Photography is a visual avenue for your devotions during the seasons of Advent & Christmas. The camera offers a new way to see/experience these seasons of hope, peace and light. The images themselves can shed new light on our journey to Bethlehem and beyond. Val Isenhower, experienced teacher and author on photography as a spiritual practice, will lead this Advent study.
Participants log in to receive daily photo and meditation ideas during this class, which begins the first Monday of Advent and ends online December 16th (but will include photography prompts and meditations through Epiphany). Blackboard closes December 16th for the Christmas holiday and the online portion of the course will become unavailable at that time. Participants will receive a document at the end of class with daily photo assignments to last through the end of the Advent & Christmas seasons.
Participants are asked to share thoughts and experiences on class blog two or more times a week based on their insights and visual experiences of Christ’s presence in this joyful season.
This course is based on the concepts offered in Meditation on Both Sides of the Camera, by Valerie K. Isenhower, which participants are asked to purchase for this course.
This course is for anyone interested in learning how to combine photography and the spirituality of Advent. Any type of camera will work, although digital cameras will make uploading pictures easier.
This course is eligible for 1.5 CEUs.
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Quick Info:
Number of weeks: 3
Price: $70
CEUs: 1.5
Required books?: Yes
Live video session?: No
Part of a certification or series of courses?: No
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Price: $70
Image: Old Ship Church, Hingham, MA
About the Instructor
Val Isenhower is the owner of V. Isenhower Photography, and she specializes in meditative photography. Val offers workshops on “Spirituality and Photography” across the country. She is the author of a book on spirituality and photography — Meditation on Both Sides of the Camera (Upper Room, 2012) and has written articles on the subject. Val’s images are currently displayed in her gallery in Old Town, Albuquerque. She is the featured photographer in the Journeying Through the Days: 2013 (Upper Room, 2012). Her work has also been displayed in other galleries; published in 3 issues of Alive Nowmagazine and the Baylor University Journal for Family and Community Ministries and is on the cover of four books. She won Best in Category at the Red River Fine Art and Wine Festival, 2005 and an honorable mention in the the First Annual Hot Air Balloon Photo Context and Exhibit.
Val has co-authored two books on spiritual discernment with Judith A. Todd — Living into the Answers: A Workbook for Personal Spiritual Discernment (Upper Room 2008) and Listen for God’s Leading: A Workbook for Corporate Spiritual Discenment (Upper Room, 2009). She is one of the founders of Water in the Desert Ministries. Val has led spiritual formation retreats and taught classes in spiritual formation across the country. She specializes in facilitating discernment processes for groups and using photography / visual arts in spirituality. Val earned an M.Div. from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, is an ordained American Baptist Minister and lives in Albuquerque, NM.
Past Learners Said…
“Val does a remarkable job in photography and how to bring it alive and how to use it in your journey.”
“I liked the thoughtful assignments for preparing photos to post in the class blog.”
“The instructor, Val, was very helpful in getting me to think more on my belief in Jesus-what He means to me and my life.”
