Can a photo be a prayer?

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Jacob Plante - Florida Catholic

BLOGGER PROFILE

Photographer: Jacob Plante

A mountain trail in Newport, Vermont Oct. 4, 2024.

Fiery autumn leaves sprinkled down a long mountain trail. A crescent moon smiling in a purple night sky. A hand reaching out to a monstrance gleaming in the dark. These are all beautiful moments that whisper of something greater than themselves—the One who created them, the Author of beauty. As a photographer, I find that taking pictures is more than a hobby or a job; it’s a spiritual experience. Which begs the question: Can a photo be a prayer?

St. John Damascene defines prayer as “the raising of one's mind and heart to God.” Through photography, one can easily capture an image that reflects the beauty of our Lord and His creations. Whether by taking or viewing a photo, we can be reminded of His goodness, and our hearts and minds can be raised up to Him.

Photographer: Jacob Plante

A night sky at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Miami, May 10, 2024.

Consider the scenes described at the beginning of this article. Each one conveys a unique emotion directly tied to our relationship with God. The serenity of a night sky or autumn in the mountains reminds us of the harmonious peace we find when surrounded by God’s creation and, whether we realize it or not, His presence. Which, of course, brings us to the monstrance and the outstretched hand. Therein lies the essence of the Christian life: to stand before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament with our hands outstretched and hearts open, surrendering to the providence of the living God.

Photographer: Jacob Plante

An attendee reaches out to the monstrance during Eucharistic Adoration at St. Louis Parish in Pinecrest Aug. 5, 2024.

So yes, photography can absolutely be a form of prayer. When I am blessed with one of these photos, I can only give credit to God, for He allows me to record moments of spontaneous, natural beauty that ultimately point back to Him. Indeed, I have come to see photography as a form of ministry that helps people see themselves and the world around them in a uniquely spiritual way. In the words of John Paul II in God Is Beauty, it conveys that “God's beauty still surrounds us, a constant reminder of His presence. His beauty is a constant invitation to turn our hearts to Him.”

This has been my understanding since I began photography in 2023. I’d always enjoyed taking photos of church events with my phone, and my pastor, Msgr. Kenneth Schwanger (to whom I owe all of this), noticed me doing this one day. He offered me the opportunity to be the official photographer for our pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, which I was attending that summer!

I was both honored and overwhelmed, as I had no real photography experience prior to this point. With an ancient $75 camera, a standard kit lens, and all my settings on automatic, I ventured into this pilgrimage with no idea of what I was doing. It was a challenge, with lots of deleting involved. But using the aptly-named “spray and pray” method – snapping tons of shots and hoping one will come out well – I managed to capture the pilgrimage in all its raw emotion and beauty. In fact, to my surprise (and relief), some of those photos remain among my best work to this day!

Photographer: Jacob Plante

Hospitalité de Miami volunteer Paola Trujillo rests her head on a stone wall of the château fort de Lourdes, overlooking the Sanctuary of Lourdes, France June 25, 2023.

Ever since then, I’ve continued to do faith-based photography with my dad as my partner. As a result, we’ve both grown immensely in our faith, and we now see it as not just an art, but a ministry. My photography career has been nothing short of providential, with Our Lord and Our Lady guiding me every step of the way. Opportunities unexpectedly present themselves all the time, and I barely have to lift a finger except to press the shutter! Every single opportunity we’ve been given has been a blessing, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Ultimately, I’ve come to realize that photography isn’t about getting the perfect shot, with the best lighting and sharpness. It’s about recognizing the Divine sweetness hidden in life’s everyday moments. These still images remind us to pause and realize that God is with us in even the smallest detail. So wherever you are, don’t forget to appreciate the beauty around you. Let it lift your heart and mind to the Creator of it all.