Photographic Expression and the Christian Perspective

What is the lens? : A discussion on photographic expression and the Christian perspective

Photography takes on the forms of the documentary, the commercial, art, and many times the controversial. The visual arts have a big role in our society as images proclaim what is “in” and what is acceptable. Although many people may disagree with these visual statements, they cannot deny the impact of images upon our culture. The media may influence photographer’s work, but photographers primarily use this diverse art as a means of creative expression. The image that they create comes more from their internal lens than from just what they see. According to Harry M. Callahan, the editor for Ansel Adams’ color photography book, “To the general public, photography has always represented a means of capturing reality… For photographers, photography has historically been either a vessel of truth (documentary) or an abstraction (personal interpretation), but it has never been confused with reality" (Callahan, 13). Although photographers may see reality, they use their own interpretation to capture the picture. Viewers also examine images through their own internal lenses, and interpret the images through their own opinions and experiences. One significant worldview, or internal lens, is that of Christians. Like photography, Christianity has varied forms of expression, but the overall Christian moral values are the same throughout the religion. Art can be a very controversial topic in Christian communities due to its variety of expression and its differing moral content. These differences can cause conflict especially when there is a lack of understanding about the artistic material. Although the challenges between Christian standards and the morality of some artistic works may remain, if Christians can understand the motivation, context, and composition of a photographic work, then their analysis and judgment of the piece will not be as inconsiderate. Understanding photography can be very hard, but recognizing the development of the composition of the pictures and the motivating ideas behind their creation can give greater appreciation and enjoyment to the Christian viewer.

Photography is a rapidly growing hobby and career. Most photographers enjoy specializing in a particular emphasis of photography such as portraits, landscapes, or abstracts. Black and white photography, color photography, and also digital photography and film are often in a battle over which is superior. The conflict between the mediums is not as important as the options they give the artist. Photographers can capture pictures in whatever way they feel will influence the audience the most. The career appeals to many because of the wide range of opportunities. It enables some to succeed through self-developed talent, and others can pursue it through education and training. Some photographers decide to pursue their career with a Fine Arts emphasis, while others choose to pursue marketing, or professional portraiture. When photographers choose to express themselves through art, they are working to convey their visions, or capture the special images they see. Commercial photography attempts to capture the ideas, visions, and desires of the client. Brilliant photographic works are those that can appeal to the commercial eye but also evoke the emotions of an average viewer. Both artistic photography and advertising photography need to engage their audience. The best way to do this, according to Alice Anthony, Professor of Photography at Milligan College, is by producing, “something that [the audience will] get an emotional response from. If [they] have to sit trying to figure something out, then [the photographer has] lost [them]. [They] need to know that someone [put effort into it]. It needs to speak to [them]” (Anthony). Some people produce commercial photography, but they are not actually artists, and so the creative details are lacking in their work. Photography “takes a lot of work. [If they are] just trying to make money, [and] don’t necessarily care about the art,” (Anthony) then they will not be successful in their artistic and photographic pursuits. Photographers who pursue commercial endeavors where they can also express their creativity have the amazing opportunity to promote the items that they are selling to artistically-minded people, and to bring artistically ignorant viewers into a subconscious awareness and appreciation of the artistic composition of the advertisement. Other times, artists become convinced that anything that involves marketing or business efforts should not be considered real art. “Yes,” replied Professor Anthony when asked whether she thought that some artists were biased against commercial photography, “what’s a good word? They’re elitists. I want to say snobs, but elitists sounds better. They can only see one thing [and] they are not well-rounded. They don’t open their eyes to other possibilities.” In photography, art and advertising can be very separate, especially if the purpose of the commercial photographer and the picture being taken is not an artistic attempt. Photographers have many career choices within art and marketing, but all photographic emphases can be artistically developed when the photographer has a developed eye for creative composition.

