Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Life’s Lens: The value of freezing miniscule moments of reality in a convulsing world
The “main point” of photography is tied to its primary ability; the ability to speak – to communicate through silence. Every photograph says something without cluttering the paper with empty words. And in many ways photography speaks more to the photographer than to the viewer. A photograph can tell a funny story, sing a goofy song or dance a jig. It can whisper words of love and mouth the sweet nothings of poets. It can divulge well-kept secrets, solemnly deliver words of war and peace, and shed dry tears while choking on grief.
I believe photography, like any other art, possesses the ability to speak directly to the heart and soul of those exposed to it. Recently, I have been grappling with the elusive term “Christian art.” Being more heavily involved in the theatre program here this semester, I was forced to confront my understanding of a Christian’s place in primarily secular art fields. This fueled my searching flame kindled last semester during a discussion attempting to define what it means to be a Christian poet. Time and time again I have arrived at the same conclusion; as Christians our art should convey truth. Consequently, I believe the main point of photography in our lives is to speak truth. While this may appear to be a broad statement, I hold that the implications for a Christian run deep.
Beauty for beauty’s sake is not what I believe photography is all about. Nor do I think truth for truth’s sake is necessarily sufficient. While this sentence may seem contradictory to my previous statement allow me first to expound. When I say “truth” I do not merely mean “factually correct.” Instead, I am talking about “truths” like the sinful nature of man, the reality of love, the existence of hope, the brokenness caused by loss, and the cruelty of a world reeking of self-absorption. These truths, these small moments of pain and joy, untouchable by science, are what I believe photography should capture. If there is injustice and suffering, a photographer has the ability (and responsibility) to alert the world to it. A photograph portraying unfathomable sorrow should do so with the intent to eliciting sympathy, action, and hope. As Christians we do not need to be dismayed by the devastation in the world but can acknowledge its existence while still offering the hope of a remedy.
Personally, this is how I hope to use photography if I have the opportunity in the future. I would not only use photography to remind people of pain but also to provide a spark to ignite warmth that has been forgotten. Photographers have the power to communicate and are thus responsible for their “words.” I think the bottom line for me is that I cannot fully commit to something without seeing its purpose. I need something more than an aesthetic arrangement of pixels. While I know others may say that by portraying beauty we are acknowledging the beauty of God’s creation, this is personally not enough for me. I also know there is no one right answer. Photography is personal and thus uniquely individual. But I guess you could say that for me, photography cannot be merely a well-written story; it must have a moral.
Beauty for beauty’s sake is not what I believe photography is all about. Nor do I think truth for truth’s sake is necessarily sufficient. While this sentence may seem contradictory to my previous statement allow me first to expound. When I say “truth” I do not merely mean “factually correct.” Instead, I am talking about “truths” like the sinful nature of man, the reality of love, the existence of hope, the brokenness caused by loss, and the cruelty of a world reeking of self-absorption. These truths, these small moments of pain and joy, untouchable by science, are what I believe photography should capture. If there is injustice and suffering, a photographer has the ability (and responsibility) to alert the world to it. A photograph portraying unfathomable sorrow should do so with the intent to eliciting sympathy, action, and hope. As Christians we do not need to be dismayed by the devastation in the world but can acknowledge its existence while still offering the hope of a remedy.
Personally, this is how I hope to use photography if I have the opportunity in the future. I would not only use photography to remind people of pain but also to provide a spark to ignite warmth that has been forgotten. Photographers have the power to communicate and are thus responsible for their “words.” I think the bottom line for me is that I cannot fully commit to something without seeing its purpose. I need something more than an aesthetic arrangement of pixels. While I know others may say that by portraying beauty we are acknowledging the beauty of God’s creation, this is personally not enough for me. I also know there is no one right answer. Photography is personal and thus uniquely individual. But I guess you could say that for me, photography cannot be merely a well-written story; it must have a moral.
For me, photography is a form of self-expression. In my photos I hope to convey truths I see in the world. They may be small truths, but they are mine in that they are seen through my eyes. Someone else could convey the same truth I am portraying in a completely different way. And this, I believe, is the beauty of photography; it is the personal expression of universal truths.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
