Story Behind The Photo: "Baptizing in the Bush — Dunk'n New Believers The African Way"
Several years ago I was visiting in one of the Massai tribal areas of Kenya, near the small village of Matapato. I had been invited to a Massai cattle grazing area to watch and photograph new Massai Christians being baptized by a Baptist Massai pastor. Water was scarce in this arid region of Kenya so new Christian believers were being baptized in the only water deep enough, a cattle trough.
This old woman was blind and apparently had been for many years. The best I could tell, she had severe cataracts. But, her smile was infectious.
Before being baptized, I asked her through a translator what she was thinking at this important moment in her life. I'm not sure what deep spiritual insight I was expecting from this new Christian, but her next words took me by surprise.
"I am thinking how this will be the first time in my life that my head will go all the way under water," she said with a broad smile. "I wonder what that is going to feel like."
As I later learned, the only water available in this area of Kenya are in small streams; enough to dip gourds and buckets but certainly not enough water to actually submerge a whole person. It never occured to me that someone her age would have lived their entire life and never experienced the sensation of being completely under water.
She was emersed a few moments later and came out of the make-shift baptismal tank dripping wet and as happy as anyone I have seen.
I took the photo using a Canon T-90 camera and Ektachrome film. To achieve the "selective-focus" look and blurry background, I created a shallow depth-of-field (see my blog on "Depth of Field") by shooting with a 200mm telephoto lens and exposing the image at a fast shutter speed (probably around 1/500th of a second) and I used a large aperture opening (probably around f-5.6). It is one of my favorite photos.
Below are a few more images from the same session. I manipulated the photo (below left) using Photoshop to create the diffused light glow and sepia-tone look mixed with color. The image is a bit artsy, but it is an example of the creativity you can express in the digital darkroom years after the actual photo is taken. I photographed the image (below right) coincidentally of another blind person being baptized. Eye disease is common in many African countries. I love the expression on this man's face as he comes out of the water.
If you are in the neighborhood, come see me at MotoPhoto in Tyler, Texas. I love to talk photogrpahy. We are located on South Broadway Avenue right in front of the Holiday Inn Select and across from Lowe’s/Outback and the Olive Garden. We have knowledgeable and friendly staff who want to assit you. We have user-friendly digital camera kiosks and a helpful attitude that will meet and exceed all of your imaging needs.
Until next time . . . . keep taking great pictures!
Ron
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