The emphases of photography can often overlap, and the purpose of pictures can be hard to define. Photographic art, advertising, and pornography share elements throughout our culture. This makes it even harder for Christian viewers to condone many aspects of photography. Commercial and artistic photography are often blurred together. Most billboards, ads sent out by a local grocery store, and catalogs produced by stores such as JCPenney or Sears are not likely to be works of art. Their purpose is not to capture the viewer with the lighting and beauty of the scene, but to grab the attention of the observer to create a customer. They are not appealing to their audience’s visual senses, but by focusing on price sales and quality they are targeting their viewers’ material desire. These are clearly separated from artistic photography, but there are some magazines and catalogs that do attempt to form collections that appear artistic in their attention to detail. Many times these choices are made for marketing to a particular audience, but the creative skills required to produce them are unmistakable. To produce successful commercial work, the photographer must be a fully capable artist. Anthropologie, a clothing and home store, uses artistic photography techniques to advertise. The photographers pay attention to details, composition, scenery, and lighting. Although they are promoting items, their use of creative skills cause the catalogs to be very artistically composed. The pictures in Anthropologie can actually be compared to some recent photographs in the fall 2009 edition of the magazine Photographer’s Forum, a professional photographer’s magazine. The pictures from David Macedo’s portfolio are displayed in Photographer’s Forum because of their outstanding quality and creativity. These artistic pictures are very similar in composition to Anthropologie’s catalog pictures. This is where the confusion begins. Two seemingly very different forms of photography, one art and the other advertising, contain the same creative qualities, but they are considered separate. According to Professor Anthony, it is, “the thought going into the creative process,” that makes photography artistic. These different photographic sources would be more acceptable to Christians because the content presents the purpose in a straightforward way, and the people in the images are modestly dressed and their postures are considered to be normal. Pornography and artistic photography, like commercial and art photography, also can have obscure defining lines. These two photographic genres may seem distinctly different for some people, and uncomfortably similar to others. Pornography, according to The Random House Dictionary is “literature, art, or photography of erotic or sexual acts intended to excited prurient feelings,” (Random House Dictionary, 695). According to this definition, there is little difference between what culture terms pornography and many advertising campaigns and artistic works. The purposes of the works are what separate them, but in many instances, all of these forms of photography are promoting a sexual concept. Although there are instances where things are unclear, capturing the human body in art is a legitimate and important form of art. Ultimately the audience must discover the message in an image. The viewer’s interpretation of the work depends on their own experiences and views, and how willing they are to search out the artist’s perspective.

Individuals use photography to express and display many elements of life. Its many genres are best distinguished through motivation, context, and composition. With these elements in mind, three current fields of photography can be distinguished: commercial, art, and pornography. Photographers fit into several categories such as commercial and art. Commercial photographers such as Julie Harris, a current portrait photographer in Colorado, use their artistic training to produce creative photography for their clients. Harris’ work is artistically excellent and the content would not be offensive to most people. In her photojournalistic style, she does capture some more revealing moments during weddings such as the brides getting changed. She also takes pictures of women in sensual ways, but these are labeled as artistic photographs with the purpose of reveling in the beauty of the women and expressing their confidence. Because these women desire to have their pictures taken in this way, they are not considered outrageous, or even offensive to most people. Ansel Adams was famous for his beautiful landscapes. These pictures are not controversial, and this is most likely because nature is the focus of these images, not humanity. Another famous photographer, Diane Arbus, was known for her photographic work on the outcasts of society. Many of the people that she photographed were outcasts because of their differences relating to sexuality. The pictures of these people are considered artistic works, but they are also very clearly sexual images. The strangeness of the subjects and the sometimes-crude images are not as widely accepted by the general population as pleasant images to look upon, but they are accepted by the artistic community. Sally Mann is probably the most controversial photographer of the four mentioned here. Her creativity and artistic composition are obvious, but it is the subject content that causes conflict. In her book “Immediate Family,” she focuses on her children. She claims to be photographing them from a perspective of motherly love, but because of their nudity in many of the pictures, and the provocative stances they sometimes take, even the artistic community has had to seriously evaluate her work. Her work has sometimes been compared to pornography due to its explicit content. These various photographers all have different emphases that create either support or criticism. It is primarily when humanity is involved in the images that the work is open for disagreement.

