“Out of divine love, we were created in the image of a creative God. … Within every one of us is the spark of creativity that we inherited from God.” -Matt LeRoy & Jeremy Summers in Awakening Grace
Photography is one of the main ways I enjoy expressing the creative spark that God has given me. It’s a medium that allows me to express who I am and the world that God has created.
In the past year I haven’t spent as much time with my camera as I’d like. But I’ve had the privilege of capturing some great moments. Every new year one of my former teachers, Richard Bernabe, posts his favorite pictures of the past year. His idea inspired me to do the same.
I hope you enjoy.
“Closing In”
Black Balsam Knob
January 1, 2012
I began 2012 in the southern Appalachian mountains on a trek to capture photos for a contest. When I arrived to make the short hike to Black Balsam Knob, I discovered that the section of the Blue Ridge Parkway the short trail was off of was closed. So I drove to another trail head that would require a decent hike in.
After hours of hiking with blistered feet (I brought the wrong shoes for a long hike), I barely made it to the knob before the sun set. I was cold, tired, and the only one in this Shining Rock Wilderness area for miles. But I’m thankful I was able to capture this photo before things went dark.
“Warmth”
Black Balsam Knob, NC
January 2, 2012
The night I spent on Black Balsam Knob was the coldest and most humbling night of my life. I had always been told in Boy Scouts never to hike alone and to be prepared. That night, I was alone and unprepared for the extremely cold weather and wind chill. As I laid in my insufficient sleeping bag unable to sleep, the verse from the sermon I had heard the day before continually ran through my head, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
That long night was the only time in my life I ever thought that I might die. But I made it. Thirty minutes before sunrise I packed my gear, set up my tripod, and waited for the sun to warm things up and light my path home.
