PHOTO

RETREAT
INSPIRATION
“May the eyes of your heart be enlightened.” – Ephesians 1:18

OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART

A Contemplative Photography Retreat
OCTOBER 19-21 | MANIDOKAN CAMP & RETREAT CENTER
THE CONTENTS

GENESIS 1:3
Agenda............................................................. 4

Welcome......................................................... 6

Prompts........................................................... 8

Scavenger Hunt.......................................... 10

Words / metaphors................................... 12

Bibliographies.............................................. 14

Maps.................................................................. 22

03
 OCTOBER
19 - 21
5:00 p.m. Registration
opens
Dinner will not be served
Friday evening, but
refreshments will be available
throughout the evening.
7:15 p.m. Welcome
See agenda for Saturday to the right
Participants are encouraged to engage in early morning photo exploration of the camp.
8:15 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. Wrap-up
Session: “From Pursuing a
Hobby to Pursuing the Holy”
We’ll discuss how contemplative
photography can become
a spiritual practice/
discpline individually and in
community.
AGENDA
FRIDAY
7:30 p.m. Session 1: “The
Power of Image”
Using iconic photographs, we
will examine the meaning and
message conveyed through
the medium of
photography or “drawing
with light.”
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
10:00 a.m. Break
Participants may use this
time to clear their rooms
before worship. As time
permits, photo exploration is
always encouraged.
8:30 p.m. Session 2:
“Praying with the Eyes of
the Heart”
We will explore the practice of
“Visio Divina”
or “divine seeing:”an
invitation to encounter God
using photographic images.
9:30 p.m. Evening Prayer
followed by fellowship
11:00 a.m. Closing worship
with Holy Communion
12:15 p.m. Lunch and
Farewell

Participants are encouraged to engage in early morning photo exploration of the camp.
8:15 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. Morning Praise
9:15 a.m. Session 1:
“Connecting Eye, Heart,
and Lens”
What do we mean by
“Contemplative Photoshop
Photography?”
9:45 a.m. Session
2: “Seeing God in All
Things—Seeking God in
All Things”
Using the principles of
Ignatian Spirituality, we will
learn to become more deeply
aware of God’s presence
through the practice of
contemplative photography.
10:45 a.m. Clinics:
Optional (Choose 2)
Those who wish may use this
time for photo exploration or
choose two of the following:
Put a 1 next to the clinic
you’d like to take at 10:45
and a 2 next to the clinic
you’d like to take at 11:30.
Photo 101: The Basics
This class is geared
towards the beginner
photographer. What exactly
happens when you set
everything to ‘automatic’? What
other settings give you more
control over the camera when
you take a photo?
Moving from Snapshots
to Photographs
A how-to for those who want to
create images that tell a story
SATURDAY
Using Photography
in Your Church
Can photographic images
enhance worship or become
a tool for evangelism and
mission? You bet!
Introduction to
An introduction to the layout
of Photoshop. What does this
button do?
12:15 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Session 3:
Optional (Choose 1)
Those who wish may use this
time for photo exploration or
choose one of the following.
Advanced editing with
Photoshop & Lightroom
How do I fix the lighting?
Remove blemishes? Color
correct? Combine photos?
What are layer masks? What
are adjustment layers? Etc.
Stories in Stone:
Cemetery Photography
Join an experienced
cemetery photographer for a
presentation on this special
subject followed by a field trip
to a local cemetery.
Advanced
Portraiture
Tips and tricks for working with
subjects to get them comfortable
and capture their personality
on camera. The class assumes a
basic understanding of camera
settings.
Come to
the Water
Photographing any moving
subject is a challenge. Learn
and practice techniques for
creating water images. This
clinic requires a camera with
manual settings, a tripod,
and a self-timer or remote
shutter trigger/cable release.
A polarizing or neutral
density filter ND .9-ND 3 (or
higher) is recommended.
2:30 p.m. Individual or
Group Photographic
Exploration
5:30 p.m. Dinner
7:00 p.m. Photo Review
Participants will gather to
share and reflect on the day’s
photographic creations.
8:45 p.m. Clinic 4:
Optional: “Introduction to
Light Painting”
An exploration of the
techniques for creating
images in dark settings using
hand-held light sources and
long exposures. This clinic
requires a camera with
manual settings, a tripod,
and a self-timer or remote
shutter trigger/cable release.
9:30 p.m. Evening Prayer
and Song featuring
participants’ photography
creations
WELCOME
This weekend we invited
you to follow the angels’
ancient cry to “Behold!”

