Picture Perfect

Even though one of them is legally blind, this Texas couple always get their shot.

By daybreak, Nolan and Janice Braud are in position, reflectors set up and digital cameras aimed at a particularly beautiful bloom or bird-inviting branch. With 6 or 7 hours of shooting ahead of them, they stand poised to catch the right light, and with any luck, a perching butterfly, bird or bee.

For Janice, the camera lens presents a unique perspective of flora and fauna. For Nolan, the process gives him a better view of the world.

Nolan, who has albinism, has been legally blind since birth. Although his vision is poor, he has become an award-winning photographer, thanks in part to years of practice and an innate sense of what makes a good photo.

Generally, he perceives color and large forms. From 6 to 8 feet away, Nolan notes only a flower's color. When he moves closer, he sees its form. Photography allows him to review the finished photos with a magnifying glass and enjoy the subjects' details more clearly than he can with his naked eye.

"I want to capture an image and recapture it by viewing it again and then sharing it with others," says Nolan, who at 73, has been taking pictures since high school.

"Landscapes and flowers are my favorite subjects," Nolan says. "Framing is second nature to me, but the challenge is to see the detail and focus on the section I'd like to shoot."

It's a challenge that he skillfully meets, says Janice, 65, who took up photography in the late 1980s after Nolan presented her with a camera.

"My trigger finger is faster than his," Janice says. "He's more likely to take time to frame the image. He trusts his camera, his instincts and his knowledge. He can't see sharpness or details, but he can see the big picture and is very good at lines and shapes. He has great composition skills."

In 1991, a brief visit to Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island, British Columbia kick-started the couple's ongoing pursuit of creating picture-perfect natural compositions.

Their search for excellence sends them driving across the country, flying to western Canada, or tooling down the road to spend the day shooting at gardens and bird sanctuaries near their hometown of Spring, Texas.

"Although Nolan has more experience, I'm giving him a run for his money," Janice says. "It's a wonderful way to retire together. Photography gives us a shared purpose—a reason to get up and be excited every morning because there's always something new out there to photograph!"

Tips for Better Photos

Nolan and Janice Braud are self-taught shutterbugs who are always learning new techniques, and currently have a whopping 25,000 images stored on their computer. They happily share their knowledge.

• For the best light, get out early in the morning before the dew dries. When the sunlight sharpens and creates harsh shadows around midday, take pictures of shade-loving flowers.
• Choose unexpected angles and shoot flowers from below and behind.
• When trying to snap hovering insects or birds, set your camera on high-speed to ensure a few clear shots.

• Join a photo club where members review each other's work. Janice says these photo critiques have helped her hone her skills.