Progress report from Spain

Cristina Velasco has emailed to tell us what is happening to Clive’s photo of Sheffield boxer Dave Howe :

The volumes are already defined. It is surprising how much an image can hide if you try to see it with your hands, and this photograph has lots of nuances and details that have appeared during the process. Now we start with the tests. Technology comes into play, and as you know it is not an automatic process. The next step will help us to confirm that we have worked all the details properly and that our translation in volumes and shapes is faithful to the original image. It has to transmit the strength of the photograph with all its sense: sight and touch must work equally at the end.

Cristina

Behind all this work there is a team of professionals (image retouchers, creatives, pre-press and art directors) who combine their experience in the image world and who have the access to the latest technology. This is the foundation of Estudios Durero, which allows us to invest in innovation and allows new ideas as Didú, our relief reproduction technique, be a reality.

In Estudios Durero, I am the link between my team and the artists. I am in charge of evaluating the projects and transmitting to the team what the challenge of each project is. Also I manage them from the beginning to the end. In some cases, as in this one, I have also enjoy the live emotional stories. 

I asked Cristina to send me a photo of herself. It made me smile that, when I received this image from the internationally famous and  technically brilliant Estudios Durero, I had to crop it and use Photoshop to lighten her face a bit!

No hablo español – I don’t speak Spanish.

Back at the beginning of this tactile printing quest, I needed to contact Juan Torre to ask for his help. I found his website easily enough, clicked “contacta”. I started my email by writing “Lamento que escribo en Inglés; espero que puedan entender o su traducción.” That means, or at least Google Translate tells me it means: “Sorry I’m writing in English; I hope you can understand or have it translated.”

I got a lovely email back from Juan, in fine English but with apologies for any mistakes. Since then, to communicate, I have my emails translated into Spanish by Zied and Cécile, French friends in my Brittany village or Zied’s mum, Cristina (who is Uruguayan). Juan replies in Spanish, which I translate using Google again, helped with an understanding of what I think Juan wants to say.

This is Juan’s latest email, along with my interpretation. Rather than try and correct this, via French, if any of you readers speak both Spanish and English, perhaps you’d like to help improve my version. Leave a comment below or email me.

¡Hola Stuart  (Pretty easy, so far: “hello Stuart”)

Juan Torre, a big friend of Clive's project

Estoy informado de la ampliación que se está haciendo en Durero y en contacto con Cristina. (I’m in contact with Cristina Velasco and know of the work being done on the image at Estudios Durero)

Por supuesto que cuando terminen haremos un video de la imagen de Clive tocándola y contando mis sensaciones, espero que sea pronto. (Of course, when it is finished, I will record a video for Clive of me touching the image and telling him what I think of it. I hope it is soon.)

Sigo el blog y le veo con muy buen ánimo a Clive, un fuerte abrazo para él y a Wendy. (I follow the blog and I see Clive in good spirits. A big hug for him and Wendy.)

Viendo las excelentes imágenes en macro que ha hecho Marcus Sarko, hablando de los diferentes relieves y las sensaciones que pueden provocar, te envió un link de mi web. Seeing the excellent [macro] images that Marcus Sarko took, and talking about the different reliefs and the sensations that they can provoke, I send you this link to a page on my website.

Donde aparece la foto de Aziza en el tamaño de la exposición (120 X 80 cms) en la delegación de ONCE  de Cantabria, hay otros ejemplos en fotos y vídeos de las distintas ciudades que va recorriendo este proyecto "imágenes para tocar" donde la imagen se hace forma y la forma hace posible la conversación delante de una fotografía, entre los ciegos y los que no lo están, entre los que tienen una buena visión y los que nos queda un resto visual. Imágenes para todos. (In the exhibition of ONCE Cantabria, Aziza's photo is displayed at 120 X 80 cm. There are other examples in photos and videos in the different cities that this project, “Images to Touch”, visits. The images [rendered] in shape and form, enable a conversation in front of a photograph, between the blind and the sighted, between those who have good vision and those of us with partial vision. Images for everyone.)

Enhorabuena por el trabajo y la sensibilidad que estáis demostrando!!! (Congratulations for the work and sensitivity that you are showing !)

