How To Be A Better Photographer

Greatest shot of all time? No. But a stunning scene that points to God's beauty and creative power? I believe so.

I'm in Montana with a friend of mine. A big part of why I'm here is because it's a spectacular place to photograph, and lately I've been wanting to be better at photography. But, as you have probably seen in posts I've written on the topic, photography itself can be a challenge.

If you've ever played golf, then you know how it is. You may have all the knowledge in your head, but when you step up to the tee and take a swing, it all goes out the window, and you hit a worm-burner, or the occasional birdhouse (yes, I am, in fact, that good to hit a pole holding up a birdhouse).

In the same way, composition, exposure, focus, lighting—things that I feel I have a decent understanding of in theory—all float off into the abyss when I step into a location to shoot.

And so, I want to share some thoughts I've been thinking, things that I want to remember when I go shoot. If you're a photographer, I hope these are useful, but truth be told, I think that with a little tweaking, these apply to many areas of life.

1. What Does This Tell Me About God?

Asking that question of a scene like this is challenging. But I think you can answer it a couple of different ways. A simple answer is that God is light, He created light, and it is beautiful. I don't want to be too allegorical here, just pointing out that light is an amazing part of God's creation, and the light on this elevator was great. Is that a stretch? Maybe, but even so, we need to keep our eye on God in all that we do.

Okay, at first glance, this might seem a strange question to ask when you look at a waterfall or mountain scene, but hear me out.

In Romans 1, Paul tells us that creation points to God's character. Psalm 19 tells us that it shows us His glory. In other words, when we look at nature, it's like looking at an artist's work.

When you look at certain people's work, you know that it was them who made it. If you've studied art much at all, then you know a Van Gogh when you see it. In the same way, when we look at nature, we see something of who God is, though it is not enough to know Him personally, just like seeing a Van Gogh doesn't mean we knew the guy. A bit overly simplified, but you catch my drift.

So, I think it might be helpful that when we look at a scene, whether it's a landscape, portrait, or street scene, that we ask what this is saying about God.

When we see a mountain scene, do we not see God's creativity and grandeur on display? When we witness a lion hunting an antelope, doesn't that point to the fall of man, the curse, and the effects of sin: all things that point to God's wrath and remind us that one day He will bring justice and restore all things?

When we take a portrait, are we showcasing that person as an image-bearer of God? Are we encouraging them through images we take of them, pointing them to the love of God in Christ?

For the Christian, there is no separation of secular and sacred. For me, I want to think when I photograph: "Is this pointing me, and those who view it, to God in some way?"

Whatever work we do, we can ask that same question.

We can also do that by keeping an eye on eternity, by having integrity in our work, and by doing the best we can as we imitate the God who made us. And we do it by seeking His glory in whatever we do.

2. What Am I Actually Photographing?

This is really more of a scouting shot. The mountains are too hazy from distant wildfires. Even so, when approaching a scene like this, can I answer the questions: what am I actually shooting? Is it mountains, a road, a fence, or fields? Or is it one cohesive story?

It's been said that when you photograph, you're not taking an image of what something is, but what else it is. That's a roundabout way of saying you need to think a bit more abstractly.

In other words, a mountain isn't just a big rock, but a triangle. A tree isn't just a tree, but a line that can direct someone's eye. Light and shadow are tools to direct the viewer's attention. Think of things as shapes, colors, and contrasts.

Beyond that, though, each image tells a story. Am I photographing a river? Well, what part of it? The water? The rocks in it? The lone flower living on the river's edge?

When I come to a scene, it is important to ask what is actually drawing my attention and what story I am trying to tell. Is it the story of those rocks in the river? How many centuries have they sat there, water endlessly flowing over them? Or that flower; how did it come to even grow there?

Instead of trying to shoot it all, step back and think about what actually interests you. Think deeper about the scene. Think about what the scene is "saying".

Can we apply that to other areas of work? I would think so. Just think of how your work extends beyond the menial tasks you perform, to how it helps our fellow image-bearers and glorifies our God in heaven. It's definitely hard to do, especially in work that goes unseen. But God sees what's done in secret, and rewards those who serve Him.

3. What Am I Doing To Achieve This

We came across this little waterfall the other day. Towards the end of the shoot, I came across this stone and shoved the camera right up to it. But I wasn't paying attention and, at the risk of being too honest, I messed up the focus a bit, at least on several of the shots.

And here is where it gets technical. I might have something in my head, I might have the right motivation behind it, and I might have thought through what this says about God and how it may glorify Him. But how do I actually accomplish this?

Having a great idea for a waterfall scene doesn't mean much if I don't expose the shot right or miss the focus.

A lot of this boils down to just learning your craft, whether it is photography or something else. But also to be disciplined to use what you've learned when the time comes.

It also means constantly asking the first two questions. Why am I using this shutter speed? Am I trying to stop the action or blur it, and if so, how does that fit in with the first two questions? Why am I using a particular aperture? Is it because some book told me to, or because I thought it out based on what I'm trying to accomplish? Feel free to insert your own technical jargon as needed, but I think you understand what I am saying.

4. Bringing it all together

As Christians, we’re to work well, regardless of what work our hands find to do. That applies to photography as much as it does to banking.

We should always have an eternal perspective in our work, knowing that it’s less about what we do, and more about who we’re doing it for. For believers, we also recognize that we represent someone higher than ourselves, and that what we do and how we do it says something about Him.

So, we should strive for excellence, as best we can. All the while, relying upon God who promises to lead us as we look to Him.

Now hopefully, all of this won’t fly away like a little birdie the next time I shoot.