Ruben Plasencia Canino photographed blind people in a state where they are gazing into the abyss. He titled this project 'Obscure,' because he specifically wanted to show the power of the gaze, which is often admired in portraits.
Ruben connected with ONCE, which is Spain's national organization for the blind, to help create the project. He worked on the project for two months. He ended up capturing these stunning photos. Ruben Plasencia Canino commented on the project saying it “opened my eyes, and my heart, to a whole new world of sensations.”
He wanted people to be forced to look into the eyes of the blind, as if they had an open book in front of them. He does this by photographing the subjects at a close range with dark backgrounds. This is to highlight the details he wants to exemplify. The photos are eerily beautiful.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Visual Disruptive Photography
- Opportunity to explore unconventional photography techniques that challenge traditional notions of sight and perception.
- Empathetic Portraiture
- Potential for creating impactful portraits that elicit empathy and challenge societal norms of beauty and perception.
- Blind Awareness Art
- Opportunity to use art as a medium to raise awareness about the experiences and perspectives of the blind community.
Where This Applies
- Photography
- The photography industry can embrace and experiment with new techniques and approaches that challenge conventional visual norms.
- Art
- The art industry can harness the power of visual storytelling to represent marginalized communities and provoke societal reflection and change.
- Nonprofit and Advocacy Organizations
- Nonprofit and advocacy organizations focused on raising awareness about blindness and disability can leverage artistic expressions to engage and educate the public.
