What Do You See?
I recently gained a renewed interest in photography. The human interest in the solid, visual world cannot be understated, and I’ve wondered what a photography hobby could do to enrich my imagination. The things we see and pay attention to play a major role in forming our worldview and shaping our souls. “The eye is the lamp of the body,” as Matthew 6:22 reminds us.
But photography isn’t just about capturing the world around you and putting it into a rectangle or square. It’s about telling stories without saying a thing. It’s about seeing something for what it really is or what it could be. There’s a reason why ambitious people who look to the future with big dreams are called “visionaries”. To see something others don’t and help them see it too is a powerful gift.
The smartphone era ensures that most everyone has a camera in their pocket, so I decided to start looking around and finding things to take pictures of. And not just pictures, but visually striking images that evoke some sort of feeling. Nature is always a good place to start, so I began taking the occasional walk during my break at work.
I found quite a few subjects and perspectives for visual artistry (or an attempt at it).
Like this cute mallard:
And this bottom-up, wide-angle shot of some trees and a lamp post:
And this encouraging message someone left in a bed of rocks:
I don’t know where this path of learning is going to take me. But I’m grateful for it, because it has reminded me of three things.
One, I need to slow down more often. Smell the roses, as it were.
Two, I need to consistently remind myself that many things look quite different or take on different meanings depending on the perspective I see them from. This is a rule of photography and a rule for life.
Three: I’m not just a writer. I’m a human being with eyes, and those eyes need to be trained to pay attention to the right things—things that build up and give wisdom rather than things that tear down and steal my attention.
Yes, my brain thinks extensively in metaphor and allegory, especially where art and spiritual matters are concerned. Come on in, the water’s warm.
This begs the question: what do you and I see every day that needs another look, or a different angle? Or what do you and I see every day that needs to be pushed aside as a distraction from what’s true and beautiful and precious?
The eye of the beholder is not to be underestimated.