My Heart Is Not Blind By Michael Nye

A photo book and exhibition that explore the different experiences of blind and visually impaired people.

At this year’s Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards, San Antonio-based photographer and artist Michael Nye has received a prestigious award for his work from the National Federation of the Blind. The event’s name honors Dr. Jacob Bolotin (1888-1924), the first physician in the world who had been blind since birth. The awards recognize individuals and organizations whose work has a positive impact in the lives of visually impaired people. Published by Trinity University Press, My Heart Is Not Blind features portraits of forty-six blind and low-vision people. Each beautiful image is also accompanied by a story written by the subject on their perspective and life experiences.

“Viewers and readers will come away from the project with a heightened understanding of what perception means,” said Tom Payton, director of Trinity University Press. All of the individuals included in the book share their own unique experience relating to visual impairment. They differ greatly not only in the cause of their vision loss, but also in their socioeconomic and cultural background. Together, they tell a powerful, deeply personal story that educates the public on blindness. Apart from the photo book, Michael Nye has also curated an art exhibition of photographs and audio interviews. The show opened at the Witte Museum, but will travel nationally. You can order My Heart Is Not Blind through the publisher’s website. Photographs© Michael Nye.