The Joy of Photography
Notice. Click. Treasure. Enjoy!
The word photography is derived from two Greek root words: phos, meaning light, and graphê, meaning drawing or writing. So, photography is drawing or writing with light.
As we learn to draw or write with light, photography invites us to rediscover the wonder and beauty of God’s creation—vibrant colors, light and shadows, the everyday and the unusual—one click at a time.
How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. (Psalm 104:24)
PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN INVITATION
When we gaze out a window, step into the sunshine, or hike a nature trail, we begin to realize that no matter where we are, we are standing on holy ground.
How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. (Psalm 104:24)
PHOTOGRAPHY AS PRAYER
Contemplative photography invites us to look for God’s fingerprints in the subtlety of shadows, the symmetry of lines, and the prism of colors, focused less on technique and more on wonder and curiosity.
God is not just the creator of beauty, He is beauty itself … made for beholding. (Sara Haggerty)
When we approach photography contemplatively, the questions become:
- What did I see differently or in a new way?
- What sparked my curiosity?
- How did it affect my heart?
- What changed as I looked through the lens?
- Did the camera limit or enhance the experience?
- What am I most grateful for?
- What did I learn about God’s creation or character?
When photography becomes prayer, we begin to notice God’s holy imprint all around us, with or without a camera in our hands.
AN ILLNESS AND PAIN PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES
This series of 21 photo prompts is a way to visually tell the story of your illness or pain, an invitation to think about how to creatively represent the story you are currently living. Begin where you are with the camera you have and attempt to photograph:
- a challenging circumstance.
- a symptom of chronic illness or pain.
- what causes me shame.
- what anxiety feels like.
- grief or loss.
- caregiving or receiving care.
- what hope feels like.
- self-care.
- loneliness or isolation.
- a visible or invisible scar.
- wonder.
- what depression feels like.
- curiosity.
- music as worship.
- compassion.
- the gift of listening.
- generosity.
- how prayer feels right now.
- z moment of joy.
- how God sees me.
- laughter and connection.
FREE PRINTABLES • Photo Challenges
Photography as Prayer & Self-Care
Photography is a creative tool for connecting more deeply with God and caring better for ourselves. Creativity with illness and pain can feel almost impossible. Photography is a gentle art, inviting us to rediscover wonder and grow in humility.
Photography Activities & Quick Tips
Photography is a form of creativity that encourages us to slow down and notice God’s holy imprint everywhere, in everything, and everyone. It draws our hearts into gratitude and our souls into worship. Explore illness and pain through two photography activities, and grow in confidence with our six quick tips.
30 / 365 Photo Challenge
This 30/365 photo challenge is a fun, personal challenge that only requires a commitment to pick up your camera or phone to capture a photo every day for a month—or a year!
Prayers & Verses for the Creative Journey
This printable offers eight prayers for encouragement to steward our creativity well. The prayers guide us through the creative process and assist us in overcoming creative blocks. Sixteen Bible verses, especially for creatives, are included.
POSTS TO PONDER
Photography as Prayer
Life slows through the lens. There is just this breath and these pixels of creation. Yet it took me years to understand that this, too, is prayer. It begins as I lift my camera. The weight feels good in my hands—substantial, grounding. I am going to meet with God.
A Ripple Effect: Photos, Memories & Blessings
One prompt on Facebook from Chronic Joy—and look at where it took me. I experienced a ripple effect of blessings.
Connecting with God through Creativity
As we create, we connect with God, our Creator! We get to spend time with Him – a place of peace, and hope, a place where time gets lost.
Books We Love
Framing Faith: From Camera to Pen, An Award-Winning Photojournalist Captures God in a Hurried World
Matthew Knisely
In this modern age, many of us fill every “spare” moment we have rather than taking an intermission to see the true works of God and realize that he is present in every moment. In Framing Faith, Knisely illustrates a new way to see God and to help us live in the moment through the exploration of various photography concepts.
Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice
Christine Valters Paintner
More than a book on photographic technique, Eyes of the Heart is about cultivating photography as a spiritual practice. The book goes through six themes connecting the medium of photography with the Christian spiritual life, inviting readers to a new way of viewing the world — through the lens of a camera.
Spirituality in Photography: Taking Pictures with Deeper Vision
Millions of photos are taken every day across the world. Some are just snapshots. Others are more carefully crafted and have the capacity to deepen our vision and sharpen our sense of what life is truly about. Spirituality in Photography explores how photography can offer unique perspectives on the self, the world, and the things we live by.
Contemplative Vision: Photography As a Spiritual Practice
Dirk Devries
Did you know that your digital camera (or smartphone) can be a window to wonder and God? Indeed, the practice of contemplative photography invites people of faith to set aside the distractions of contemporary life. This enables them to view the world through the eyes of the divine and uncover the extraordinary in the ordinary.
