Behind the Lens: Anthony Beard:
Anthony Beard during a portrait session. Penn Park, York, PA. November 2020
He took his time.
I could tell he was intentional with every shot he captured.
Somehow he precisely knew how fast the speed of light had to move in order to compliment my
brown skin.
I’d never seen myself this way before. I was used to always being the one behind the lens so
this was a different experience for me. As a photographer, finding another photographer who
you can trust to capture you, your essence is a big deal and hard to find. After I saw the final
images I was so glad I found someone who appreciated the art of photography and who also
understood the science of it all as well.
He couldn't move very fast due to his physical limitations, so each shot and position had to be
calculated.
”“My left side is hard to do things with. My left hand..I really can't do much with my fingers. My
wrist is bent, I can’t turn my hand, and I walk with a limp.
From his photos alone, you would never know that he had a disability or any physical limitations
at all. Anthony Beard was born with cerebral palsy, a disorder that affects muscle movement,
coordination and one’s ability to control their muscles.
“The Doctor told my Mom that I would never walk.Growing up it was really hard to really get into doing a lot of sports. I’ve tried soccer, basketball, I played them all. I could do them, not perfectly but I could do it. I got made fun of a lot. My Mom, Sister and Brother really didn’t see a disability in me. They’d say “go do that ”, so I couldn’t use the excuse “Oh I have a handicap, I have a disability”; but for people who didn’t really know me they always looked at my disability as “Oh he can’t do that because of that” instead of just letting me do it. For me I knew I could do things but I felt better when I could prove to people that said I couldn't do it because of my disability that I can do this!” My mother was a black woman and I give her much respect. So for me to photograph another black women that's a great thing for them. It shows one, how beautiful they are. I think Black women are beautiful. My Mother was a black woman and she was the backbone.For me to photograph black women that's a great backbone for a black male, to push them, to show that he can do this, I know he can do this and it starts back with a black woman.
Beard photographs black women to honor his mother Florrie Ann Beard.
“Yes you have a disability but you're still going to do what I tell you to do”. His mother would
often say to him. She didn't let him use it as an excuse. She showed him resilience ,
“That was one of the greatest lessons.”
She first seen some of my work when I first started, and she was one of those people that never
liked taking pictures, so to get her to sit in front of one of my cameras, it took forever but I got it.
About four or five years ago Anthony got into photography
“Now I’m in love with it”, it started as just something to try, something new. I’ve seen photos and always wondered how they did it. I’d use disposable cameras, film cameras. It helps me feel at peace, happy. I have to shoot something everyday. It’s something that I’m passionate about and I want it to look good. Sometimes I might find something I want to practice and that’ll be my focus all day.
What is it like to be a black man with a disability in America?
It’s 78% of my life, you know so I’m ok with that. Some days it can be hard because that's the first thing they look at. They don't look at your talent. Not just as a black person but being someone with a disability for me that's the first thing people look at. Being a black male with a disability it is hard and discouraging sometimes but you learn to overcome that. You take that and you drive it to another level. They’ll look and say wow, that black male with a disability doing and doing great things. As long as I feel great to me that’s all that counts.
Beard's work has a way of bringing the viewer into the photograph. He manages to capture his
subjects' style and spirit through colors, textures and locations that reflect his subjects
personality resulting in them feeling seen and empowered.
It’s a great thing to have that positive ripple effect. You might photograph someone who is comfortable in front of the camera and someone who is not. They may see the person who is comfortable and say “You know what I’m going to get out of my comfort zone and try this”, and then it may go to the next person. Getting out of your comfort zone is very scary. You have to learn how to take that scariness and have fun with it. For me photographing people, might help them. They might be feeling down that day and I'll ask if they want to do a shoot and it might lift them up. It helps me, but it helps them too. It helped me talk to people more.
For years Beard was closed off from people due to the fear of rejection because of his
appearance and disability.
Photography helped me get out of my comfort zone.
Not only did his camera help him learn how to open up to people more, it also saved his life.
One day he decided to take all the pain and rejection that he endured and turned it into his
power.
“I tell people all the time, photography saved my life”
The main thing that really got me into photography and with me having a disability, getting made
fun of a lot and rejected a lot. I used to cut myself a lot to release a lot of my stress and
depression. It got to a point where I said I have to find another outlet and that’s when I found
photography. I tell people all the time, photography saved my life. It helps me sometimes not to
do those things in the past, I do have setbacks, we all do in life but you find that one thing that
helps you.
What do you want your legacy to be?
“ That he achieved his goals by putting the work in”
What is a quote or saying you live by?
“Just give it you all” -Anthony Beard
This story was featured in BLK Voices Magazine ‘s IMPACT edition. Click here to order a copy