Visual Psalmists

Beautiful photography — visual psalms — grace the pages of Alive Now both in print and on our website. If you pray with your camera in hand, join our Visual Psalmists group on Flickr. (flickr.com/groups/visual-psalmists/.

“I was on a ledge overlooking Lake George in the Adirondack Park of upstate New York, looking for ways to capture the feeling of the expansive view for my upcoming coffee table book, and thought adding the perspective of my feet in the midst of this wonderful vista would help give the feeling of ‘being there.’ I had taken only a couple of photos when the butterfly landed on my boot. For a couple of minutes, it wandered over the toe of my boot, while I carefully shot a selection of photos and soaked in the experience. Working with an ultra-wide zoom on my Nikon D200 gave me both the depth of field, and field of view needed to capture this image.”

- Carl Heilman II, about his photo on the cover. Carl is a professional photographer who has been inspired by the spiritual beauty and wonder of the Adirondack mountains and lakes. He has photographed for several regional books, including one on Lake George. His photography as well as information on his workshops can be found on his website carlheilman.com, and also at Facebook.

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“This photo was taken in my back yard in Vermont.”

- Caroline Catlin, about her photograph on page 3. “My name is Caroline Catlin, I just turned 20 and I am from a tiny town in the hills of Vermont. I am the oldest of three, a big fan of chocolate, and a strong believer in finding beauty everywhere you look. I hope to study psychology, creative writing and art in school and somehow combine the two in my future career. My Flickr page is http://flickr.com/dashofmagic.”

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“My son found this spider web one morning. It just glistened with God’s glory! I had to capture the moment with my camera.”

- Marie Nease, about her photo on page 3. See more of Marie’s work at wingdreamer.com or on Facebook.

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- Jonathan A. Meyers, about his photograph on pages 6-7. Jonathan A. Meyers is a freelance photographer and founder of JAM PHOTOGRAPHY. In 2007, following 32 years in New Mexico, he resettled in Ohio. Jonathan has returned to writing and he now nears the completion of his first novel.

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“One of my great joys in moving from Virginia to Massachusetts was the ‘discovery’ of the Charles River Esplanade in Boston. To walk its length brings both great calm and wonder at the beauty present in the world. One day while by the river I paused in my walk and simply looked up. I snapped a photo of the light striking beautiful branches. Only later did I see in the background the bird’s silhouette.”

- Cynthis Staples, about her photograph on page 11. Cynthia is a writer and photographer living in Somerville, Massachusetts. Her muses are many including nature and family. Her photography has appeared in online and print publications including Creativity Portal, Fifth Wednesday, Life Images, Orion, and Verdad. See more of Cynthia’s work at: http://photosbycynthia.smugmug.com/.

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“This photo was taken in New Zealand on a beautiful, evening walk along the beach.”

- Caroline Catlin, about her photo on pages 20-21. Caroline just turned 20 and is from a tiny town in the hills of Vermont. She says, “I am the oldest of three, a big fan of chocolate, and a strong believer in finding beauty everywhere you look. I hope to study psychology, creative writing and art in school and somehow combine the two in my future career.” See Caroline’s photos on her Flickr page: http://flickr.com/dashofmagic.

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“We had been in the midst of the most severe drought in Texas history for several months and nearly everything was brown and dead —- or dying. The rare sound of thunder brought me out of the house and to the end of the street to watch the approaching storm. The wild sunflowers, growing in the ditch, still blooming in spite of the drought, seemed as if to be craning their necks, hoping for a drink to soften the parched soil as the 100+ degree heat of the sun faded in the west. But, alas, relief was not to come this evening. The storm clouds gave thunders and lightening, but moved by without releasing and of their life-giving moisture.”

- Dan Barcus, about his photo on pages 24-25. “I am a trained spiritual director and a teaching board member of Charis, the Texas Conference Spiritual Direction program. I also lead spiritual formation programs in my local church and district. I love to read books on spirituality, sit and meditate in nature, bird watch, and capture pictures.

“I see nature as the perfect reflection of God’s perfect will and as such gives us a window into the mind of God. I feel that answers to many of our problems exist in nature if we take the time to watch and ask God to reveal them to us. Photography allows me to capture an image that I have been drawn to and utilize it later for deeper personal reflection and to share with others.” View Dan’s photos on Flickr.

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“Ennis, Montana. The start of one of my favorite roads to nowhere (Gravelly Range Road), up and up in true Grizzly Bear Country. Base Camping on a friend’s land, chatting, my back to the incoming storm, her eyes kept looking behind me. As I turned around stunned by the power of the skies I had to run, grab the camera and run back. This was still waiting for the lens and the senses …”

- Ara Gureghian about his photo on pages 36-37. “Ara Gureghian and Spirit. 63. We have been living full time ‘On the Road’ for the past a bit over 5 years now. Living mostly in a tent, our vehicle being a Motorcycle with a Sidecar for Spirit (My Buddy, a rescued Sweet Pit Bull). We are always at the mercy of Mother Nature’s moods while crisscrossing this beautiful country, while writing, cooking, photographing, an endless array of outdoor activities. South in the Winter and North in the Summers, often in between trying to catch some snow, all has been an incredible rewarding experience, inner and outer, for the both of us since we rescued each other in times past.” www.theoasisofmysoul.com.

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“There are many photos I long to get. One is that of fawn left hidden in a quiet spot by its mother and she goes off to feed. During a visit to western New York State one Memorial Day Weekend I hoped to capture such a photo. I went to the very wooded Emery Park to pursue this desire. In my journey through the park I never did find that fawn. I did, however, see a lot of beauty in God’s handiwork that surrounded me. I photographed much of new spring plant life bursting forth. As I walked in the woods I also noticed how the low evening light glowed through the trees. Captivated by the beauty of the moment I took this photo.”

- Pasquale Mingarelli about his photo on pages 40-41. Pasquale worked as photography for a small newspaper in Tiffin, Ohio before working for over 10 years as a photojournalist with Campus Crusade for Christ’s magazine Worldwide Challenge. He now works as a college photography instructor and has his own freelance photography/writing business, Wildheart Photography. He resides in Bellevue, Nebraska with his wife Patti, their two children and their dog Montana. See more of Pasquale’s work at wildheartphotography.com or on Facebook.

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