While we will all be picking up our

cameras, the point is not taking
better photographs. The focus is,
literally, on seeing the world with new
eyes. We invite you to shift your focus
from looking to seeing through a
sacred lens.

Seeing more deeply, noticing the

extraordinary in the most ordinary
things, will open your soul. We invite
you to listen for the holy, explore, and
journey into a deeper relationship
with the divine.

“THE CAMERA IS AN
INSTRUMENT THAT
TEACHES PEOPLE HOW
TO SEE WITHOUT A

06
CAMERA.”
— DOROTHEA LANGE
Our emphasis together will be on the creative process,
not what we produce. The creative process of image-
making leads us to discovery, into igniting the soul in
ways that may seem impossible in our daily lives.

We invite you to a simple and safe place where you can

open yourself up to inspiration, prayerful possibilities, and
new ways of seeing that will lead you to a threshold into
God’s imagination. There is an art to paying attention.
Delve in and be sure to tailor this weekend and our time
together in ways that nurture your soul and feed your
imagination.
PROMPTS

02
“Photography is all about capturing a
mood, a feeling. I feel a special connection
with nature, often very powerful.”
– PETER LIK
 IF YOU WANT TO BE A BETTER
PHOTOGRAPHER – TAKE
PHOTOGRAPHS, LOTS AND LOTS OF
PHOTOGRAPHS. DARE. EXPLORE.
LOOK, AND THEN LOOK AGAIN.

Not sure where to begin?

• Take some time for • Using symbols you • Choose a color and
reflection, then find around you, focus on it; find
create a portrait of illustrate how you and photograph
your soul. viewed God when objects that are
you were a child, that color, noting
• Using images,
how you see God shades and other
complete the
today, and what subtleties.
sentence, “I
your image of God
believe ...” • Find and
might be as you
photograph
• Share your faith, grow old.
patterns of light.
your ideas about
• Illustrate one of your
what God is like • The six qualities
favorite quotations
and why you believe of art show up in
or songs.
using only pictures. every photograph:
What are the first • Chose an ordinary line, shape, form,
three things you object, take 10 color, texture and
would photograph? pictures of it in pattern. Choose
your mind, then get one of these
• Where, what places or
out your camera elements and
spaces, are you being
and take 20 more focus on it as you
invited to linger?
photos, portraying create a series of
• Using a camera, the object in photograph on a
explore “what is unconventional single theme.
hidden and what is ways.
revealed?”
 SCAVENGER HUNT - A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY 10
Symbols are the language of imagination; they can reveal the
depth of our experience in unspoken ways. Look at the list
of themes below, then search out and take a photograph to
illustrate it. What picture would you take to describe “home,” or
“silence” or “struggle”? Be sure to note the words you attach to
each photo.

CONNECTION
PATTERN
ABUNDANCE SILENCE
JOY SORROW
SOULFUL
LIFTED
AWAKE

BELOVED
EXCLAMATION!
HOME

FEARSECRET
WISDOM
SPIRIT

STRENGTH

IF
SEEK
SHADOW

SEARCH
DISTANCE
LONGING PRAY
POWER

WONDER LOST RISE

ALONE
SEE
UNIQUE BLESSED
TRUE
WIND

WITNESS
 BEAUTYHOLY

DARKNESS
NEW HEALING
GLORY

CELEBRATE
STRUGGLE
REFUGE
JOURNEY
VISION
GRACE

REMEMBER
RHYTHM
RUIN

CHALLENGE
WEEP

GRATITUDE
SURROUND GOD’S FINGERPRINTS
THIRST
BLESSING
TREASURE

TRANSFORM
CREATION
WORDS/METAPHOR
12
CONCEPT AND PRINCIPLES FROM PHOTOGRAPHY OFTEN SERVE AS METAPHORS TO
ADDRESS ISSUES WITHIN OUR EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL LIVES. DURING A TIME OF
CONTEMPLATION OR IN YOUR JOURNAL, WE INVITE YOU TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS:

We frame the contents of our Selfies are ubiquitous. Step

photographs. What portions
of your life would you “crop
out” of the current picture.
How might you reframe some
relationships or situations
causing you concern?
back and consider if you took
a bit more time and effort,
what would your official self-
portrait look like? How do you
see yourself? How are you
seen?