The Christian perspective, like photography, encompasses a variety of expressions due to the variety of the individuals involved. As with many religions, Christianity has some members who are passionately involved and others who passively participate. Those who are seriously involved are more likely to take offense with controversial images. Christians have a strong moral standard, developed from the Bible and from their religious communities, which often conflicts with contemporary media. Photographic art and commercial work are part of this contemporary conflict. Christians can often be seen as close-minded, and while this may be true from an outsider’s perspective, they are merely following their beliefs and teachings. Sexual perversion and abusive actions are great offenses in church communities, and praise for images of these things is considered utterly wrong. Such actions are considered to be evil perversions of God’s creation. Despite offense at disturbing, dark or sexually oriented pictures, Christians do appreciate art. They are just more limited in what they enjoy. The work of Ansel Adams is a good example of photography that they appreciate. His pictures depict pure beauty and exalt God’s creation, and his pictures also do not compromise the viewer’s innocence. The beauty of the outside world can be seen all around us, and therefore his images are stunning to the audience, but not startling in their content. Christians vary, and so do their tolerance of photographic art. Some are offended and confused by it, but others do appreciate it, while still preferring subject content that conforms more appropriately to their beliefs. This is a significant change from history of Christianity and art, which used to work tightly together. Artistic expression was at one time greatly influenced by Christianity, and Christians utilized art to benefit the teachings of their faith. Now, many Christians have little understanding of the significance of artistic works.

Christianity has lost its control over and influence on the arts. During the Middle Ages, the Church was the primary benefactor of the arts, but as time progressed, the Church’s influence on the arts was lessened. Some of the greatest art that remains from the Middle Ages is from churches. Church buildings, stained glass windows depicting biblical stories, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling painting and the Pieta, and Giotto’s Lamentation were all works of art either funded by the Church, or influenced by Christianity. These great works of art focus on the beliefs of Christians because the Church was the primary governing body of the people. There were public rulers, but through wars, famines, and centuries, it was the Church that remained fairly consistent in the lives of the people. It was Christians’ beliefs that gave them hope during hard times, and inspired artists. Some artists are still inspired by this same faith, and Christians still have hope in their beliefs, but through time and events, the Church lost interest in the arts, and art lost focus on Christ. The fine arts are once again becoming a strong part of some Christian communities, but it has been a slow progression towards acceptance. When Christianity forfeited the arts, many Christians lost interest or understanding regarding art. Although a revival of Church control of the fine arts is unlikely, many churches are working to incorporate art in their Christian communities and support Christian artists.

The opinions and motivations of Christian artists and photographers vary in the way that Christianity and artistic technique do. Some choose to confine their work within their standards of Christian morality and conduct. Others trust that, because they are both an artist and a Christian, what inspires and influences them must work within both categories. Lisa Dresser, pastor of Metro Detroit Christian Church and artist, claims, “I do not see a separation between Christianity and art. Every piece of art reflects the essence of the one who made it. That being said, how can there be a division? Is my art non-Christian if it doesn't have an overt Christian theme? All my art is Christian because I am. Whatever the piece, I evaluate it the same way” (Dresser). She also expressed that while being a Christian impacts her work, so does being an artist affect her Christian faith,

Being highly visual (being an artist) affects my Christianity in that I relate to God in a highly visual way. When I read the scripture I see it visually internally. I can picture the stories easily in my imagination causing it to be very alive for me. God also speaks to me through the visual pathway through visions and dreams. This is how being an artist (and visually wired) affects me as a Christian. It also gives me great appreciation for the beauty and variety of creation and I interact much with the Creator about this (artist to Artist) and that is a lot of fun. Kind of like I'm continually walking through a One-man-show in the gallery of earth with the Artist Himself, talking about each piece He's created. (Dresser)

Artists such as Lisa use their creative skills in their everyday lives, and they are impacted by their Christian faith in the same way. They are able to analyze art in much the same way as other trained artists and photographers, but what appeals to them and how they interpret a picture, is based greatly in their own experience and Christian faith.

