Sound Shadows: A book of photography by blind kids

Send an email to tony@soundshadows.org if you want to be notified when the book is published.
“Sagi nahor,” an Aramaic expression found in the Jewish Talmud meaning “great light,” is surprisingly an expression for one who cannot see – a blind person. Sound Shadows is a collection of personal stories and photographs taken by teenagers with “great light,” who participated in a photography program at a residential school for the blind in North Carolina . Their stories and images are sometimes unusual and other times quite ordinary, but together they paint a picture of everyday American teenagers who share one important distinction – they “see” the world in a different way. Tony Deifell taught photography to blind teenagers from 1992 to 1997. Since Tony was a photographer, he feared losing his eyesight like a pianist would dread losing her fingers. This led him to wonder, “If I were blind, could I still make photographs?” So, he decided to find out.

Disbelief was a common reaction at first. Immediately after people learned about the project, they were incredulous, “How can a blind person make photographs?” Then, they would dig deeper: “Why would someone make a photograph that they can’t appreciate themselves?”, “How does one judge ‘good’ art and photography?” and other thought-provoking questions.
Sound Shadows is a collection of real-life stories and photographs made by these blind teenagers. Teens tell stories of lawnmowers, wind and cracked sidewalks that are quite different from their sighted peers, yet their stories of danger, fear, trust, race and beauty are universal. Using the physics of light as a metaphor, the chapters take the reader on a journey from DISTORTION to ILLUMINANCE. While the book renders the lives of blind teenagers, it illuminates stories found in all of our lives.
Tony simply gave the students automatic cameras. They felt the subject with their hands, asked questions about their surroundings and listened carefully to what was happening in front of their lenses. They looked for “sound shadows” to guide their picture taking.

Currently, the author is looking for promotional partner organizations or companies that have members or customers who would be interested in this book.

The author is also looking for individuals around the country who may be interested in hosting a house party for the book's release that can screen a film about the kids, a book signing, or other event that will help promote the book.

For more information, please email tony@soundshadows.org

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