Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/01/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I've spent loads of time photographing people in their houses of worship: Inuit in Anglican churches, Muslims in mosques and outdoors at prayer, Hasidic Jews in synagogues and at the Western Wall and, recently, Buddhists praying with the Dalai Lama. My conclusion is -- despite what some might imagine -- this is not one of the great settings for photography of people. Unless there is some specific action-filled event going on -- a special festival, a pilgrimage, a particularly dramatic ritual or procession -- routine prayer is an internal event that does not lend itself to strong depiction via the still image. Religious rituals of other kinds -- sacrifices, casting out of spirits, marriages, circumcisions -- can sometimes offer great photographic opportunities. But people standing in lines praying, with books in hand or mouths open, ends up being the equivalent, photographically, of pictures of people eating. Most of the images have this look of intrusion on a private moment. If the setting has extraordinary lighting or dramatic architecture or location, sure, go for it. But your basic squeaky-clean North American church or synagogue service is otherwise a place for boring photography. In these situations, I work extra hard getting images of the folks arriving and then leaving from their prayers. Nice instants can be found then. Just my $.02 Emanuel