Saludos y un abrazo (Greetings and a hug)
Juan Torre

Family and friends meet to discuss Clive's exhibition

Sue, Wendy, Katie, Gemma, Nathan, Andy, Marcus, Rosy, Cheryl, Jonny, Mick, Trevor

Last Thursday, at Clive and Wendy’s house, there was an inaugural meeting of family and friends. They were there to discuss Clive’s project to put on an exhibition of what we believe will be the first for a photography exhibition in the UK where standard 2D photographic prints from Clive and his university students’ will be displayed together with tactile versions of the same image.

Katie, Gemma, Nathan, Andy, Marcus, Rosy, Cheryl

Wendy reports that, “the meeting went really well. Marcus sort of chaired it. There was lively discussion about the venue and content. Everyone was keen to take on some jobs and we all got very excited about the gadgets that Sue Coggin (SRSB) brought with her especially the one that, when held against an object, speaks its colour.”

Jonny, Mick, Trevor

Paul (Clive’s younger brother) adds, “there was definitely an intense desire to make this a successful exhibition. In this group, we appear to have brought together a great source of skill sets, graphics, printers, web designers, curators and liaisons with Clive's industrial employers, universities and local organisations. Sue from SRNB was incredibly supportive offering technological gadgets and another printing source based in Sheffield.” Paul is writing a mission statement, which will state very clearly the aims and objectives of this project and where Clive is in it; I shall post it as soon as it’s done.

Paul, Sue, Wendy, Katie

Wendy says that Clive is very emotional. “He can't see any improvement in himself and it's really getting him down.” She believes that, in some part, it's because there is some improvement and he is more aware. “We are getting him out of bed and doing his exercises and he doesn't seem to be sleeping as much.” He needs our support and love as much as ever, so please keep your messages coming.

Ultra close-up photos of a Didú tactile photo

Marcus Sarko has taken some macro close-up shots of the surface of Juan Torre's tactile photo of Sahrawi singer, Aziza Brahim (see blog post of 4th April). 

You can see the texture is incredibly rich and varied, much more complex than the images produced by the RNIB's method.

Click on an image to view them in larger size.

Clive's photo of Dave Howe is currently being worked on by Estudios Durero in Spain to turn it into a tactile image, a process they've called Didú. We will also commission the RNIB to process the same image using their technique and it will be fascinating to see and feel them alongside each other. We're not expecting to pick a winner, to suggest one is better than the other, but it will be interesting to hear how Clive is able to interpret them.

Update on Clive

Clive and Wendy wish to thank everyone for the amazing support they have received and the generous donations towards his project to bring photography to the visually impaired.  They are very touched by your messages.  They have received emails from far and wide reflecting Clive's amazing ability to connect with so many people on all different

Clive relaxing with Harry (Paul's dog)

levels.  Your messages are read to Clive (tears allowing in some cases) so please keep them coming.

Clive is making some progress in terms of the power to his legs.  His left leg is in a good state, it's the right one that is weaker, however he is making some progress. Paul reported, "Good exercises today. Lifted right leg 2 or 3 inches off floor for the first time."  Physios call by several times a week and put him though his paces. Clive continues with his exercises on the other days.  He has been standing and has got into his Grandad's antique chair, which makes a pleasant change from his bed.

He remains positive. So should we!

News from Spain

Cristina Velasco, who is managing this project for us has sent news of the next stage of the process to turn Clive's photo into a tactile image:

"After the study of the image, and the decision of where and how to apply the volumes and textures in the image reproduction, in Estudios Durero begins the creation of the digital files that will be the base for the photograph reproduction. This is one of the most complicated and long steps of the process. It is where the knowledge of image and its digital treatment is mixed with the possibilities of the latest technology. This is a determining point, when from a 2D image we create the base of a 3D reproduction, that has to be absolutely faithful to the original image in sense and message."

In the next blog, I'll upload some very close-up photos of Juan's photo of Aziza Brahim that Marcus has taken, which clearly show the variety of textures used. There's news of how Clive's doing and, on Thursday, there is the first meeting of the ever-expanding group of people that are going to organise the Sheffield exhibition.

