Art is something--anything--crafted or made. What we make does tell us who we are. . . . God has given each the defining talent that has come to define for the world who he is. In this case, the arts had ushered me into the heavenlies, and praise was my response."
This made me think about why I have come to enjoy taking pictures so much - it is art. While I have thought of myself as creative (as I tell my students you can't say you aren't creative you are made in the image of God the great Creator), I have never thought of myself as artist.
I look at my pictures and I know I have a long way to go as an artist, but I have come to enjoy the process. It has helped me to see in new and different ways. Like the picture of the tree in this post. I took this picture after I had been to Optimus to work out last Saturday morning. We came back as the fog and mist in the early morning air was growing as the sun was beginning to melt the snow. I pulled in the driveway and I saw my dogwood tree through the fog. I knew that I didn't even have time to go get my big camera, so I pulled out my little G12 that I always carry now, no matter where I go or how short the trip, and there it was. I captured a little of God's art. I was struck by this picture and didn't even do any post processing to the picture. I don't know why I like it, I just do. There are probably things that other better photographers would have done to make this a better picture, but I am thankful for this one.
In James 1:17, James tells us that "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." For me the arts are the evidences of such a faithful, loving God.
I have done other arts before - I play the piano and organ, I have made scrapbooks and done beading, I have made movies from pictures put to music. I still enjoy those things, but photography has become very different from these. I want this art to lead me more "into the depths of God" - to see more of His great beauty in the world he made and share what I see with others.