Capturing God's Glory: Why I Love Photography

June 17, 2012

Capturing God's Glory: Why I Love Photography

For my sixteenth birthday a few months back I got a camera. I was happy and grateful, but relatively unenthused. I wasn't taking photography as a subject, and for the most part I just used the family camera for any snapshots. I didn't really see the need for it.

Then, about two weeks ago, I got inspired. Inspired to start seeing the world through a different lens. I don't know why (divine intervention mayhap?), but suddenly my camera became one of the most precious tools I've ever had. I realised that it was a good camera. A very good camera. And I became addicted! Addicted to capturing the world in all its beauty, to noticing the tiny things which I wouldn't even have seen had I not been seeking them out. Addicted to God's creation in all its glory.

My life had suddenly found a new passion. And I must say, I was sorely in need of it. The end of term two is always burnout time for me, and this year was no exception. Motivation is lost, days become long and tiresome, and even the things which I once enjoyed so much lose their allure. What better time for a new hobby to emerge?

I love beauty. I'm pretty sure it's one of the most frequently used words on this blog. Not necessarily physical beauty, but things that make your heart ache from how lovely and enchanting they are. God has created for us the most beautiful world. We're living in paradise (even if it's fallen), but we so infrequently take time to recognise that. Sometime all we ever focus on are the negative things about Earth- global warming, carbon footprint, landfills, war, poverty (the list is endless)- without opening our eyes to see all that is beautiful around us.

Sometimes all it takes to renew hope in beauty and God is to look at life through a different lens. And for me that takes the shape of a Samsung 16.1 MegaPixel Camera with 5x Optical Zoom. Whatever the heck that means.

AMDG