My photography is not what would generally be considered artistic or
“fine art” photography, but then I don’t really consider myself an artist.
I generally do not set up the pictures I take; they just occur. I merely notice
the beauty of something and capture it. There is, of course, a certain amount of
work involved in that, and often I have to modify the environment to get the
most out of a subject, but the art is never really mine: it is God’s. I am
captivated most by the incredible detail of His creation, which is why much of
my work is close-up photography. I love to capture the texture of a subject,
like veins of a leaf, granules on stone, or the pores in leather. Magnifying
these “Minor Miracles” brings them to our attention and really brings out
the wonder of God’s work. I also love variations in lighting and contrasts of
color. I always think of God when I see something in sharp contrast to its
environment, like a brightly-colored object surrounded by a monotone environment
or a shaft of light placing the focus on an object that is otherwise surrounded
by shadow. We don’t often think about it, but God delights in these little
oases of beauty (little wonders), and they glorify Him. That is the main reason
I take pictures: so that I can capture the beauty of His creation and share it
with others, thus giving Him glory. I also use it to remind myself of His
greatness at times when I need a reminder. Finally, I enjoy capturing the
diversity of people, God’s most intricate creations. I try to take pictures
that show how the work of our hands intertwines with the work of His hands,
creating something that while imperfect because of our contribution, is
nonetheless beautiful or moving. Just as God rejoices over us even in our
imperfection (Matt 18:12-14, Luke 15:32), so I believe he rejoices over the
works of our hands, flawed as they may be. When I take portraits, I try to bring
out something about the subject’s personality or life. The personality is, I
think, one of God’s most complex and intriguing creations, especially because
it is constantly changing as He brings us through life and molds us into His
will.
All of this is great sentiment, but it really doesn’t
explain how I came to the point of selling my photography. There is actually
more to that story than just the somewhat prideful notion that I really do
believe a few of these pictures are worth buying. When I started taking
pictures, it was just a fun hobby. As the years passed and my portfolio grew, I
found that I had many wonderful pictures that sat in binders or hung on my walls
or the walls of some friends and family to whom I had gifted them. But the
purpose was shallow. In my mind I knew that I was capturing a piece of God’s
glory, but that glory was filed away and shared with few. After approximately
seven years of taking pictures I finally realized that there was indeed no
purpose to it. God was not glorified in 8x12 enlargements that sat in the
scrapbook in my living room or hung matted and framed on the walls of my house.
Like the servant in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) I had buried
my talent in the ground, not even returning it to the Master who had given
charge of it to me. This, meager as it may be, is my gift back to God.
Regardless of whether you buy a picture, I pray that
one or more of these photographs lead you to think about Him. I pray that they
would in some way bear His glory, and allow you to see His glory in a new way,
such that in your heart somewhere He may be glorified. And I pray that when He
calls me to account for this talent that He has entrusted to me, that I may be
able to at least say that I have not squandered it. In addition to offering back
to God the talent that He has given to me, it is my prayer also that I will be
able to reinvest the majority of my profits from this enterprise directly into
God’s ongoing work to spread the joy, love, mercy, and healing of salvation
through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
To my Lord, who loves me as a Father, sacrificed for me
as a Brother, and who forever leads and welcomes me home as a guiding Sprit,
though I continually wander astray. With love and adoration for all that you
have done for me.
Your son,
Michael
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