In Saturday's edition of The (Sheffield) Star

Click on the picture to see the story on The Star's website

News from Spain and a boot fair not to miss in Otley

Do you fancy buying some old toot that someone's cleared out of their attic and is hoping to shift this weekend. You don't need it, you don't want it but it's all in a good cause. You can put it in your own attic, keep it there for a year or two and then take it back to a boot fair to try to sell on. Who knows, it might even have gone up in value. I'm trying for a cheap laugh of course but it is by way of telling you that Amber Hartley, an ex-student of Clive's, is holding a car boot sale on Sunday in Otley, West Yorks, starting at 12 noon and all profits that she makes will be donated to Clive's tactile image exhibition fund. Clive was not only her photography tutor "and the best one at that" but also her personal tutor. She'll have a poster and donation box there, so you can contribute without being obliged to buy any dusty old crap that you don't need. Best of luck, Amber !

News from Cristina Velasco at Estudios Durero : "We have begun with the process, at the first step the team has a meeting to think and talk about how to develop the volume in the photograph, where to apply the textures and the different levels taking in account the information that we get from the photograph. It is a very important step, because the final result depends on how the volumes and textures are defined by the team."

Why is the Spanish tactile image so expensive ?

Here's why: 

Didú en el Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao from Estudios Durero on Vimeo.

This is what's happening to Clive's photo of Dave Howe.

Cristina Velasco, project manager at Estudio Durero, emailed me today to say, 
"Now that I know more about all your project I would like to know more details about your next step, the exhibition, maybe we could collaborate in some way, I know that our Didú images aren't cheap but we could study the whole work and make a proposal for you, this is a very emotional project and Didú was born for that, to make art accessible to everyone, also visually impaired people. As soon as I have any images [I have asked for photos showing stages in the printing process] starting the project I'll send them to you so that you can post them, it is a great project and we are really proud of contribute with our work."

The video is of their project for the Fine Arts Museum in Bilbao. Emmy-award winning documentary maker Andrew Smith is interested in our project, so here's hoping he'll be making a similar video of Clive's upcoming exhibition in Sheffield!

We need your creative and organisational help to put on Clive's exhibition

After a six-week course of daily radiotherapy, Clive is back at home. There is a succession of what Wendy refers to as “smiley ladies”, nurses and carers that come to visit, and a neighbour bearing cake but, after all that radiotherapy, Clive is tired and sleeps frequently.

The quintessential photographer, Clive insisted on taking 
his camera equipment to his consultations to document 
his treatment. (Photo: Wendy Wall)

 

The printing process has begun in Spain and we’re turning towards the next part of the project for which we’re calling for your creative and organisational help to put on his exhibition of photography in Sheffield that will be accessible to the visually impaired. As you’ll already know, the first target, to fundraise 3075 € for a tactile print of one of Clive’s own photos was raised in five days and the money continues to come in. We’re up to over 4400 €. In true Blue Peter fashion, we’ve increased the target on the totaliser to 5000€.

From the inception of this idea, Clive has always wanted it to benefit a wider audience. When it was evident that we would raise more money than was needed for Spanish printing, Clive and Wendy discussed what to do next and Clive was clear that he wanted an exhibition. We’ve since discussed this but now we really need to start turning the idea into a reality. 

Clearly, we can’t fill a gallery with images printed in Spain at 3000€ a pop but we have a cunning plan! Sue King, Tactile Images and Maps Consultant at the RNIB, is very willing to help us. She could provide images that might not be as aesthetically pleasing to the sighted as Juan’s images but would be accessible to visually impaired people (I’ll explain in a mo). 

There will be three strands to this exhibition. Central will be Clive’s friends and colleagues (and their combined body of work) at Archive-Sheffield. Secondly, Clive would like his students and his teaching colleagues at Leeds Met Uni involved. Thirdly, Clive has already worked with several groups of visually impaired people and it seems only logical to have these people, who have been at the end of Clive’s lens being able to appreciate photos of themselves through touch and commentary.

