Photography is easy, right? Get a nice sunny day, point the camera (or phone) at something interesting, and bingo! Job done.
Here is a very black Rook, perched outside on a really bright sunny day. Should be easy to photograph, you’ve got all the light you could possibly need, and the bird is staying still. What’s the problem?
The light is too strong. It’s too bright. Our subject rook is too black. The contrast and dynamic range exceed the ability of a camera to record a subject accurately. The photo took me less than a minute to frame, focus and fire. I have just spent 40 minutes editing the photo on my computer, and the end result isn’t perfect. Am I a bad photographer? Is it a bad bird?
No- it’s difficult circumstances. They make the bright parts too bright and the dark parts too solid. I’ve had to correct and balance the light and dark tones as best I can.
Some people proudly boast of their “black & white” worldview. No need to be complicated, it’s THIS or it’s THAT. No uncertainties or grey areas. Sounds refreshingly easy. Quick simple answers, how wonderful that is!
But life isn’t like that.
Wisdom is not jumping to conclusions nor assuming we already have all the relevant information. It is gathering knowledge, asking the right questions, and building insight through experience and the input of wise people. Wisdom requires listening skills, logical thinking, and the ability to keep your mouth closed instead of blurting out the first thought in your head.
In today’s photo, it took care and skill to adjust the detail in the rook’s plumage. Colours and details show up more clearly and the end result is a huge improvement on the efforts of the camera to process the scene. This “black” bird has shades of blue, white and grey as well as sunlit tufts and a twinkle in its eye.
The raw material was supplied by nature: the accumulated experience of using cameras and good software produced the finished picture.
Discipleship follows these same principles. Every situation we face, every Bible passage we read, every challenge that life presents- be wise. Don’t settle for clichéd answers; and don’t judge others too quickly. Seek wisdom!
“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7
The Reflectionary 