Nuns in B&W

[Aloha Lavina]

I love the way they are so in love--with God, that is. The intimacy I tried to capture in a new gallery called http://www.pbase.com/aloha_lavina/intimacy"The Grace of Intimacy" is a gift in itself. When I spent time with the nuns, I learned that it is not their gift to God to love him, but rather God's gift to them, to be able to love. I hope you visit the rest of the story.

http://www.pbase.com/aloha_lavina/image/76631605.jpg

[alancheong7]

Lovely compo, personally prefer the angle to be lower tho', closer to bed level.

Thanks for this window to the grace of intimacy.

[jayhan]

this image doesnt show love to God. thats what i interpret.
the person in this image has her turned away from God's grace. Which is why the cross - a symbol of her faith is left behind her. That's what I percieve anyway. A shot which shows embrace would have had the cross being held on by her in her laps... gracefully with both hands... not by abandoning the cross on the bed.

A good series you have in the website tho.

[blur]

Though I like the compo alot, but I'll have to agree with jayhan. There's a feeling of doubt in the picture.

[noruazumi]

i have to agree with jayhan & blur on this.
i really like the composition.... a lot!!!
but like jay & blur commented, the photo is contradict with the message that u r trying to deliver.
but i'm sure other ppl will intrepret it differently.
coz that's the beauty of a photo.
thanks for sharing & keep it coming! :D

[Aloha Lavina]

I agree, it's not an overt demonstration of the intimacy. I could not ask any of the nuns to photograph them lying down in bed with the cruficix. But I could imply that yes, they sleep with the crucifix.

The only man who ever sleeps in her bed died on a cross.

Thanks, guys, for your insightful comments. They teach me a lot about the image. Here's another one.

http://www.pbase.com/aloha_lavina/image/76631437.jpg

[qqmeng]

now thts photography! ....

very nice and meaningful!

[jayhan]

very powerful image this one. but i think could be more powerful if the focus is on the cross rather than the hands... nvertheless, a very very impacting B&W picture.

[ShaolinTiger]

Yeah, have to agree with jay, the first thing that struck me is the focus should be on the cross not on the beads.

[Aloha Lavina]

I might have to try that shot again. This shoot was done mostly in low light and then also in evenings after dinner, so I had a hard time accepting the noise levels at high ISO. Thanks for the feedback.

[alancheong7]

this image doesnt show love to God. thats what i interpret.
the person in this image has her turned away from God's grace. Which is why the cross - a symbol of her faith is left behind her. That's what I percieve anyway. A shot which shows embrace would have had the cross being held on by her in her laps... gracefully with both hands... not by abandoning the cross on the bed.

Just sharing a believer's view:
The intimacy is not confined to physical symbols / emblems / icons but applies exclusively to the spiritual, especially the spiritual, for God is the Father of all spirits.
As such, even as it is written, He desires and looks for those who worship Him in spirit and in truth. For the physical, the temporal will fade away but the spirit remains
forever.
And it IS by grace that we come to Him - grace is undeserved favour.
Btw, that is a crucifix - crosses differ in that there is no crucified figure, for Jesus has risen and lives :cool:
As for symbols of faith, WE, the believers are the best symbols of our faith in Christ Jesus, if & when we live consistently in accordance with His Word.
Peace be with you.