Wendy’s idea is to have a standard photo print exhibited alongside a tactile image, with accompanying commentary in both braille and conventional text, maybe audio as well. We think that the centre-piece of the exhibition could be a triptych of the picture of Dave Howe: with the Spanish print, an RNIB tactile print of the same image, a standard photo print and, at least for the opening, Dave in gloves and shorts in person. 

Before I watched the BBC video on Juan Torre, I knew nothing about tactile images and how the visually impaired might see by feeling. I found it inspirational and a great idea. (Watch the 4 ½ minute video—if you haven’t already done so). However, as I learn more about tactile images, I can see that Juan is someone with a rich understanding of photography, who has subsequently lost most of his sight. Trevor (Clive’s dad) has spoken to Julie Smethurst at the Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind who told him that, as she has been blind from birth, a photograph would have no meaning for her, although she was very willing to help.

It’s clearly not as simple as applying a relief to a regular photo. You need to watch the excellent video of Sue King (see previous post, below) explaining the how the RNIB’s tactile images work and how visually impaired people relate to them. You’ll hear her talk about how a sighted person can instantly appreciate perspective, and how a face, turned half away, is still a face, whereas a blind person would find it strange that one eye was smaller than the other and the mouth not symmetrical. As we choose (or take) images to use, we’ll need to be advised by Sue on what is most suitable for this sort of representation and maybe prioritise clarity and symmetry over funky photo angles.

In my next post, I’ll show you the “to do” list so, if you think you will be able to help, please post a comment or email me (stuart [at] mail22.net replacing the ‘at’ with @.

Tactile images at the Royal National Institute for the Blind

This video if from the Source Photographic Review. In it, Sue King, Tactile Images and Maps Consultant at RNIB, explains how the RNIB's tactile photos work and the differences in how a sighted and visually impaired person is able to access and interact with a photo.

I had a long conversation with Sue on the phone today. By coincidence, the RNIB is currently working with the Sheffield Industrial Museum and Sheffield Station to create tactile graphics for them. She is very interested in helping with Clive's project to have an exhibition of photography that can be appreciated both by sighted and visually impaired people.

I have some very exciting news involving an Emmy-award-winning maker of documentaries but that must wait for tomorrow !

 

Clive's first encounter with one of Juan Torre's tactile photos

When one picture becomes an exhibition.

Wow! Better than Blue Peter, we’ve raised all the money and more in just five days. I spoke to the printers in Spain yesterday afternoon as I’m keen to get the month-long printing process started as promptly as possible. Not speaking Spanish, I typed in “is there anyone there that can speak English? I'm sorry, I do not speak Spanish.” I then pressed the loudspeaker button, and again, and again… until I thought I could repeat it. I phoned Estudio Durero and, when a woman answered, I slowly said“¿Hay alguien ahí que puede hablar Inglés? Lo siento, yo no hablo español.” It worked and I was put through to Cristina Velasco, who will manage this project for us. She now has the high-resolution scans, thanks to Marcus, and I will post updates of the printing process as I get them.

As it appeared that we would easily reach the target amount for one image I have been asking Wendy and Clive what they would like to do with the excess.

When we first suggested having one of Clive’s own photos printed up as a tactile image, he was captivated by the idea of making photography accessible by those visually impaired. He wants this personal project to benefit the wider community. He thinks that it would be a great idea if we could have an exhibition. He has worked with several groups of visually impaired people and thinks that that would be a good subject. I remember him telling me of an assignment where he took photos of some young blind kids rock climbing in a gym. How wonderful if we could find a way of rendering that photographic record in a way that those kids could relate to.

Must dash as I’m off to the bank to transfer the money to Spain. Please do keep donating and we’ll flesh out this larger project very soon.

An example of Juan Torre's tactile images arrives in Sheffield

Here is the image that was delivered to Clive yesterday. It's of Aziza Brahim, taken at the concert in the Plaza Nueva in Bilbao in 2011. Straight on, on 2-D it seems to me very contrasty and with some real texture, no Photoshopping to smooth out the pores in her skin. It is a striking image, close up and personal. This is a textural image but, unlike braille text, this can be see and enjoyed by sighted people.

photo credit: Wendy Wall

Move closer and we can see the texture that allows us to feel the image. In the same way that braille seems like a random, morse code of dots to the uninitiated, 'seeing' by feeling has to be learnt. Clive has now got this image to practice on before his photo of Dave Howe arrives.

photo credit: Wendy Wall

ESTOY MUY EMOCIONADO!!! viendo a Clive con la foto en sus manos.

