The November Exhibit at LWCC
Seeing Beyond the Obvious
11/7 - 11/28
The Gallery @ Common Grounds
As a contemplative photographer, I am learning to see beyond the obvious. Because I couple my time behind the lens with a running dialog of conversation and prayer with God, His Spirit leads me to look at things that I’d usually walk past or simply ignore. What I’ve discovered is when I actually expect those nudges from Him and obey them, He reveals to me deep and meaningful insight through the most ordinary of objects. The camera causes me to slow down so that I can intentionally walk with God, inviting Him to show me what He wants me to see.
September at The Studio was based on this passion of mine: To See Beyond the Obvious. It was a very meaningful month where people used their cameras to slow down and see in a new way through their lens, be it a point-n-shoot, dSLR, or cell phone camera.
This exhibit is a result of their participation in September @ The Studio. You will see their images, which may seem ordinary. But then you’ll read their reflections about their images. It’s here where we hope you can also see beyond the obvious.
Consider how God may be speaking to you through the photographers’ images and reflections.
grace & peace, deAnn Roe
Here are a few pieces you'll find in the exhibit....
Striking
Contrast
The
second night of September @ The Studio was titled “Drawing with Light.” We were
encouraged to capture our images that evening in black and white, as it’s
easier to pay attention to the effects of light on an object when shooting in
monotone.
I
used a close-up kit on my dSLR to get this image of striking contrast; it’s a
vase on the counter. When I look at this photo, I am reminded how dark our
beautiful world is and I’m keenly aware of the deep need for the Light of
Christ to cast out all shadows. I want to be a carrier of His Great Light…
Here’s
another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in
the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as
public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m
going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now
that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house;
be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to
open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 The Message
By
deAnn Roe
Imperfections
Our
house was built in 1900, or so says the deed. Every single time we dig a hole
in the back yard to plant a shrub, we find interesting stuff from decades ago.
Often we find very old bottles; some broken, some fully intact. This image is a
close up of the neck of one of our non-descript backyard bottles.
As
you look at this bottle, it’s easy to point out the imperfections by way of the
bubbles buried in the glass. Obviously, this was a useful bottle at one point
in its life, maybe delivering life-saving medicine, maybe offering a cool
drink, or maybe held a strong cleaning agent.
I
am this bottle. Bubbled up with imperfections and flaws, yet my Heavenly Father
still sees value in me. He has a purpose for me and my life. He longs to have a
loving and lasting relationship with me and asks me to surrender to His will…
when I say, “yes, Lord,” He uses me to fulfill His purposes, despite my many flaws.
He loves us despite our imperfections and we become perfect in Him.
God made Him
who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the
righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
By
deAnn Roe
Mesh
Shadows
The
real beauty of this picture was only evident when I sat down to edit it. It was
only then that I realized the silhouettes of my four sons, black and nearly
featureless, still expressed their personalities perfectly! The daring one, the
casual one, the timid one, and the showman. It was an amazing revelation to me!
By
Tim Trexler
Surrender
This
little leaf vividly revealed to me the virtue of surrender. I was drawn to how small, fragile, and flawed
it was, its yellow hue slowly fading away. This dying leaf reminded me how I
must continue to die to self and surrender completely to Christ in order to
experience new growth in Him.
I
am so thankful that Christ has accepted me with all my flaws, defects, and
brokenness. Like the dying leaf, I must
learn to let go and rest in Him, knowing that He will catch me when I fall.
By
Karen Shreiner
Unexpected
Change
I
am always running out of the house to photograph a sunset. On this particular evening, I noticed that
the light from the sunset was shining in the window onto the African
Violets.
I
got curious and took a picture of the light reaching the flowers. The light was reflecting on several different
areas in the room. Those reflections
were captured by the camera and created colors and shapes that were unseen to
my eyes. This was unexpected and was
truly a gift to me.
Often
the picture we see isn’t what God sees.
He sees what we are becoming as the reflection of His light and beauty
reaches our lives.
Forget
the former things, do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now
it springs up; do you not perceive it?
Isaiah 43:18 – 19
By
Penny Heilman
All
Creation Points to The Creator
I
don’t consider myself a photographer. I just enjoy taking photos with my point
and shoot camera using the automatic setting. I totally depend on my camera to
do all the work, while I have fun with composition.
On
the evening of the first pre-sunset photo shoot, I was drawn to a tiny white
wildflower I had never seen before. I thought little of it when I snapped the
picture. But I was completely blown away, when I got home and blew up my photos
on my computer screen!
This
picture is pretty grainy, but if you study the center of each downy soft
flower, you will notice the detail that captured my heart and inspired the
title I chose to accompany my print. At the core of each blossom is a very
distinct arrow; a unique indentation that appears to be stamped into each tiny
white flower segment.
I’m
still amazed every time I look at the picture! I stand in awe, as I have a
deeper appreciation for the creativity of our God! That He would include such a
remarkable detail in a miniature member of the plant kingdom is mind boggling
to me. On any other given day, I would have stepped over this example of God’
artistry, and I would have missed such a special moment with my Creator!
I’m
so thankful that He drew me closer to His heart by inviting me to capture His
artwork through the lens of my camera. I was also so blessed by the pink
ribbons of grass and the rosy stems that linked the petals to its’ life source.
Thank
You, Lord, for not letting me miss this special encounter with You. Through
Your awesome creation, You helped me to “See Beyond The Obvious.”
By
Renee’ Barnhouse
