The Picture Seen Across the Pond

Photography is my passion. A picture can evoke an emotion in anyone that sees it (often different emotions in different people). As a portrait photographer, I like the challenge of trying to capture someone’s true personality in a photograph. Using my camera to "make" someone's picture is my way of celebrating God’s most beautiful work—which, of course, is people. Any people. I especially love photographing newborns. Every time I photograph a baby, I marvel over those tiny, chubby little toes and those dimples where their knuckles will be one day. I can get lost in the artistry of a tiny fingernail. A picture really is worth (at least) a thousand words.

In December of last year, I decided to document my year (2012) with a 365-project: taking one photo each day and sharing them on my Facebook page. Sometimes I shoot the daily images with my good camera, but more often I just use my phone camera (and Instagram). My subjects have ranged from mundane (carrot raisin salad) to beautiful (Florida sunsets) to unusual (a Chihuahua in sunglasses) … and, yes, a few faces.

My subjects are images that inspire me, move me, make me smile or just capture my attention. This particular photo (right) was my 365 image for last Sunday (9/30/12). It features 100+ small crosses that are part of a display in front of a local church. Each cross represents a child lost to abortion last year, just in our county. This is the image that moved me that day.

Believe it or not, I did not post this photo as a political statement.

But timing is everything … especially with a red hot election looming just weeks away. So, of course this ignited some political exchange on my Facebook page. As a rule, I try to completely avoid political statements on my Facebook page for several reasons. First and foremost, I try to respect all of my friends, family and acquaintances—whatever their beliefs may be. I love them for who they are. I would never ever want to intentionally hurt someone.

But there are a couple things you might (or might not) want to know about me. I am not a Democrat nor a Republican. I never met a politician that walked on water. If I carry the flag for anyone, it’ll be for God. And my God has many names. He is 100% love. He is 100% merciful. That cross I wear around my neck isn’t to show you that I think I’m good or holy or anything even close. It’s a reminder TO ME that, IF I’m going to call myself a child of God, my job is simple: to love. Everyone.

Judging isn’t part of my job description. I believe that no one should go through life lonely. I don’t care whether you spend your life with a man, a woman, a dog or a television. I want to know you for who you are, what you are passionate about and who you trust. Like MLK, I’m interested in the content of your character. I hate labels. I hate being pigeon-holed, just as much as you do. I believe that we all make mistakes. I, myself, make them every minute of every day. I believe in a universe of opposites—so I do believe there is evil. And it scares me. But I believe God is bigger than any religion or anything evil. He is a creator … of breathtaking sunsets, Chihauhaus in sunglasses and, yes, babies.

So when I snapped that photo, this is what I thought: This makes me sad. My heart breaks for those mothers (whatever their ages and circumstances) that thought they had no other choice. I can’t imagine a decision more painful and burdensome than what they had to face. It makes me sad for those men that couldn’t/wouldn’t live up to the definition of the word Father. And it makes me sad for all those lost little baby toes, dimpled knuckles and precious, tiny half-moon fingernails.

So I just became sadder when the debate raged on my Facebook page. Because, while I realize this is a hot political topic, that’s not what I saw through my camera lens. And I just wanted someone else to understand, if only for a moment ... to see what I saw. Then I noticed a comment about the photo on my Instagram account. It came from a talented  photographer who lives “across the pond” in Ireland. (I’ve long admired his work for its beauty and simplicity.)

His comment? 

:(  :(  :( 

My point exactly.