I received an email from Juan Torre yesterday. He wrote, "ESTOY MUY EMOCIONADO!!! viendo a Clive con la foto en sus manos." (I am thrilled to see Clive with the photo in his hands.) He went on to explain the tactile image that was delivered to Clive yesterday: "The photograph shows the image of the Saharawi singer Aziza Brahim in concert in the Plaza Nueva in Bilbao in 2011."



As soon as Wendy gets the opportunity to take some photos, I will post the picture square on and then a close up at an angle, so that we can see the relief. We should have a news story going on Amateur Photographer magazine's website today, I'll post a link when that happens.

We've only been going since Monday and just a few Euros away from the 2/3 point so please keep the money coming and a big "thank you" from Clive and Wendy for all your support so far.

Clive with an example of Juan Torre's tactile images

Marcus has now emailed a couple of photos he took yesterday, when Wendy took an example of Juan's tactile images for him to get a feel for.

 

Waiting for a photo to show you

Yesterday morning, Juan Torre's tactile photo arrived and Wendy was able to take it in to show Clive in hospital. Clive's has become very tired by the daily radiotherapy and spends a lot of time sleeping. A little sleepy and not on best form, he was not able to make anything of this image at first. The image is quite small, about a foot square, for reasons of portability, I guess, as Juan brought it over from Spain to carry around and show people. It is of a woman's head wearing a scarf and has been cropped, so the whole shape of the head is not rendered.

Wendy went home not a little disappointed and wondering whether all this effort was worthwhile. When she returned to Clive for the early evening visit, he was wide awake and on good form and was much more interested in the image. Wendy and Clive agreed that it will be much easier for Clive to relate to the tactile image of one of his own photos, a picture of his boxer friend Dave Howe, which Clive has clearly in his head. Juan also suggested the minimum size for the print should be 95 x 65cm, aunque te parezca grande, es necesario para poder apreciar el relieve y recorrer la foto con las manos (although it may seem large, it is necessary be able to appreciate the relief by the hands 'walking' over the photo.)

Wendy pronounced the second 'viewing' of the image a great success and they both realise that this is not intuitive and that Clive has got to learn to 'see' a tactile photo using his hands in similar fashion to how one has to learn to read by braille. Clive is excited as ever by the project and overwhelmed by all the support and donations he's receiving.

We are 80€ short of the two-thirds marker on the totaliser. For any of Clive's impecunious students out there, don't be embarrassed to only donate a small amount, every euro counts and every extra name on the 'thank you' page very well received by Clive.

Over halfway already !

Thanks to a flurry of donations this morning from Andrew, Greig and Kristyna, we've cracked the halfway point and heading rapidly towards the 2/3 mark.

The single example of this sort of work in the UK, one of Juan’s own photos printed up as a tactile image, has this morning been delivered to Sheffield (thanks to Anna Jones, RNIB). Wendy will take it in to Clive on her second visit today and we hope to post some photos on the blog very soon, so keep an eye on it.

The PayPal donate button works

The PayPal donate button is now configured. Paul (Clive's younger brother) sent some small change to see how it worked and make sure that it arrived here. While I was still sorting that out, Lucy Bergman surprised me with her donation (thank you Lucy) so I can absolutely confirm that it works.

PayPal is free for you to use but does charge me 3.4% + 25p per transaction so, for bigger donations (say over £100) please email me stuart [at] mail22.net (replacing the 'at' with @) and 'll send you account details so you can make a bank transfer. Otherwise, for smaller amounts, you may find the PayPal button very convenient, so please don't hesitate to use it.

The RNIB is despatchinging their copy of Juan Torre's work today, so it should be in Sheffield some time tomorrow. We'll post a photo just as soon as Clive has it in his hands. As you can see from our totaliser at the top we still have 1825€ to raise.