Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Snapshots of Jesus
Former fashion photographer tells the Messiah’s story by putting Him in modern settings
His photographs have appeared in the glossy pages of Vogue, GQ and Elle, but after decades in the fast-paced world of fashion photography, Michael Belk gave it all up to focus on a new muse — Jesus.
Belk had been shooting photographs for fashion advertising for years when his thoughts began to turn more and more to a different type of photography. He envisioned a gallery filled with images of Christ and even as he excelled in his career, the idea wouldn’t go away.
“It kept weighing on me and I found myself talking to people about it and remember saying to myself, either do it or shut up,” said the Georgia resident.
As Belk was about to turn 60, he realized the time had come.
“I sat down with my wife and said, ‘What happens if I die this year and I have to explain to God why I didn’t do this?’” he said. “I had been given the financial ability and the idea to do it. What would He say?”
He put his lucrative career on hold six years ago to focus on what would become “Journeys with the Messiah.” He never returned to the fashion world, captured as he was by sharing his visions of a first-century Jesus in modern-day scenes.
Belk will discuss his project and exhibit his photographs Nov. 2 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1101 N. Mississippi St. in Little Rock. He will speak during the 9 and 11 a.m. worship services and during a 2 p.m. presentation.
The journey to fulfilling his dream wasn’t easy. The recession of 2008 hit Belk hard and he lost half of his life’s savings, including money for the project. But with
the help of an investor, he was finally able to finish the project, now featured in a book.
“It was kind of cool — not at the time — but what you find out is it’s never about the project. God will just pull out all the stops to get our attention. He loves us so much he’ll put us through hell if need be to get there,” Belk said.
By relying on God, Belk said, it was truly a journey with the Messiah and he’s excited to finally be sharing his photographs with others.
“It’s great to share these images and speak about them,” he said. “It’s exciting to see people really connect with them.”
The photographs were shot in Matera, Italy — the same town where Mel Gibson filmed The Passion of the Christ — and feature an actor portraying a first-century Jesus as he interacts with modern-day people in everyday situations. Examples include the juxtaposition of the sandal-clad Jesus alongside the driver of a fancy sports car or an impeccably dressed woman blind to the hungry children she passes.
Belk said he didn’t want to simply re-create biblical scenes in his photographs. He wanted to convey who Jesus is in a way his friends would understand. In short, he wanted to share his faith and love for Jesus with others, but in his own way.
“I said if I could get my friends to see Him as I was seeing him maybe they wouldn’t fear Him but embrace Him as I had,” Belk said. “This let me tell the stories, so I could tell the story of the woman at the well in a different way, and the rich young ruler in a different way.”
Belk said one of his favorites is a photograph focusing on forgiveness that features Jesus walking with a Nazi soldier and carrying his pack and rifle. It’s called The Second Mile.
“I asked what would be more difficult than for a Jew to forgive the Nazis for the Holocaust,” he said. “Jesus forgives a Nazi soldier and He’s carrying his equipment. It turned out to be one of the most powerful of the images. After that they just started to flow.”
Belk said each photograph tells a story and he will discuss those during his visit to Trinity UMC, as well as some behind-the-scenes details.
“Our desire is that they recognize the relevance and the reality of Jesus, that His messages are not some cleverly designed fable of 2,000 years ago, but that the reality of what He shared is alive and well today,” Belk said. “Jesus didn’t come to give us all a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card for hell. He came to testify of the truth of His Father. Heaven was a just a bonus.”
Belk said his hope is that his photographs will inspire others to seek a deeper relationship with Jesus.
“I want people to seek a relationship where there is no line of demarcation. Your life is centered around Him,” he said.
The project certainly affected Belk’s view of Christ and deepened his own faith.
“When I look back … I thought I knew something and it’s amazing to me God would even let me create this project knowing so little,” he said. “The whole project has been my personal journey with the Messiah. It really had nothing to do with the images but with this relationship with God.”
Information about the event is available on the church’s website at tumclr.org or by calling (501) 666-2813. Information on Belk and his project are available at journeyswiththemessiah.org.