To me, shooting photos of people practicing their faith has always been an enlightening experience. I have never been one of professed faith but it has always been something I have been aware of.
Growing up my parents allowed me great freedoms to explore if a faith in a god was something I wanted in my life. I experimented with several belief systems but never found one that seemed to fit. I have always had too many questions that to me were not answered. But at the same time, I have been drawn to the experience of signing over one's heart to something I could not fully explain.
The mechanics of faith has always been something I have wanted to understand. Is practicing faith a matter of opening your heart to something that may not be tangible? Is faith achieved by acts and deeds? Is faith a sense of having a purpose outside of career and personal achievements? Is faith a quiet moment by yourself?
Recently, I have found myself at times being a bit jealous when watching others experience their faith. It's almost as if I am asking myself over and over again what are they experiencing that I don't have.
It's weird, sometimes I feel like I may be the odd man out. I grew up in a LDS community and many of my friends are LDS. But still yet, many of friends are born-again Christian, others are Jewish, some are Muslim, Buddhist, Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah's Witness, Catholic and so on. Then me ... one that hasn't ruled out faith in my life but has not found a system that I can open my heart to.
I admire those that practice their faith with their heart. I have a friend that is preparing to be sealed in the LDS Temple with his wife, another recently traveled to Jerusalem to practice her faith and then there is Jim. Jim is a born-again christian that lives his faith everyday and is always willing to serve as a sounding board to the various questions I have about religion in general.
About a month ago I was assigned to shoot the youth conference and rally for members of the Evangelical Free Church of America (see above photos). I had good access to the rally goers and the shoot went well. I shot a "Prayer Army" where about 2,000 people got together and prayed. They just prayed to their god about what ever was in their heart. I was able to shoot pics of these kids in their space and was also able to listen in on their prayers. It was interesting, most of the kids prayed for the well being of their families and friends as well as expressing a hope for a better world. Then they prayed some more.
Then I attended a rally for the 5,000 participants.
It was a scene filled with loud pumping music, MTV style graphics and lights mixed in with praise for god, supported by a concert system fit for a touring band. Most of the youth seemed to be profoundly moved by the experience. I was grateful for the access and the openness I was greeted with.
When I left the event I knew I had a good set of images but once again I had a whole new series of questions.
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