theme song!
９月１９日、TEDxFukuokaに、盲人写真家として登壇いたしました。えいごでプレゼンシタノデスガ、本当は同時通訳がつくということで、巻きで話すつもりでしたが、同時通訳はなしという子を聞かされ、原稿を慌てて修正して臨みました。本当はスライドを使わず、最後に写真のスライドショーを見ていただくだけでしたが、本番数日前に、急にスライドを用意させていただきました。一応これで、英語がわからなくても、写真だけで運息を味わえていただけたかなと思います。
話の内容としては、小さい頃からテクノロジーや写真に興味を持っていたことから始まり、失明に至った理由、たまたま所有していたMacBook ProとiPhoneにVoiceOverというスクリーンリーダーが入っており、入院中に独学でつかえることになったこと、インターネットで
エコーロケーション（反響定位）とダニエル・キッシュ氏のことを知り、周囲が心配する中で一人でロサンゼルスに訓練を受けたこと、地元紙LA Timesから取材を受けたこと、写真を撮るようになったことを通して、適切なサポート、適切なツール、そして家族や友人、周囲や社会の理解があれば、障害者はじりつし、責任を持って、自由に行動できる、そう思います。それを結びつけてくれたのが、私にとって写真だったわけです。
話すことができなかったのは、失明する前にどんな写真を撮っていたのか、エコーロケーションの詳しい仕組み、そして登壇後に全然突っ込まれなかったのですが、一体どうやって写真を撮っているのか。本当は原稿を準備していたのですが、途中で時間が足りないと思い、後半部分の数段楽を、２行でまとめてしまいました。シャッター速度と露出なんて、'長年と経験と勘'と言ってしまいましたが、本当はもっと奥が深く、五感をフルに、時には第六感を使うんですよ。
話しながら頭の中で思いついたことを口に出していたので、緊張していたのが、丸出しでした。でも、私のメッセージが伝わっていたら、意義があるかなと思います。
もう少ししたら、YouTubeで公開されるそうです。きになる方がいたら、チェックしてみてはいかがでしょうか。、
