A SEVERELY visually impaired man has been hailed by Scots for taking breathtaking photographs of Scotland – which he captured by using sound.
David Hornett, from Cambridge, has a rare sight condition that has bewildered doctors for over 30 years – but that hasn’t stopped him pursuing his passion for photography.
And on a trip to Luib on the Isle of Skye, the 52-year-old took a series of mesmerising photographs of waves crashing onto the coast and the wild rocky landscape.
David explained how he captured the stunning shots by listening for something like a crashing wave or an unusual sound before clicking the shutter button.
His partner Sarah Duffin, 51, posted the photographs to the Scotland from the Roadside Facebook page on Friday – resulting in the couple being inundated with compliments from Scot’s across the country.
Sarah captioned the post: “My partner David is severely visually impaired and takes photos by sound. Thought you would like to see these. Taken at the holiday cottage in Luib Isle of Skye.”
The post has since gathered over 3,000 likes and hundreds of comments.
She later added: “Your kind words, likes and loves have overwhelmed us both. Thank you all so very much.”
Sarah has been visiting Scotland for over 20 years, but this was David’s first venture to Skye.
The couple immediately fell in love with the Isle and now both want to live there.
David’s photographs perfectly captured the moody Scottish waters of Skye, with crashing waves colliding with a rocky beach and a picturesque mountainous landscape in the distance.
And social media users were quick to comment on the post.
Jenny Suttie said: “Fascinating, knowing that adds so much more to the photos.”
John Maclean added: “Superb. He still has the feel and sound of it.”
Agnieszka Pios commented: “Amazing pictures. Probably the best i’ve ever seen. You could almost see the sound.”
Alan Scott joked: “He has an ear for photo’s better than I have an eye for them. Cracking pictures.”
Lorna Owens added: “Just shows that you don’t need eyes to see. Fantastic shots.”
Pauline Guthrie wrote: “Wow. I’m lost for words here. Very touching and beautiful picture.”
Elizabeth Whitener added: “He takes a lot better photos than most people who claim they can see.”
While Frauke Thornton said: “They are amazing. In most of them you can actually hear the waves splashing on the shore.”
Speaking today (tue), David’s partner Sarah said: “David has been taking pictures for most of his life, but it has been more recently that he’s started to pick it up again.
“He has a severe visual impairment, and he’s been going to specialists for over 30 years and they still can’t pin down what it is. They think it is a combination of cone dystrophy and macular dystrophy, which makes it very difficult for him to see.
“One doctor who treated him became a professor and has now retired, and they still haven’t worked out what it is.”
The couple were blown away by the social media response, Sarah added: “I couldn’t believe it, my phone just kept going ping, ping, ping!
“I have read every comment out to David, and some of them have made me cry. It’s so lovely for David to hear that.
“I’ve been visiting Scotland for 20 years and that was David’s first time as far north as Skye. We both fell in love with the place and we want to move there.”
