photographing for worship media/harnessing the moment
When creating a media piece for worship I have experienced two worlds. The first is having a theme that you must plan toward. The second is being struck by an image that creates the theme. I personally prefer the second world because that is where I engage in the act of worship as I am creating.
The first world involves taking a theme and applying it to images that you need to create or drum up. The second world can happen if you are just paying close attention. And paying attention is key because a great image can happen at the most inconvenient of times. For instance, an image that I shot just a few years ago has become one of my favorites and I have used many times. My son had dressed up for halloween as a Blue Man. When he came home that evening his blue makeup was still intact but sort of cracking on his face. He removed the blue scull cap to reveal his messy blond hair. What struck me was the contrast of the blue makeup with the blonde hair. If there was such a thing as a caucasian aboriginal, this was it. The statement that it made to me was culturally transending and so he patiently waited as I took his picture. This image was later published on Worship Image Gallery by Zondervan and is a popular image on the planet.
In this example the image arrived on the scene and I had to…
1. be observant enough to notice.
2. take action and take the picture.
In contrast, when starting with a theme you have to hunt or stage. Hunt for the images that are needed for the planned theme, or stage them. The great thing is that some times during the hunt you can be blindsided by an image (by being observant) and your theme may take on a new direction. I have found that it is good to be flexible. Although my personality drives me to accomplish a task, I have learned to yeild to inspiration through being observant.
What about taking the perfect picture?
What about it? Trends come and go and I am grateful that one can create art without always taking the perfect picture. I was introduced to this concept at a seminar for photographers led by a famous advertising photograper. The man did stunning work using top of the line equipment. After talking about his work and showing exceptional examples of ad campains that he had been involved with he admitted to getting some of his favorite shots by using a cheap little pocket digital. Mood was more important than technique.
How to create interest…take a second look.
For me most of the time I see a picture as I need to shoot it. In otherwords it captures me instead of me capturing it. Although this does not happen all the time. Sometimes it is good to take a second look. You may know that the subject that you are about to shoot is a good one, but for some reason it just doesn’t click when you look through the camera. Take a second look from a different angle. In fact, what might be considered a boring subject might be wonderfully suprising when shot at a funky angle.
Try to…
1. Get under it.
2. Get over it.
3. Get behind it.
4. Get really close to it.
blair
planet gifts
