Bringing the world into view
Billie Ormston gets a good look at her subject matter.Photography doesn't have to rely on tirelessly clicking away to capture the magic moment. Sometimes a good shot takes time to set up.
For Billie Ormston, getting that shot isn't the most important part either - photography literally brings focus into her life.
Billie is a budding 21-year-old photographer, despite having limited use of her hands and limbs. The fact that her vision extends to only one metre might make photography an unlikely passion, but it is her viewfinder to the world.
Her mum Sharon says photography is a way of bringing the world to Billie.
'She has access to things, like being able to study a dragonfly, that she could not get near to before," Sharon says.
Billie has cerebral palsy and started doing photography at Mundubbera High School. A carer would offer a choice of subjects and take the photo for her. Now as a student of Brisbane-based photographer Anne Bremner, Billie has developed into a director of photography where she calls the shots.
'Billie likes to see things up close so we set up the shot and Billie lets us know if she thinks it is okay, and then she uses the camera's remote control to take the picture," Anne says.
She says Billie's photography has given focus to her daily life.
'I take Billie out on location shoots along with her carer, so she really gets around."
Sharon says Billie loves being able to see what everyone can see, allowing her to have things as normal as possible.
According to Sharon, there were few activities for people of Billie's age group in Mundubbera.
'She's a young woman and yet the only outlet for her there would have been through an aged care day respite service. Now, because of Anne's photography classes, she has more of a social life than I do."
Billie is exhibiting photos in a show organised through Anne, and also in a competition run by Redland Shire Council in October, along with other local photographers.
'Now people can see Billie's abilities, not only her disability. And now we're considering turning some of her images into gifts and postcards so she can put the money back into her photography," Sharon says.
Photography tuition for people with a disability is available through Clear Horizons and Axiom Family Support Program, Horizon Foundation.
Last updated November 2007