Church Revival

Ducky said:
These events are generally noisy, active, emotional and sometimes confusing. I did not catch that in your work. Maybe a few close face shots, tearful expressions, closed eyes and singing. Your shots make the event look staged. Maybe they calmed down because you were there, maybe they were a more self-controlled group.
My experience with these events left me wondering how people couold get so emotional and then just pick up and go home.
I think I would have used a 50 or even a 75-80 fast lens.
Obviously, I wasn't there so I could be way off target.
Thanks for posting, these are very interesting events to observe and you did a nice job on that end.

Second guessing myself, maybe you were trying not to get too close-up and personal out of respect for what was going on.
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You have hit on some good points. I brought the 35 specifically to get some distance and wide frames. I wanted to grab the overall context as opposed to specifics of individuals. I think next time I will bring a 50 as well to get a bit tighter. Part of that was respect for the people and part of that was to force myself to be in the action...not a viewer of the action.

The funny thing was that I was concerned about being in the way or being too close...I was pushed to the front and told to get into the action...that is how I got many of the PICs....I was right in it :)

This was my first experience at a revial so I cant compare to any others but I will say 100% for sure they were not at all toned down! My head was ringing for a few hours after!

I find it very interesting how the photos compare to my memory of the event....To me it was all a blur of film, cameras, people and noise. I shot 13 rolls of 35 is about 2 hours. Looking back now at the photos I get the idea of a more static, staged event. I am not sure how to resolve that or even if it is an issue.
 
I am not familiar with this kind of event and therefore I m very interested in your pictures. I think it is very difficult to respect people and what they are doing and meantime be in the event and take pictures from a very close distance. Maybe some slow time exposure with blurred images can better give an idea of the emotion. Are you planning to shoot more of these events ? I hope yes and if you go on with a medium term project for sure you'll manage to have an interesting body of work. Please post more
robert
 
In general, a "revival" is a periodic event anywhere from three days to a week long, where a guest preacher is invited to lead nightly services with the goal of renewing or reviving the spiritual walk of those who attend the church hosting the event. As far as I know, only protestant churches, especially conservative/fundamental ones, schedule revivals.
I personally do not like the term "revival" because it hints of something dead that needs reviving. One would hope that the host church - and all of its congregants - are not spiritually dead. :)
Also at revivals there typically are guest musicians and or/ a guest worship/music leader.
I hope this helps with those who are unfamiliar with such things. Billy Graham, I suppose, is a classic revival preacher. His events grew to be so huge, they were called crusades, each typically hosted by several churches in a given area.
 
Great description Paul!

This church has a revival every 6-8 weeks. I think for them it is more of a social/church event to reinforce their beliefs and to feel more connected to their own belief system. The addition of the outside preacher puts a new spin on the standard concepts and add excitement to all of it.

I need to mention that, to say the least, I dont fit in in this sort of context. I am big, tattoos, earrings, facial hair etc..... I sort of stand out in any crowd mch less a small crowd of folks who all know each other! My assistant/girlfriend is from NYC and is very NY! Imagine a tattooed Fran Drescher on crack..she sort of stands out as well. This group, all of them, made us feel very welcome and they all were helpful and interested in what we were doing. We have been invited back to the next one in a few weeks.
 
Very nice photos indeed...I doesn't appear, from the crowd at least, that you were in the way or interfering...they seem comfortable with you in the background and in most shots posted they're not even looking at you...

When I shoot for our church my motto is..."Boldness with Sensitivity..."
If I have to lose a shot due to getting in the way, so be it...I'd rather lose it than ruin a moment for another...
 
I am big, tattoos, earrings, facial hair etc..... I sort of stand out in any crowd mch less a small crowd of folks who all know each other! My assistant/girlfriend is from NYC and is very NY! Imagine a tattooed Fran Drescher on crack..she sort of stands out as well.

I used to ride motorcycles with a group called the "Christian Motorcyclists Association". Lots of former, now 'saved', druggies etc. When we rode into a church, usually by invitation, we looked no different from and other MC gang, tats and all. Folks were a bit reluctant at first but we all ended up with a great pot-luck supper.

Most of these were 'revival meetings' of sorts with our guys giving testimony of their past life.

Yes, I'd like to see more of yoou photos.
 
there a 1-2, maybe 3 great images. edit... edit. (sorry, been drilled in my head).

^that is not meant as an critique.

the critique part, assuming you want any, is that some of the framing and alignment of things feels odd. i really dig the fella putting his hand on young gals forhead. overall the frame feels out of balance.

i do realize getting in there to shoot is a feat in itself so, 1-2 great frames in a new environment and in one day? bravo.
 
emraphoto said:
there a 1-2, maybe 3 great images. edit... edit. (sorry, been drilled in my head).

^that is not meant as an critique.

the critique part, assuming you want any, is that some of the framing and alignment of things feels odd. i really dig the fella putting his hand on young gals forhead. overall the frame feels out of balance.

i do realize getting in there to shoot is a feat in itself so, 1-2 great frames in a new environment and in one day? bravo.
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thank you!

actually thanks to all who have taken the time to look/comment.

I agree on the framing in some of them. Feel free to critique...I need it!
 
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