Some cameras have In black and white

automatic focus, others ask photography, how the grays
the photographer to focus are rendered is important.
manually. What areas of your How well do you adapt to
life might seem out of focus shades of gray or do you
lately? What areas of your life prefer things to be black-and-
need to be in the sharpest white?
focus? Are you depending on
them to resolve themselves Point-of-view shapes the
or is there some action you content and quality of a
can take to bring them more photograph. How would you
clearly into focus? describe your recent points of
view toward God, your faith
It was once said that “the and the church? Do any of
camera never lies.” That is these points of view need to
no longer the case, but take be adjusted? If so, how?
some time to reflect: In what
part of your life do you feel At its heart, photography is
you need more truth-telling? about the interplay of shadow
and light. What areas of your
Composition in photography life right now seem to be in
involves the space in-between shadow? Which areas are
things. How well composed brightest? Do the shadow
is your life? In what ways parts of your life serve a
to you need to adjust the purpose? If so, what might
composition? that be?
“IN A SENSE, YOUR
PHOTOGRAPHS
ARE YOUR
AUTOBIOGRAPHY.”
– DOROTHEA LANGE
BIBLIOGRAPHIES

WAYNE
HIPLEY
PHOTO RETREAT CLASSES:
Praying with the Eyes of the Heart, Seeing God in All Things —
Seeking God in All Things, Moving from Snapshots to Photographs,
Stories in Stone, (co-leading) Introduction to Light Painting

In 2016, Wayne Hipley was named Pastoral Associate of St. Agnes

and St. William of York Roman Catholic parishes in Baltimore after
14 years as Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Ministry. Prior to
answering his call, Wayne worked for nearly 25 years in the film
and video production industry as a director, editor, and camera
operator. He studied photography and holds a degree in Art from
Towson University. Raised in a United Methodist family, Wayne
embraced Catholicism and is particularly drawn to its spiritual
practices and social teaching. Contemplative Photography brings
together his passion for pursuing God with his search for beauty
in all things. He is often found wandering with his camera in
cemeteries, urban landscapes, and along country roads.

The following contains the resources Wayne recommends:

Praying with the Eyes of the Heart

Estrin, James. A Photographer and a Prayer.
Huey-Heck, Lois, & Kalnin, Jim. The Spirituality of Art.
Isenhower, Valerie. Meditation on Both Sides of the Camera: A
Spiritual Journey in Photography
MacLean, Janice. The Practice of Visio Divina.
McDaniel, Jay. June Xie: How Photography Becomes Prayer.
Paintner, Christine Valter. Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a
Christian Contemplative Practice.
Zetterbaum, Andee. Photography as Prayer.
Friday Evening Prayer: Into the Maelstrom
Harter, Michael, SJ (Ed.). Hearts on Fire:
Praying with Jesuits.
Poe, Edgar Allan. Tales of Mystery and
Imagination - Illustrated by Harry Clarke.

Saturday Morning Praise

Leunig, Michael. The Prayer Tree.

Seeing/ Seeking God in All Things

Fleming, David L., SJ. What is Ignatian Spirituality?
Maddox, Sylvia. Where Can I Touch the Edge of Heaven?
Nouwen, Henri J.M. Bread for the Journey: A
Daybook of Wisdom and Faith.
Vincent, Richard J. God in the Ordinary
Photography Project.

Moving from Snapshots to Photographs

Eftaiha, Diana. 6 Elements of Design for
Striking Photographs.
Jarvis, Chase. Bravery & Authenticity in a
Digital World.
Jarvis, Chase. The Best Camera Is The One
That’s With You: iPhone Photography.
Robins, Becki. Beyond Snapshots (or, why do all
those other photos look better than mine).
Rolheiser, Ron. The Grace in Creativity.

