Last weekend we had friends to the house for curry and Africa pictures. The conversations of the evening centered around Africa and photography. Dave, who has a good eye for a good photo, spoke of visual elements or pieces of a good photo that are at more than one visual level within the photo. These layers of interest contribute to the realism of a photo and the participation of the viewer with the photograph. A photo with visual story depth is also much more difficult to capture. It is often not even possible to set up a shot in which the background participates in the composition. It is more possible to set up a background that complements a focal point.
I think this shot, one of my favorites from the road trip in 1997, has some of the layers that Dave was referring to. The message of the photo is the moment at the beach and the captured past times of exploration, imagination, and enjoying the end of the day. Sher's silhouetted profile provides the focal point of the picture. There are several other details that I feel bring so much to the entire composition. Julie Ann is bending into the water, obviously looking for something - embodying the curiosity of kids. Ben has found something - it may be that his handful of gunk is about to be launched at the bending Julie. Catherine is heading up from the water, with the sunlight dancing off her hair. Others, outside the party of kids playing at the shore, walk or run along the edge of the water. The entire moment is kissed by the sun - sinking at the end of the day providing dramatic back-lighting for the whole. This photo reminds me of the whole of the road trip. The freedom to explore, to enjoy friends, to enjoy the end of the day.
But I could not have created this shot. I could only have my camera at a moment in life that this picture was the reality.
Beauty in life is the same. The elements of our lives which add depth, which makes the whole more real or true. As bits of our souls are connected to the depths of truth that are all that is, we become more truly real and in this, more beautiful reflections of the deep truths of reality. Shallow streams may be pretty for a time, but periods of dryness leave them empty, parched, useless, and without life. Turbulent, even painful times carve through the water-ways of our lives and leave behind a gorge that is beautiful and when filled with the love and reality of God and Truth, truly amazing. We had a chapel in school in which Doug also taught about the fact that as our relationship to and within God is filled and made deeper, the rocks and debris within our lives are covered to the point that the effects become minimal on the surface. We become like pools of still water, not stagnant, but at peace because of the depths to which we are filled.
I don't believe I give the impression of being at peace. I began a statement this week at lunch "and then I would worry about," and another teacher filled in "everything".
Ouch.
I don't think of myself as a worrier. God has provided. God has provided in ways that demonstrate His love and interest in what is truly good and best for me. But I still given the impression of worrying - discontent and uncertainty. I become distracted in knowing how completely I am capable of messing up my life and forget that the God of the universe has demonstrated His great love by making my life what is good. Then I go back and think, "Well, if you knew the class five that my life had become, you'd be properly impressed at what I am now." The carving of our souls is not to bring drama or emotionalism. It is to bring depth, contrast, and realism. It is to make it possible for the love of God to surge through our lives at levels that are deeper everyday. It make our lives a more perfect reflection of Him as the waters run deep and still.