Viewing photography from the Christian perspective may limit one’s enjoyment of some images, but the firm beliefs and deep convictions of being a Christian may also lend to a deeper understanding of the spiritual, or non-visual, message of the image. Christians with limited views will not gain much from close examination of art and photography, but when trained Christian viewers analyze the image subject using their convictions as a base, it can allow for a deeper study of the significance of the picture. The motivation of the photographer and the composition of the picture are two significant elements that help define photographic works, but the significance of the work requires the audience to search out the meaning. To understand photography, Christians must understand the standards and motivations of the artists. Ansel Adams was inspired by natural beauty and lighting. His work reflects this love of nature. Diane Arbus’ emphasis was on recording the misunderstood outcasts of society. Sally Mann photographed her children. She wanted to express the freedom and wildness of childhood from the perspective of a loving mother. Julie Harris, a current commercial photographer, takes pictures for weddings, families, and art. All of these photographers have different focuses in their photography. Their motivations are different, and thus the compositions of their pictures vary from one another. The lines between the many emphases of photographic works are often hard to define and distinguish. Diane Arbus and Sally Mann both focused on their subjects not for perverse reasons, but they had the desire to reveal the inner images of their subjects through the physical photographs. When Christians realize that a work was not created to promote perverseness, but to express both the personality and physical beauty of the subject, they are able to judge the work and the artist with less harshness. Sally Mann was only trying to portray innocence and freedom through her children in their element. She wanted to photograph her children as she saw them: beautiful bodies full of life and growth. Although her intent was good, that does not necessarily make her images pure or satisfactory, knowing her message allows for an appreciation of the art without necessarily condoning it. Diane Arbus had a heart for people who were rejected. She felt that by expressing these people in photographic art, she would be able to express their abnormal beauty. Christians may have a hard time viewing some of her pictures, but her heart for accepting the outcasts is also a Christian belief. They may not like the pictures, but they can appreciate her heart, and be convicted by her work. When Christians view art, they need to examine the heart of the photographer and the depth of the picture’s message, and then they will be able to view photography from the appropriate perspective.

The Christian perspective in regards to art and photography should not vary from other perspectives. The Christian viewer’s opinion on and approval of a work may be different because of their internal lens, but the process by which they examine a picture should be the same artistic analysis that any informed viewer has. It is important for the viewer to analyze art based on its message. Some Christians may eliminate opportunities to view and appreciate photography because the content is unsettling, but according to Lisa Dresser, “Art is not always meant to be enjoyed. Sometimes art is meant to provoke one to thought or action. Sometimes it can be violent, chaotic, depict horrors and that is the intent” (Dresser, Lisa). Christians should not lower or change their standards, but when they understand the motivation of the photographer and the message of the picture they will realize that their beliefs should not be changed, but their convictions will be challenged and stimulated. Photography and Christianity are very similar in that they both expose a deeper reality that can only be partially perceived. Christians should view photography and art as physical examples of the elusive reality in which Christians live.

(Anthropologie)

(David Macedo, Photographer’s Forum)

(Ansel Adams, Ansel Adams in Color)

(Sally Mann, Immediate Family)

Work Cited

Adams, Ansel. Clearing Storm. Ansel Adams in Color. Little, Brown and Company, 1993. Print.

Anthony, Alice. Professor of Photography, Milligan College. Personal Interview. October 9, 2009.

Arbus, Diane. Revelations. New York: Random House, 2003. Print.

Anthropologie. Advertisement. Jan. 2008. Print.

Anthropologie. Advertisement. Feb. 2008: 8, 16, 17. Print.

Anthropologie. Advertisement. Apr. 2008. Print.

Anthropologie. Advertisement. Aug. 2009: 35. Print.

Blandy, Doug, and Kristin G. Congdon. "Pornography Challenge." Studies in Art Education 32.1 (1990): 6-16. Web. Jstor. P.H.Welshimer Library, Milligan College. 27 Oct. 2009 .

Callahan, Harry M. Ansel Adams in Color. N.p.: Little, Brown and Company, 1993. Print.

Career As a Professional Photographer. Chicago: Institute for Career Research, 2007. Web. 8 Oct. 2009.

Dresser, Lisa. Pastor of Metro Detroit Christian Church. Personal Interview. November 18, 2009.

Eck, Beth A. "Nudity and Framing: Classifying Art, Pornography, Information, and Ambiguity." Sociological Forum 16.4 (2001): 603-32. Web. Jstor. P.H.Welshimer Library, Milligan College. 27 Oct. 2009 .

Harris, Julie. Julie Harris Photography N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2009 .

Macedo, David. "Portfolios." Photographer's Forum Fall (2009): 32-33. Print.

Mann, Sally. Immediate Family. N.p.: Aperture Foundation, Inc, 1992. Print.

Mann Sally. Jessie at 5, 1987. Immediate Family. Aperture Foundation, Inc. 1992. Print.

"Pornography." The Random House Dictionary. N.p.: n.p., 1978. 695. Print.