Stories in Stone: Cemetery Photography

Chappell, Helen (Author), & Jett, Starke
(Photographer). The Chesapeake Book of the
Dead: Tombstones, Epitaphs, Histories,
Reflections, and Oddments of the Region.
Keister, Douglas. Stories in Stone: A Field Guide
to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography.
Snider, Tui. Understanding Cemetery Symbols:
A Field Guide for Historic Graveyards.
Waterhouse, Richard. Waterhouse Symbolism
Newsletter.
Wilson, Jane Bromley (Author), & Treadaway.
Barbara Alexandra (Photographer). The Very
Quiet Baltimoreans: A Guide to the Historic
Cemeteries and Burial Sites of Baltimore.
BIBLIOGRAPHIES

TERRI
COFIELL
PHOTO RETREAT CLASSES:
The Power of Image, Connecting Eye Heart and Lens,
Using Photography in Your Church, Come to the Water,
(co-leading) Introduction to Light Painting
Rev. Terri Cofiell has served as a pastor in The Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist
Church for over 30 years and currently chairs the BWC Commission on Communications. In 2014, she created
an online photographic Advent Devotional for the Conference. While a student at Wesley Theological
Seminary, Terri studied Contemplative Drawing and discovered a deeper connection to God through creative
expression that has been both healing and sustaining on her spiritual journey. She received her first 35mm
camera when she was a teenager and after college sold cameras and worked as assistant to a non-studio
(“anything but people”) photographer. Among her favorite photographic subjects are abandoned buildings,
gravestones, and any living thing with wings.
The follow list contains Terri’s recommendations applicable to her sessions of the photo retreat.
Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice Christine Valters Paintner
“This is one of the clearest, most helpful introductions to Christian Contemplative Photography and well
worth adding to your personal library. The book includes suggested exercises to develop photography into
a rich spiritual discipline that is grounded in scripture and prayer and centered in knowing God. The author
also offers online courses through her website: AbbeyoftheArts.com.”
God Is at Eye Level: Photography as a Healing Art Jan Phillips
“This is a very personal testimony to the spiritual benefits of pursuing photography as a contemplative
practice; the book details the author’s spiritual journey as seen through her camera. The images and
technical information are all related to film (not digital) photography, but the book is full of thought-
provoking quotations from photographers and theologians as well as beautiful black and white images.”

16
The Practice of Contemplative Photography: Seeing the World with Fresh Eyes Andy Karr & Michael Wood
“Andy Karr has several online videos (available on YouTube) that expand on the main ideas in this book
which approaches contemplative photography from a Buddhist perspective. There is some technical
information about photography as well as an extensive exploration of perception versus seeing/
experiencing. The spiritual aspects of the contemplative process are not detailed until the end of the book,
but the insights translate easily into Christian understanding and practice.”
Grounded: Finding God in the World-A Spiritual Revolution Diana Butler Bass
“Diana Butler Bass is a lyrical, deeply spiritual writer who “grounds” Christianity in seeing and
experiencing God in every facet of creation. Our connectedness to God through the earth, family, and
community provides hope for humankind in the midst of difficult times as the Church—ancient and
contemporary—continues to be transformed through the Spirit.”
On Photography Susan Sontag
“This a collection of often provocative essays dealing with the theory and implications of the photographic
medium. While some of her observations border on the alarmist, she pushes photographers to
acknowledge and understand the implicit power (as well as potential pitfalls) in pointing a camera and
pressing the shutter.”
Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality Matthew Fox
“Matthew Fox was a member of the Dominican Order until his controversial writings led to his dismissal
in 1993. He is now an ordained Episcopal priest. His focus on the goodness of creation (and rejection of the
concept of original sin) put him at odds with the Vatican. His concept of “centering through creating”
draws on the teachings of Christian mystics (Meister Eckhart, Hildegard of Bingen, Teilhard de Chardin,
Julian of Norwich) to reframe his understanding of Christian theology.”
A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice Matthew Fox
“Fox expands on his understanding of God and “Creation Spirituality” and the implications for the healing
of the earth and its people. In this writing, he connects experiencing God through creative pursuits to
transforming and empowering action in the world.”
Open Mind, Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel Thomas Keating
“A comprehensive though, at times, esoteric examination of the history and practice of contemplative
prayer in the Christian tradition.”

