Just to clarify, there is more involved in photography than most people realize. Let me explain: Shutter speed. Aperture. ISO. Exposure. Rim lighting. The Golden Mean. Leading lines. Texture. Depth of field. It's actually a little bit different than the standard "point and shoot".
That to say, I believe photography is perhaps the most powerful form of communication. An image has the ability to speak to an individual in ways that no spoken words could. This week the students of Prizewinning Photography Class 18 were given the information necessary to go beyond the "point and shoot" mindset of ordinary photography and become effective visual communicators. Through fourteen hour days packed full of instruction, hands on training, and critique, we students were given the tools to not only capture that "special moment", but also create an image of impact that deeply influences the viewer for God's Kingdom.
Interestingly enough, a great deal of the principles of photography also transfer into the spiritual life of a Christian. Measuring how much light we allow into an image is just like evaluating how much of Christ's life we are allowing to permeate the image of our lives. Understanding the importance of our image's message illustrates the importance of knowing what we want our own life message to say that we might live it out. Both are brief examples that communicate vivid analogies between the images of photography and the spiritual image of Christ in us.
God has used IPS to speak to my heart in a way no other learning experience has. Without a doubt I was challenged in the technical aspects of shooting; however, I was also challenged to seek out God's perspective on my character and level of spiritual maturity. Beyond technical phrases such as "aperture", "shutter speed", and "exposure compensation", IPS was without a doubt successful in emphasizing spiritual perspective because of the instructors. We students were able to glimpse into the lives of these people who are "Christian photographers" and have seen Christ as preeminent in their hearts. Their examples and realism have meant more to me than any principles of photography could have. The opportunity to watch them, spend time with them, talk to them, and get to know them has been a blessing far beyond anything I had ever imagined.
Yes, IPS was a week in the technical aspects of photography; but because of the spiritual lessons we learned, the technical aspects have seemed an added bonus. I can say truthfully that we students would have come here this week if only to be so impacted by the image of Christ shining through the lives of our instructors. Because of our instructors, every single one of us students will walk away with an inspiration to be real with others, that we too might communicate God's awesome power through the image of Christ in our lives, whatever our talents and abilities might be.
So what was IPS like this week? Basically, we learned how to change our world for Christ. One image at a time.
—Prizewinning Photography Student Christina Dickson
