I am young enough to still think that I know it all but I'm old enough to realize I don't have a clue! I have been a photographer for over 30 years but I've only really invested in this professionally over the past 20 years. I don't know that I have any special talent exactly. I like to think all I do is push a button like a monkey at the circus. Quite often Jesus puts me in front of beautiful people or amazing scenes and He says, "Hey monkey- push that button!" and so I do.
I do believe that I see things just a bit differently than most people. I don't know if that's a talent or just an obscure defect of some sort. For some reason I see colors and lines and shapes in a way that seem to catch peoples attention. I like to think it's similar to a conductor that can hear the slightest nuances in an orchestra. All he does is stand there waving a wand but somehow he can hear the music in a glorious way and adjust a single instrument or an entire section such that it creates a masterpiece for the listener. I can look at a scene and find an angle that makes it look as spectacular as it did in real life when I was standing right there. With portrait photography, having worked as a counselor for 30 years has helped me understand people so that I can help them feel relaxed enough to show genuine expressions and feelings naturally. I generally hate "posed shots" unless I can get them to smile sincerely or laugh with joy that's unmistakable.
Regardless, everything I do in photography is for the sole purpose of serving people on behalf of Jesus- who lived and died for me and all of us. If I can bless people with free portraits just as if I were doing it for Jesus Himself, then I know when I stand before the Father on 'that day', He will say "Well done, good and faithful son- enter into your rest". For me nothing else really matters but loving people enough to serve and give in the name of Jesus who is worth everything I can give in this world. My motto in life is simply to Be Jesus' until I go home to be with Him.
your little brother in Christ,
rusty edwards
