Pure. Intricate. Elaborate. Detailed.

I was twenty-four when I purchased my Canon EOS Rebel T5. My dad helped me pick it out and made sure I was getting the right package deal that would include resources to make the most of this new gift. And truth be told, he was probably the one who bought it!

Photography has been a love of mine for as long as I can remember, and this new camera symbolized taking it from a child’s activity to something of a more mindful hobby. I have a lot to learn in the world of photography, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying it. Aside from capturing the moments of day-to-day living with my family, I love most to take pictures of details– the intricate details of things. I like to zoom in, to frame intriguing patterns and designs. I love capturing what is often easily missed or under appreciated.

I once saw a source on the web (I’m embarrassed I can’t find it now!) define intricacy as “the state or quality of being complex, elaborately detailed… such as a delicate clock, a tangled legal loophole, or a complex plot.”

Elaborately detailed– a captivating phrase. It implies that something is thorough or meticulous, something of high complexity and intricate care. Elaborate details go beyond simple description.

Such are the pure intricacies of God’s love and glory, woven into the tapestries of our personal mortal journeys.

I delight in observing and learning from the symbols, the experiences, and the elements of mortality that provide enlightenment. These elaborate details best take form through the lens of the gospel of Jesus Christ. From nurturing houseplants to gazing at constellations; from studying human anatomy to engaging in cultural immersion; from building a house to practicing how to crochet; from analyzing the wings of an insect to learning a new language… Pure intricacies surround us with the power to bring us closer to God.

And it’s glorious. It’s wonderful. It’s amazing. It’s joyful.

Personal Photography: Monarch Fern (Microsorum scolopendria), Uganda 2018