Christian Photographers Community

Do any of you who profess to being a Believer ever find it difficult to photograph things in the "real" world?  Have you found yourself in any situation that you've had to "put on your brakes" so to speak and say, "Hey, as a Christian, I can't do that!"

I haven't seen it in my photography, but I see it in my daily life every day.  I don't see it as "can't" as much as "chose not to" though.

I normally don't like taking a verse out of its context, but the principle behind this is good in relation to this thread.


I know some things that I would never shoot, but might not be able to impose those convictions on others.

In His Grip,
Kevin

Quote from: mybcjazz on August 04, 2006, 05:00:37 AM


I know some things that I would never shoot, but might not be able to impose those convictions on others.

Kevin,  I find that statement to be very true in how I conduct my behavior.  It is neither my job nor my place to be the judge.  That's His.

I wonder if what our motives are for shooting something is the dividing line?  Sometime back I took a general photo of a seaside scene in Spain, it was a lovely, but typical scene I would generally see.  However, when I uploaded the photo I realised there was a young lady who was topless in the photo.  Generally, walking on the beach I would possibly not notice because it is so common a scene, however I deleted the photo immediately knowing that it may be offensive for some folk.  When we do things, I do believe that motive and even interpretation can make a big difference, but then again, I wonder what Jesus would do?  I wonder if what offends us offends Him in any way?  He allowed a woman to annoint His feet and wipe His feet with her hair; a provocative gesture that offended His religious host immensley.

I will always remember a convention in Germany where Christians from different countries came together and were offended by the conduct of other groups: My South African colleagues were pulled up several times for wearing shorts by Christians who smoked from Italy, the Germans who drank beer, the English who drank wine etcetera (Oh, I must not forget the Scotsman who wore a skirt!) I will wear shorts, but never when it may offend someone. I think our photography should be measured by the Christians who may be offended.  If we say that it should offend no-one, then we should stop taking photos because that is offensive to many Musllims.

I just want to thank you all for your input.  I hope that we hear from others.

I guess I was wondering too about the field of "glamour" photography.  I was speaking to a man in a town near to where I live and he was saying that he was a Christian but he does this type of photography and I was a little shocked. 

Gareth Parkes those were some good words.
I almost never come across anything provocitave,  It has happend though.  It was only a request though.  Some young lady wanted me to help her build a portfolio because she wanted to be in playboy.  That happended real recently and I have always wondered how I would react if that request would pop up.  It was way easier than I expected.  I told her that I don't do that kind of work and then I told her how I used to make descisions before I put any thought into it.  I then told her my testemony.  I did encourage her not to give up on the modeling thing but the route that she was heading in was dirty and the demand is for perverted jerks.  The demand for clean modeling is greater and she would not be subjecting herself to the scum of the earth.  I am not sure if my words helped but she did respond by thanking me for the words.  I hope she took it to heart.

I think it depends on what you define as a glamour shot Pat. Some glamour shots are with the woman wearing a low cut black or fur wrap., nothig actually showing.

What about the Victoria's Secret models, they are  on TV for all to see?

I had the "glamour shots" done about 13 yrs ago. I had so much fun!  Putting on glitzy clothes and big earrings and getting my hair and makeup done.  My only problem was I didn't have a lot of money to buy all of the pictures!  But I would love to do it again.  One of my pictures turned out better than my high school senior portrait. 

And Victoria's secret aint a secret anymore - they showed it to everybody! 

I collect old cameras, and often go to collector shows.   A few years ago, the show would occasionally have a model in an adjoining hall for a shoot by those attending. 

Which was OK, although glamour shots weren't my thing, it was nice for those who liked it.

One time, there was a kid, obvously not out of Jr. High School, as the model.   Her mom was there, and it was all controlled, but it really bothered me.   Eleven or twelve is way too young to be doing that kind of thing.

I've had people ask me about doing glamour or makeover pictures: I just don't care to do it.   Don't mind if others do.   But that mother should have had her head examined.

QuoteHowever, when I uploaded the photo I realised there was a young lady who was topless in the photo.

If I reallly liked the shot, I'd just do a little postprocessed modesty.   No one would have to know.   I've had to clone out graffiti before.

This world has almost lost the ability to know what sin is. The fallen state of man is so indelably imprinted everywhere. I don't think that I would deliberatly capture images that tend to emphasise these things and draw people more deeply into sin and expressions of the flesh, no matter how 'real' it is. We all know just how powerful visuals are.

My heart is to capture God's beauty and reality through my photos. My prayer is that His truth and presence would be experienced by those seeing my photos.

It's been very interesting reading all the responses. 

Marilyn, my definition of "glamour" and maybe yours is probably different.  Glamour photography usually means women scantily dressed leaving hardly anything to the imagination.  I've been on a photography site just recently where I was hoping to upload a photo to my album but when I clicked on the "Last Uploads", my photo of the Elora Gorge would have been really out of place among all the lingerie (and lack of it).  That's a world I don't want a part of.  But that's just me.

