I had to get a nature shot for my photography class. I looked at the wide field of the campus quad and squatted near a small puddle of water. I couldn’t put my knees on the ground or I would get my jeans wet, so I randomly positioned my camera near the grass and pressed my shutter button, because why not? There wasn’t that much time left till I had to go back to class and it seemed like a fun shot.
With low hopes, I looked at the photo, and to my surprise, the focus was just right. The grass and three-leaf clovers stood tall towards the sunlight with the soil dampened by fresh rain water.
When I look at these kinds of photos, my stomach is filled with butterflies. Wow, this is the creation of God! God designed each of these small plants and I wonder in awe: How did He do it?
God is truly the beautiful Creator of these beautiful living things!
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1 ESV)
The creation we see declares God’s glory and work. They sing in joy and proclaim His greatness—even the flowers and plants are a testament to God’s brilliance.
Simply Photographers
It’s easy to praise a photographer for her work, but photographers, including myself, merely document God’s handiwork. It is true that photographers find different perspectives and frame things with their unique point of view to share with the world. But oftentimes we forget to praise God as well.
I find myself often saying “I love that person’s photography. They are so talented.” But I want to add, “God, You created this. The beauty in Your creations reflect only a glimpse of Your beauty. How I long to see and praise You in glory.”
Even when photographing my friends, I need to be reminded that God created us in His own image. It is God who crafted our image, not ourselves, so the praise goes to God alone for our own beauty.
Models, actresses, and singers were all created by God as well. When I see their photos, I often would think, “I want to be as pretty as her.” But no, God made us beautiful in unique ways to reflect His image and I should be filled with doxology as a response to seeing beauty in creation.
Recently, I started a photography account on Instagram, and my posts have short captions that relate my photographs to bible verses and the gospel. Sharing my thoughts and photographs, I am continually humbled by the fact that all of the beauty that I photograph is created by God. And on top of that, I am reminded that my Creator gives me so much grace daily. Grace to take photos. Grace to wake up. Grace to read His Word. And ultimately, grace through salvation.
“All praise to Him Who reigns in love
Who guides the galaxies above
Yet bends to hear our every prayer
With sovereign pow’r and tender care.” (Sovereign Grace Music)
The Creator of the universe and all things, who has no beginning and no end, listens to my prayers and has saved me from my uncountable sins. Through seeing the beauty in the creation that I photograph, I am reminded of the Creator and how the Creator bends to hear my every prayer.
“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy.” (Psalm 96:11–12 ESV)