I have been photographing people and events for more than 30 years. I’ve gone from pinhole to professional digital equipment. I’ve had my hands in developer and have now gone to the digital darkroom. A lot has changed. More has stayed the same. Light is the key to every image.

Amateur photographers are sometimes so taken with the power of light that they make pictures of it. You’ve seen them. There’s a brilliant sun in the background that obscures the subject. It sends rays across their face and overwhelms their skin tone. At first glance, you are so struck by the presence of light that you don’t notice the lack of depth and contrast in the subject. Because it’s so unique, most people just say, “wow, what a great shot!” Truth is, it’s a great shot of the power of light but a weak shot if the purpose is to show the subject, the eyes, the texture. Recently a number of pros have been playing with lens flare too and the debate rages on.

While I could talk photography and lighting all day, I’d rather focus on the power of Light. I am thinking that following Jesus should obscure me and lose me in His light. My portrait should reveal Him.

In photography, in my opinion, light should be used to reveal the subject, not wash it out. In life with Christ, His light should overwhelm so that when people look at me they see Him.

I John 1:5  This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.