Photo Gallery
Traci Parks – Miracle Images
Artist’s Statement
Photography is probably the most challenging career I could have chosen since I’m legally blind. But I believe that my limited vision – color, shape, texture and pattern – makes me a better photographer. Because I must work so hard to interpret what I’m seeing, I see things others don’t and am fascinated by them. Many of my best photographs were created by taking something ordinary – a glass plate, an earring, a child’s eyes – and using a unique angle or dramatic lighting to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Most of my work now has been architectural. I love architecture, which is easier for me to photograph because structures are large and stationary, and have lots of color, shape, texture and pattern. Architecture also has lots of straight lines and right angles, which also help me to focus…
The “What’s Wrong with This Picture?” project allowed me to create a body of work illustrating how architecture affects people. My goal is to graphically show the community that architectural barriers affect us all – not just those with disabilities.
Below are four samples from the "What's Wrong with This Picture?" exhibition.
Additional exhibitions can be found at the Miracle Images Website
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Cracks Me Up This broken sidewalk poses a problem for anyone who’s walking, but especially for those who are visually impaired or blind. How many times have you tripped over a break in the sidewalk simply because you weren’t paying close attention? By the way, it’s the homeowner’s or business owner’s responsibility to maintain sidewalks – not the city’s. |
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| Going Up?
Airports should have a lift available for people with disabilities. While my husband and I were on a recent trip, staff at this large, metropolitan airport told us there was “no lift available.” Whether the airport doesn’t own a lift or whether it wasn’t in working order is unclear. As a result, my husband – who’s totally blind and temporarily using a wheelchair – had to literally crawl up the steps on hands and knees to get to this regional jet. |
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| Straddling the Line
This handicap parking space is poorly planned because the accessible ramp literally straddles two parking spaces. Consequently, it’s nearly impossible for a person to use the ramp is one car is parked, and the ramp is completely impassable if cars are parked in both spaces. An 8-foot access aisle (the painted stripes that people often illegally park in), which is required by ADA standards, would solve this problem by providing any person an unobstructed path to the sidewalk. |
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| Information, Please
The situation depicted here is a common problem for people who are hard of hearing, especially if an interpreter isn't present. A person using a hearing aid often depends on both amplification and lip reading to understand, but when the speaker turns her back to the audience, the hard-of-hearing person loses both cues. |
Copies of Ms. Parks' brochure can be picked up or requested by contacting the Disability Studies Program.