The Making Of COLOUR - Part 2

"Waiting Waiting"

So finally FOUR folders of photos arrived on my desk today!! Four folders with what seems like FIVE MILLION images to now peruse through and decide upon.

Seems like a lot has happened since two Mondays ago when a handful of us verged at 7am in an inner city cafe for the first of our Colour photo shoots that day. I've been waiting patiently and excitedly (and maybe even a tiny bit anxiously) for these photos to arrive, because they play a critical role in the Colour journey. They become what we call "the creative pallet" of "the visual experience", that in turn helps us "paint a picture" and "tell the story of everyday women, doing everyday life but with a cause in their heart and hand". 

So I'm pretty excited with this first batch, with one more set to arrive ... (perhaps this afternoon).

For the record and for those perhaps wondering, we don't hire professional models. We just create a short list of willing girls and women (inside the life of our church) who we think could tell a visual story, then we see who is available on the day. They volunteer their time and pretty much wear whatever they own. It's not about hair and makeup, glamour or striking the perfect pose ... it's simply about capturing genuine women, involved in genuine connection (however I will say that we wove a little quirkiness and fun in this year ... whether we actually use it is another thing)

Do we use in-house or professional photographers? ... Well, over the years we've done it a few different ways, but these days we do carefully budget and invest in a good photographer, because their eye is trained to look for "the moment" and their expertise captures that moment in a way that can be used effectively in what we need technically ... ie: those big stadium screens (essential for those in the back) need a certain quality of image.

I think I actually have an artistic eye, and (with others) I love to be involved in the direction of the shoot but sadly, I have ZERO capacity or aptitude for technical prowess. A few years ago someone blessed me with a lovely camera, I think it can pretty much do anything, but truth be known, if it ain't on "automatic", it ain’t happening ... (although, I must say, I have taken some pretty impacting photos in Africa and Northern Uganda. But, then again, our beloved brothers and sisters there are so beautiful and striking that any photo is magnificent!)

So, now we have "something" to work with.

The rest of the team (TV, Creative, Events, Communications, etc, etc) are all busy preparing (amid everything else that is happening in church life between now and March) but for me it's a case of now sitting with our beautiful and gifted graphic designer (who again is part of the House) and together we will tweak and play and ponder and seek to perfect every image, word, sentence, font and most importantly "message" on a little brochure that becomes an invitation from above to "make the world a better place".

All this could be perceived as wasteful. All the time and effort that goes into this invitation ... and I guess if someone takes it, doesn't appreciate what it is really about and dismissively throws it in the bin or leaves it underfoot, perhaps with them it has proven wasteful… But I like to think that the Colour girls will receive their invitation, that they will take it, absorb it, appreciate it, allow it to speak to their hearts AND THEN, THEY WILL SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND OR COLLEAGUE OR STRANGER, WHO DOESN'T YET UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN WHO BELIEVES IN THEM. That is ALWAYS my hope and it is what genuinely lies behind our intense, relentless and often times - pedantic labour of love. Heard a saying once that said, "God IS extravagant. He will send someone across the entire earth to save even one soul".

So I will let ya know how we go ... Aiming for something simple and effective.

James 1:17 says that "every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights" ... We are definitely on our way, but there are still some "good and perfect and BRIGHT IDEAS" that we are still waiting on heaven to send on down!!! (hallelujah!!)

Bobbie
Xox