Good reading on this site and nice to see this topic.  I searched out a site like this for alot of the reasons listed here.  I was tired of seeing and hearing things that I do not agree with and having to place to check my bearings and reset myself.

I believe that as a photographer you show a part of who you are in every picture you take. I don't think you can force your views on someone through your Photography even if you wanted to.  However you can have an influence on them in many ways both through your positive work as a photographer and in your critiquing interactions with other photographers.  That is something we as Christian photographers should strive in every photograph we take and view. Right ?  What are positive ways of influencing others with your Photography or critiquing. That is the big question eh? Thus the search for this site.

I am a member of about 10 differnt Photo Forums some of the big ones you might be familiar with, some not.  I see alot of folks who will shoot anything and anything goes. They have no problem with it since it is only a picture. I hear the "I would never do this."  but I will take a picture of it routine.  I could see how easy it would be to over time fall into that trap as with many things in life.  Easy enough most of the time to skip over and move on but sometimes not so easy or obvious that what/how/why the subject is being photographed is not appropriate for a Christian.   

Your Photography is a reflection of you as a person. I also believe you can use it as a means of sharing as well.  What better person to share it with than someone who has fallen into some of those traps.

But you always need to check your bearings.

I am kind of rambling because I am in a hurry. So If I made no sense ...............

mrlucas, you made perfect sense...  And it was really nice to read your thoughts.

Quote

Your Photography is a reflection of you as a person. I also believe you can use it as a means of sharing as well.  What better person to share it with than someone who has fallen into some of those traps.

But you always need to check your bearings.

This is so true.

Thanks!

Thank you so much for that John. 

I appreciate it a lot.  It's the way I feel.

QuoteMy heart is to capture God's beauty and reality through my photos. My prayer is that His truth and presence would be experienced by those seeing my photos.

I think this is the positive aspect of the subject.  To ask the question, "How far can I go?" is to betray a rebellious spirit.  The question should be, "What does my dear Lord want me to do?"  We should always have in our hearts a concern to glorify our Lord, not to go as far as we can with impunity.  Let's face it - we need to ask ourselves whether we love Him and want to glorify Him or whether what we really want is totally centered on self gratification.  His own wonderful creation is wonderfully sufficient material for our photography, is it not?

As far as the "glamour" photos goes, here is mine from a gazillion years ago.  And it was quite fun, and I would love to do it again. 

[attachment deleted by admin]

 I run into this stuff all the time.  Being a christian Photographer is not any different than being a good christiian.  The question is are you bearing fruit? Or are you picking through the bad apples on the ground looking for fruit.

People can spot the bearing fruit and the bad apples very easy.  You can profess all you want but when you have bad apples falling. Look out..



As far as Glamour photo's go. You can take pictures to make someone feel good about themsleves without going down the slippery slope of pornography. What husban wouldn't want a glamorus photo of their wife done in good taste.  Folks don't need to get undressed to be glamorous. If you have to question yourself if it is appropriate or not. I would leave it alone. 

no honestly i'm not a photographer (yet) but i do take pics all the time for friends family and scenery i go to mexico every year and that is a big big how do i say it eye opener for us spoiled americans

I believe 'undressed' and 'pornography' are two very separate things.  As someone who came out of a secular university with a fine arts degree (after spending three years in a christian college - and another year in a fairly conservative seminary), I was required to sit in on drawing sessions where a nude female/male were the subject matter.  Prior to this, I wondered how I would handle this as a christian.  Fortunately for me, the department head at the time was a christian man! What I finally came to realize was that painting and the visual arts have a long and established history with the church. A great deal of this art included nude figures.  Do I consider this work pornography?  Absolutely not.  But the tremendous body of work that was done for the church thru the ages was approached in a much different manner than most nude work is approached today in photography and the other visual arts.  What I personally did was approach each session with prayer, and then do what I had to do draw.  I came out of it a better person, and with a new appreciation for the work of the old masters.

I do not seek out such subject matter in my current work.  I really have no desire to associate with it in any way.  From what I see, nude photo studies are overdone - and it is too easy to have such work misrepresented or stolen for nefarious purposes. It seems that most of what is being produced today is done for erotica. Granted, the human body and all that what makes a 'person' is God's most wonderful piece of work, but there are just too many snowflakes out there that deserve my attention. 

By the way, this is not the easiest subject to write about.

As an example of such work referenced above, here is Michelangelo's famous The creation of Adam found on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel.



Truly wonderful stuff, and even used on the cover of a Franky Schaeffer book, if I'm not mistaken.

Rather than sit and paint a person who was in only their birthday suit, I'm afraid I'd have had to choose another "arts" class to fulfill my graduation requirements!

In His Grip,
Kevin