Camera sees what photographer cannot

By: BILAL YOUSUFZAI

Posted: 6/26/08

If a picture is worth only a thousand words, then Chris Balthrop tries to make each one count.

Balthrop, an avid photographer, is featuring his work in an exhibit sponsored by the School of Environmental Design. He can take crystal-clear pictures with his camera, but not with his eyes. Balthrop was born with retinal damage from premature birth, leaving him visually impaired.

Raised in Watkinsville, he graduated from the Terry School of Business in 2000 and works as systems administrator specialist for the School of Environmental Design.

'EYESIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY'

When: Through June 30
Where: Circle Gallery of Caldwell Hall (bottom floor)
Reception: June 27, 4 to 6 p.m., open to the public

"I was hoping to find a reason to stay in Athens," Balthrop said.

Balthrop's photography career started at a young age. He took pictures with a "cheap little camera" alongside his father and brother, who also were devoted to photography as a hobby. His second cousin, a professional photographer, helped give him more insight about the activity as Balthrop became older. He travels around the Southeast, taking pictures of wildlife, landscape and architecture.

His visual impairment made it difficult to obtain a driver's license, and he needs special glasses in order to drive. However, it does not affect his ability to take pictures, as shown by his use of a regular Canon SLR camera. His pictures give him a clearer image of the world around him.

"I'll take a picture and see things that I didn't see originally," he said.

Balthrop carefully chooses which pictures to take.

"You can take a snapshot vacation photo, or you can take the time and try to convey emotion through your picture," he said.

With his work, he hopes not only to capture that emotion, but also to give people, particularly the disabled, the "opportunity to see things they would otherwise not be able to see."