“Josh displays his creative, professional artistry with perfect pacing and inventive images that draws the viewer right into the story. I can’t stop watching!”
— Mike Proctor
A DevEloping Journey
CLUTCHING THE RAILINGS, CAMERA IN HAND, I FEARED WE MIGHT GO OVERBOARD AS MY FRIEND NAVIGATED, SAILS NEARLY TOUCHING THE WATER. TOM, RELAXED ON THE BOAT'S FRONT, SMILED AT US. HOLDING THE CAMERA, I FELT IMMERSED IN A MYSTERIOUS CONNECTION—A GLIMPSE OF WHAT I IMAGINE THE TRINITY TO BE.
This Thornbury Baptist Church project aims to engage and inspire participation in their new building project. It artfully showcases the journey through the past, provides a snapshot of the present, and makes space to imagine future possibilities. I’m so inspired by Thornbury Baptist’s commitment to care, love, and compassion for its community, creating an inclusive space that embraces everyone within its orbit. I shed many tears throughout this project as if I could feel Jesus' love for the church and for us. It made me feel a part of something much bigger once again.
The initial spark for the idea came from Paul's enthusiasm for photography. He consistently shared pictures with me, walking me through the film-development process. In the era of instant Instagram, God desires to develop us in the darkroom. We often overlook the beauty of taking our time and appreciating the unfolding journey—a picture of our lives continuously developing in the background.
Paul's photography, coupled with his pastoral care for people, became an image of how Jesus walks alongside us, grows with us, sits with us, and cares for us – a developing journey of sorts. I imagined the behind-the-scenes magic—a spontaneous, beautiful movement, a Holy Spirit movement that can't be put into words but is present, hiding in plain sight, tying everything together. Shooting this part of the film was an absolute joy, visiting different places in Thornbury. When we captured Charlotte dancing on the High Street, passers-by smiled and watched, and the streetlights glowed as she moved between the shadows. It was truly special.
I had no certainty if my attempt to capture God would be successful, as the tides at Thornbury Sailing Club are notoriously tricky. Finding someone to take me out on a boat seemed like a long shot. Just days before the planned project release, the final piece of the film fell into place, complemented by a perfect sunset sailing loop on the Severn. A friend of a friend graciously took me out.
Thank you Thornbury Baptist Church for allowing me to capture this.
