Winnipegger wins national photography prize despite blindness

WINNIPEG – Tara Miller, a Winnipeg resident who is blind, was announced as the winner of CNIB’s national "Eye Remember" photo contest.

Miller’s photo, entitled “Fortuitous Twilight,” captured the attention of CNIB’s photographer judges, who were not aware the entrant had any vision problem whatsoever, let alone having only 10% vision in her left eye.

Miller’s photo, which was voted to win by more than 2,000 Canadian users on the contest’s website, was one of 128 submissions by people who are sighted, partially-sighted and blind across the country.

Tara Miller's Fortuitous Twilight (photos courtesy of CNIB)

Miller, who began to lose her vision to glaucoma in childhood, says she takes photos by using what little sight she has to plan and frame the shot. Once shooting is complete, she hooks her camera up to a large 27-inch monitor and blows the image up to 200 per cent so she can see the results.

“People with vision loss can do the same things as sighted people, but just in a different way,” said Miller.

As the contest winner, Miller and a guest will be heading to Quebec City, Quebec, later this year for a free weekend hotel stay and an opportunity to explore and photograph the historic city.

As a CNIB client who has taken advantage of many of the charity’s rehabilitation services for Canadians with vision loss, Miller says she has learned the skills she needs to live independently despite her blindness. Working one-on-one with CNIB’s specialists, Miller learned to travel on the bus independently, use a computer, and take care of her home and family.

Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer, CNIB’s Eye Remember photo contest wass designed to educate Canadians about the importance of detecting glaucoma early in life and to be proactive about their vision health.

Otherwise known as the “silent thief,” glaucoma usually progresses slowly and painlessly; therefore, it’s possible to have glaucoma without noticing any symptoms or major changes to your eyesight. Glaucoma is the second most common case of irreversible vision loss in seniors and affects more than 250,000 Canadians.

TOP PHOTO: Tara Miller

Winnipeg - Winnipeg City News