Articles:
“Through the Lens: Photography Connects Community with God, ” January 20, 2016
Jana Blazek (The Presbyterian Outlook)
https://pres-outlook.org/2016/01/through-the-lens-photography-connects-community-with-god/

“Photography: Telling the Story, ” October 1, 2015 (Hillsong Team)

www.hillsong.com/collected/blog/2015/10/photography-telling-the-story

“Why You Should Use Social Media for Evangelism, ” 2018

Joanna La Fleur (Visual Media Church)
www.visualmediachurch.com/articles/why-you-should-use-social-media-for-evangelism

“Can You Do Ministry with Photography?” January 30, 2010

Lukas and Suzy Van Dyke
www.lukasandsuzy.com/blog/can-you-do-ministry-with-photography

“Learn Simple Photography Tips to Capture Ministry Moments”

United Methodist Communications
www.umcom.org/learn/simple-photography-tips-to-capture-ministry-moments
BIBLIOGRAPHIES

TONY
RICHARDS

PHOTO RETREAT
CLASSES:
Photography 101: The basics,
Advanced Portraiture
Tony Richards began his career as a
newspaper photographer in East Lansing,
Mich. in 2005 and now works as a portrait
photographer and videographer based
in Silver Spring, Maryland. He is also
the photographer and videographer for
the business school at the University of
Maryland.
The list to the right are Tony’s
recommendations relevant to his photo
retreat classes:
 Creativelive.com
“Great tutorials for all types of photography.
Lots of options for amateur photographers
who want to learn more about specific
aspects of photography or just want to hear
what it’s like to be a photographer.”

“The Moment It Clicks” by Joe McNally

“McNally is one of the world’s top photographers and is also
really good at telling stories. Each spread in the book consists
of one of his photos along with how he shot it and what he was
trying to accomplish with the image. Available on Amazon.”

“Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It” by Scott Kelby

“Lighting guide for all types of portraits. This book is great
because it goes beyond just taking the photos and shows
you how to edit them to really get the right look. And he
emphasizes the point that you don’t need lots
of gear to get great photos.
Available on Amazon.”
BIBLIOGRAPHIES

ALISON
BURDETT
PHOTO RETREAT CLASSES:
Introduction to Photoshop,
Advanced editing with Photoshop
and Lightroom

Alison Burdett is the Graphic Designer

for the Baltimore-Washington
Conference of The United Methodist
Church. Previous to her work for The
UMC, she has worked in the photo
departments of Woman’s World
Magazine and Cosmopolitan Magazine.
She has recently started her own
portrait photography business,
specializing in children and families.
Alison is an avid photographer and an expert photo retoucher. She is living proof
that you can get great results with very little equiptment.
Alison’s recommends the below resources to grow your photo editing skills:
CreativeLive.com: “This site helped me figure out my personal style. There
are hundreds of instructors and I found myself drawn to certain ones and then
following their tutorials to hone in and spcialize my skillset. Instructors I follow:
Ben Willmore, Chris Orwig, Lisa Carney, Julieanne Kost, Matt Kloskowski”
The Creative Fight, Chris Orwig. “Chris Orwig offers a unique perspective on the
creative process, showing you how to find meaning in your work, be inspired, and
discover the life for which you were designed. Available on Amazon.”
Window Seat, Julieanne Kost. “Adobe expert, Julieanne Kost outlines her method
for staying creative in an increasingly complicated world. Available on Amazon.”
ColesClassroom.com: “This is a great place for beginners. You can download
free Lightroom presets, that the more you work with them, the better you
understand what they do and why you like them.”
©MATT KLOSKOWSKI
Light makes
PHOTOGRAPHY.
Embrace light.
ADMIRE IT.
Love it.
BUT ABOVE ALL,
know light.
KNOW IT FOR ALL
YOU ARE WORTH,
and you will know
THE KEY TO
photography.
-George Eastman
MAY YOU BE RICHLY
BLESSED, AWAKENED
AND ENLIVENED, AS
YOU OPEN THE EYES OF
YOUR HEART.