Easter

Sunrise is a wonderful time for photographers to make images that are suffused with a golden light. On a number of occasions I have risen early in order to witness the beginning of the day. Sunrise is also an ancient image for the risen Christ, who lights up our darkness, and many churches are built so that their altar faces east.

It’s no accident that we celebrate Easter in the spring. We witness the earth returning to life after a barren, cold winter. We feel the stronger sunlight warming us. The lengthening of days encourages us to venture outside. Once-dormant bulbs now poke out of the earth with their promise of colorful blooms. Buds cover trees that once seemed dead, and our general mood seems lighter and more optimistic. This, of course, is the experience of someone who lives in the northern hemisphere in a region that experiences cold winters.

As a photographer, I am drawn to the light, which is the basis of all photography. Capturing the light in all its nuances is what gives images their character and uniqueness. Jesus calls us to live in the light of his truth, to let go of the slavery of sin and everything that keeps us from God, and to live in the freedom of the children of God.

May this Easter be a celebration of renewal in Christ for you and a growth in your freedom to love God and to love one another, as Christ has loved us. Happy Easter!

“Then they were saying, ‘The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!’ Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.” (Luke 24:34-35)