Each of our lives hold quiet things that remind us of home. Maybe you keep one close; maybe it gives you hope on hard days. Is it a cup for your tea? A child’s drawing? A gift from a grandmother? These things are simple, but they point beyond what is seen, bearing witness to the deeper realities they represent. Surely, home is more than just a place: a memory, a relationship, a concept. This Spring, I [Scott Noble, guest writer] partnered with the Iranian community to capture these quiet, hopeful, home-ful things. What We’ll Carry Home takes a closer look.
When her family visits, they bring gifts from Iran, and you can bet she’ll find enclosed a handmade craft from her niece. “Band-aid in the Sky” (a photo featured in the project) depicts the innocent artwork from a 5-year-old girl being held close by a proud and pleased auntie. The drawing is as you’d expect: green grass at the bottom of the page with the clouds and sun lining the top. In the middle of the drawing, seemingly floating in the sky, is a band-aid, complete with, you guessed it, a smiley face (I suppose that’s one way to fix this broken world). But these are just the playful scribbles from a childlike mind, right? Are they not simply paper and marker? Why would someone hold them so close? It’s obvious: they are a reminder of home.
She is filled with joy for the relationships and memories they represent: the fleeting moments of a beloved niece’s creative expeditions. Look even closer and you’ll see these drawings represent the next generation of Iranians who are growing up in a quickly changing country. A situation riddled with great uncertainty can only be met with great hope.
A saying goes, “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’” I believe there is something in all of us that reaches toward eternity, for goodness and peace.
This project opened at Corner House Coffee in Marjanishvili on Friday, 10 April, featured with the greater exhibition Into the Known by the resident artists of Caucasus Culture Exchange. From what we hold in our hands to the hope that stretches toward eternity, What We’ll Carry Home is an invitation to pause, breathe, and pray for our Iranian brothers and sisters. See more at whatwellcarryhome.myportfolio.com.
What We’ll Carry Home is a digital photography project shot on a full-frame Canon with a 45mm f1.2 prime lens. I chose black and white in a simple studio style to enhance shapes, textures, and light composition. I was mindful to not show faces, and, throughout the project, allowed the objects of hope to be the main subjects of the photos.
I am an American photographer passionate about God, culture, and people. My compassion fuels my art. My love of photography is vast, from landscape, street and macro to social and sporting events, and most recently this controlled studio style. This love of the craft was born in the great plains of Montana, as I watched my grandfather photograph wildlife, weather, and all the fascinating frames his trained eye viewed. Surely wonder and curiosity are a few of the greatest gifts you can give. Continue to follow my photography on Instagram at @scottnoblephotography.
Guest blog by Scott Noble
