Blind Photographer Captures Sons' Autism, Highlights People With Disabilities

"My motivation for photography is one simple thing: I want to see," Bruce Hall said

A Santa Ana, California, man isn't letting his lack of sight stop him from making a name for himself in an unlikely field — photography.

Link: Bruce Hall Photography

With 5 percent normal sight, Bruce Hall is a legally blind photographer.

"I have to get close to something to see any detail," he said. "From a distance things are blurry. I do see colors and contrasts."

Hall was born with an under-developed optic nerve and says that's where his motivation for photography comes from.

"It dawned on me that optical devices could help me see the world," he said. "My motivation for photography is one simple thing: I want to see."

Hall's favorite subjects are his twin sons, Jack and James, who both have a severe form of autism.

Photographing his boys allows Hall to see things he might otherwise miss.

"It's almost like I'm looking for clues," Hall said.

Hall and his wife, Valerie Hall, have written a book, "Immersed," to show what life with autism is really like.

"Autism is uncontrollable, unexpected ... always moving," she said. "It distorts life."

For Valerie Hall, the photographs convey what it feels like to have autistic children and the unpredictability of their behavior.

Beyond autism, Bruce Hall uses his photographs to raise awareness and money for those with disabilities. His recent work photographing LA's bike festival CicLAvia shoes how technology can make all the difference in the lives of the disabled.

"The message is — no matter what your challenge is — figure out what you can do and go after it," he said.

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