Garry Brod

When I was in school I enjoyed creating art and learning science. My uncle gave me an introduction to photography and I never stopped appreciating what a great and fulfilling medium it is. For over 60 years I have been exploring and expressing my experiences, thoughts, and dreams as photographs.

I met and married my wife, Rebekah 30 years ago. She had just been diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa - a degenerative eye disease which will lead to blindness. When we met she could still see but the progression was just starting. There is no cure. It progresses at different rates for each person. This genetic disease is passed down through generations. The only way to stop it was to not have any of our own children. This was not an easy choice of mine to come to terms with. I always thought I would be a good father. Coming from a large family I thought having children would be the natural way my life would progress.

Over the years of traveling I always made photographs of the places we went. As Rebekah's eyes progressively failed I felt that my photos were an important possession for her to remember the experiences we had. Filling our home with our reminders of traveling continues to enhance our life. We discovered that seeing animals in the wild was a unique and total sensory experience to behold. We traveled to places that gave us this opportunity until her lack of sight hindered the experience.

We reached out to the blind community and received help that has enriched both of our lives. We were introduced to Guide Dogs for the Blind who accepted Rebekah as a recipient of a trained guide dog. Leslie was a two year old yellow Labrador Retriever that was a perfect addition to our lives. Rebekah had the help she needed to be independently mobile and I had the child I always wanted except this one had four paws. On the other hand I didn't have to save for her college expenses.

We were able to travel with Leslie which made it easier for me to continue making photographs. At ten years old she retired from guide work but continued as a therapy dog at the Santa Monica College Disabled Student Services office. Since Leslie we have received Duke a black English Lab. and our currant yellow Lab Lyle. Through the years G.D.B. has vastly improved their training techniques resulting in more intelligent dogs. The dogs that don't cut the mustard become Career Change Dogs that go on to support people with Diabetes, the Hearing Impaired, PTSD and others.

I have decided to donate a portion of my profits from the sales of my photographs to Guide Dogs for the Blind to support the ongoing services they provide. By adding my photographic art to your life you will be helping other people live theirs.