Connecting Through Photos
The initial work of photographs in interfaith photovoice is to facilitate conversations among a diverse group of participants who are not yet acquainted with one another. As one participant remarked, “The photos were helpful in starting discussions.” Beginning interfaith conversations with photos helps people who do not know each other feel more comfortable in initial meetings.
Traditional interfaith dialogue tends toward the cerebral, and recent innovations such as Scriptural Reasoning may seem daunting because they require some level of expertise in theology or scriptural interpretation. Using photographs as a starting point, however, moves the conversation from concepts to narratives, from theology to embodied practices. Interfaith photovoice shifts the conversation from the doctrines one’s religion teaches to how people actually express and experience religion in everyday life.
During the second photovoice meeting, when everyone brought photos of what their religion looks like in everyday life, Kyle recalled discussing photos about “things like food, exercise, children, the way we find spaces to serve our communities, and hopes and dreams for the ways things might change. I think these are really, really powerful connectors, that very immediately make you feel connected to the person across the table. It’s different than just sitting there talking about the Beatitudes in the Five Pillars of Islam. It takes it out of headspace.”
Kyle elaborated with the following example:
Almost everybody around the table had some sort of picture involving exercise. Whether it was photos of yoga mats, the labyrinth, stories about the running track, or a walkway in nature, we had this moment where, all of a sudden, we were talking about what we have found in those exercise spaces. And it was like this kind of fun, weird, shared spirituality of physical-ness or kinesthetic presence. And I just remember that moment: the first time, the first moment the table laughs together. That’s . . . a game changer.
Photo 1. “Where I find faith in daily life” (Robert).
Laughter is indeed a positive foundation for interfaith understanding and relationships. Sharing photos and stories about religion in the midst of ordinary aspects of daily life—in food, exercise, children, community service, etc.—help people feel comfortable sharing. And as Kyle put it, this approach can “immediately make you feel connected to the person across the table.”
Photo 2. Participants in Richmond, Virginia, laughing as they compose a photograph together.
Activity 3 | Who are you?
For your work to be effective, you need to learn about the other people in your group and become comfortable using photographs as a way to share stories with one another. To do this, compose a few snapshots you can use to introduce yourself to the other people in your group. (Note: you may want to combine this activity with Activity 2.)
Think about the people, places, objects, activities, and ideas that help to define who you are. Compose five photos you would feel comfortable using to introduce yourself. You may want to include one photograph for each category listed above or you may want to focus on a couple of these. Feel free to compose new photos and to select photos already on your camera roll—it is entirely up to you.
During your next interfaith photovoice group meeting, be prepared to share your photos and tell the stories behind them. This can happen by showing the photo on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Some people find it helpful to create a slideshow with their photos. If you create a slideshow it doesn’t need to be anything fancy: just the photos, no words necessary. There is also value in printing the photos and passing them around as you tell the story behind each one.
As you progress from person to person in your group, be curious about one another. Ask questions. Look for the ways you are similar and different. And consider the ways religion shows up in these photos and stories; also note the ways it is absent.