Media Workshop: Photography and Video
Especially as Filipinos, we like to take selfies, capture landscapes, make short videos: all to remember and keep a moment in our lives to look back too. But all the more, pictures and videos are great sources of communication. Something that lingered in my mind from this weekend was that if we just dig deeper, with a vision and a heart behind it, these digital files can be more than visuals we look to reminisce, but stories that amplify the beauty of our God.
On the last day of September, the media ministry graciously held a photography and videography workshop for people in our ministry willing to learn more in this aspect of art. I was expecting to soak in new information on the technicalities and a how-to on creating higher quality content, but what I least expected was what I got. And what I got is what was most definitely needed.
We were first split into three groups that we were to work with throughout the whole workshop. Being in a group with Alessandro, Missy and Kuya Fremy was definitely a sweet deal. A fun icebreaker started to wake us all up and get us pumped for what was ahead. After that, we headed straight off to refresh our visions and why we do what we do: to leverage various forms of media to effectively communicate WIMO’s mission and vision. This led to the basic information from where these files go? to how do we know when we’re schedule? to how do we get organized? All the things we needed to get started.
After getting all the basics nailed down, Jann started to speak about the foundation of videography. Like I said, all I expected were just advice on how to hold a camera, or how to have the sound and video at its best quality, but I never got any of that. We received a lesson on having a vision: where you want your video to go, how to make the viewer feel, and what to get out of it. Nothing about quality, nothing about making anything prettier. It was all about a vision, a purpose. All to ensure that anyone viewing the video would openly take in it’s message. It’s better to have a low quality video with a rooted message that glorifies God than a much higher, sophisticated video with an empty story. As what Jann stated, the more effort you put into it, that’s how much you’ll get out of it. And that definitely shows.
Having a break in between, Hannah Oliveros wonderfully treated us with her beautiful creation of desserts. From colourful rice krispies, to small teensy cupcakes, all of it never went to waste. It was such a delight to consume them before we headed off to the second half of the workshop: photography.
With the surge of the sugar pulling us through, Justin started off with the importance of telling a story. Everytime we take a picture, especially as a way of service to our God, it should portray a certain story, a story that sees Him. He left us with a question to ponder:
“How could I reflect God’s creation and journey of this subject in the best way possible?”
So how could we accomplish that? Believe it or not, it doesn’t start off with purchasing the best camera, nor using the rule of thirds properly; it starts off with prayer. Devoting a certain time in your day to speak with the Lord. This should be the first thing you should ever do. Pray, pray and pray. “…not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road. Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders.” — Psalm 119:17 MSG. Once you pray for the Lord to pry your eyes open to the vision He desires, to the aspects of His beauty He wants you to magnify, everything else will follow. The subject, the preparation, the timing; all will run smoothly when you seek God first.
Being in the music ministry for quite a while, much preparation and alignment with the heart of the Father has always been a must when leading worship or playing an instrument. This is no less for producing a video or capturing a picture for the church. Before anything, putting God first and preparing should be taken seriously in order to communicate and leverage the splendor and beauty of our God through these God-given visuals. When we accomplish this at our uttermost passion for Jesus, future generations will look back unto these photos and videos and know how great our God was, how He still is, and how He always will be.
— Micah Ocampo
View more photos in our Facebook page.
