In pictures: The Dark Green Line
- Published
Michael Goldrei was one of 10 photographers selected to take part in the first Adobe UK Photography Jam, which was held in Shoreditch in east London. This involved being given a surprise brief, Darkness, Light and Time, with just three hours to come up with an idea and shoot it. Goldrei decided it would be interesting to explore the nature of darkness and light with the staff and patients of nearby Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Not everyone notices it, but leading from Old Street Tube station in London is a dark green painted line.
The line is there to lead patients with poor eyesight to nearby Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Goldrei followed it so that he could photograph some of those patients, as well as people who work there, and speak with them about their experiences of darkness and light.
Khan and Islam are "patient transporters", who told Goldrei that a lot of patients tell them it's the most wonderful thing once they get better. "Being in the dark is one of the worst things that can happen to you."
Robin, a retired kennel worker, said having poor vision was a pain in the backside. "You lose one thing and gain something else, I have better vision now in this [right] eye. And I think my hearing has improved. I'm still deaf when someone says, 'It's your round' though,"
"They [the patients] hate it as they've lost their independence and their social life," said Jeanette, a patient transport driver. "They miss their driving after having to surrender their licence. They cope with this in their own way. One minute things are clear and they can see something and the next minute it goes black. Things can go from light to compete darkness for them."
"I was working as a mechanic and a piece of metal went in there," said Samuel. "If I'm watching TV, or there's too much flashing, like the ambulance that just went past, I have to close my eye."
"I see doubles. What happened was acid went into my eyes," said retired gardener Gordon. "I'm not worrying myself though as I'm retired. The only thing that happens is that I can't read properly. It goes funny. I can't walk around as I like. I can't concentrate on anything as everything goes double. I can't watch television for too long as after five or 10 minutes I see two televisions."
"I just had my cataracts done six weeks ago. I came back today as I've started seeing a flashing light, like fireworks," said Janet. "The world is so bright today, not just because of the sun, because the cataracts have opened things up. It's a complete riot of colour looking at these flowers - they're beautiful."
"I had an accident at work. I was working on the recycling belt and something went into my eye," said Urbain. "I was discharged today. I'm glad as I'm fed up of coming here because of the waiting time."
World Sight Day on 13 October aims to focus attention on blindness and vision impairment. Photographs and text by Michael Goldrei.
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