My deafness has influenced the way I see. Because I cannot depend on sound the way hearing people do, I have developed a strong visual awareness. I observe body language, expressions, gestures, movement, patterns, light, and changes in the environment closely. While photographing, I become immersed in what I see, because I am not waiting for a sound or reacting to something I hear. I become quieter, more observant, and more patient. This has helped me develop my photographic language.
