In 1993, Kurt Weston took his mother to see “Tommy”, a movie about a blind pinball wizard. While watching the movie, Kurt realized he could see his mother sitting to his right, but could not see the woman sitting to his left.  At that moment Kurt realized he was going blind. 

No stranger to disease and treatment, Kurt had been battling with HIV and AIDS for the previous two years. It turned out the drugs he had been taking to try and save his life had cost him his vision. By 1996, Kurt’s doctors had exhausted all of their tricks and predicted that he had only six months to live. 

Entering his darkest hour, Kurt, a successful fashion photographer, sold nearly everything he owned and moved from Chicago to California where his brother Paul had invited him to live out his days in the sunshine. Even in Chicago, something deep within his soul kept Kurt from truly believing his death was imminent. A sense of hope caused him to keep possessions that made little practical sense. He kept his cameras, thinking “I’ll take them to California in case something great happens”. 

Within three months of moving west, Kurt won a lottery to receive an experimental treatment with one of the first protease HIV inhibitors. With time literally running out, he started the new program. As the months passed, his health improved. He began to enjoy the California sunshine and become active in the community. Unfortunately, Kurt’s vision continued to decline, so he attended the Braille Institute in Anaheim where he learned skills necessary to remain independent.

In 1998 the “something great”, foreshadowed when Kurt chose not to sell his cameras, began to happen. He joined Asian Pacific Crossroads, a club for gays in Orange County, where they were planning to create a fund raising calendar. When the calendar team heard Kurt was a photographer, they asked him to shoot a couple of calendar shots. Kurt reminded them he was blind. Still, he couldn’t stop thinking about the possibility of working on the APC calendar. After all, his cameras were in his closet. What would it hurt to try? 

Kurt was shocked to discover that with his solid technical ability, extensive familiarity with his equipment, and the aid of magnifying glasses, he could still take photographs. Although he couldn’t see the subject in focus, he could “feel” when the camera settings and shot were right. When he showed the club members his pictures they were so impressed that they asked him to shoot the whole calendar. Thus, his career as an art photographer began to click.

Kurt was in no rush to try digital photography because of its heavy reliance on the computer. However, another student at the Braille Institute steered him to the California Department of Rehabilitation, who sent him to a six month program at the Junior Blind of America campus. It was there that he learned computer skills using ZoomText Magnifier/Reader. After graduating early, in only three months, a grant from the Angel Fund allowed him to purchase a computer, scanner, ZoomText and Photoshop. Finally, Kurt could choose between film and electronic media just like sighted photographers. 

Over the next few years, Kurt’s portfolio and his confidence grew. He was also awarded another grant which allowed him to purchase darkroom equipment. He now had most of the tools he needed to fully resume his career as a photographer.

In the fall of 2005, Kurt was awarded one of ten slots in Cal State Fullerton's graduate program for fine arts. Working toward his masters, his thesis work is entitled “Still Life/Still Living”. In this body of work, Kurt is photographing senior members of his community and recording interviews with each on video. When he runs across a senior with macular degeneration he is sure to introduce the person to ZoomText. 

Kurt tells us that without ZoomText he could not use Photoshop, as he cannot see the program icons without magnification.  He could also not do Internet research or write his thesis.  “ZoomText is my savior.”  

Today Kurt is totally blind in his left eye and has only slight peripheral vision in his right eye. The fashion turned art photographer explains that his “view of the world is similar to looking at an impressionist painting.” All that his vision encompasses is blurry and out of focus. Only his photographs are clear. 

Kurt has this to say to others who are losing their vision. “Deal with it, don’t live in denial about it. Learning enough to continue doing basics is not enough.”  He would add, “Don’t stop doing things you love. You need to first learn to renegotiate your life. Go to a blind program and get help. Once you do that you can go forward.”

Kurt has gone forward with a passion and drive that is enviable. He is a joyful soul who embraces the world. Although CMV retinitis has stolen most of his eyesight, ZoomText allows him free reign over his artistic vision.

You can see Kurt’s work and read more about his life at the following web sites.

www.kurtweston.com
www.letsgoexpo.com/art.cfm
www.zoot.net/theviewfromhere/k_weston/index.htm
www.aidsmuseum.org/gallery/kurtweston/index.html
www.lighthouse-sf.org/activities/insights/the_christ_bearer.php
www.ocusource.com/main.cfm?page=info&topic=pressroom&article=307