WHEN I PHOTOGRAPH an event such as the mission festival last Sunday at Marquardt’s Grove, rural Janesville, I slip into my sleuth persona. Hey, I read Nancy Drew mysteries as a young girl, what can I say?
The overall scene at Sunday’s mission fest, looking toward the stage and worship areas.
Perhaps it’s not as much sleuthing as observing which, I suppose, is the essential component of good detective work. First I’ll view the big picture, the overall scene. And then I’ll begin to break it down, to notice the details.
It takes concentration, effort, and an ability to understand the smaller parts which, pieced together, comprise the whole.
This I do all the while also trying to remember what I am hearing and the general mood of the setting. It is not easy because I sometimes become so zoned in on shooting images that I shut down my other senses.
The other challenge comes in being respectful to those attending such events. On Sunday I was especially concerned about that given this was a worship service. I think, I hope, that after awhile worshipers no longer noticed me slinking around trees, weaving my way past temporary plank pews or pointing my camera down at their hands and toward their faces.
Yes, I expect observers sometimes wonder what exactly I am photographing. Digital photography has unleashed my creativity. I aim to tell a story with my photos, to take you there, to show you the details that make life especially interesting.
Here then are some of my detailed photos—the ones you likely would not think of taking—from the mission festival of Freedom and Wilton Lutheran churches.
The first detail: the sign on the front steps of Freedom Church about a mile from the mission site in Marquardt’s Grove.
The jacks, as they are termed, which hold the planks in place, have been used for some 60 years. The planks, for the “pews,” are borrowed from a local lumberyard and then returned after the mission festival.
Sharlou Quiram measured the makeshift altar before crafting a cross design quilt of satins, velvets and brocades nearly 10 years ago. It hides the altar, “a bunch of really old board nailed together,” says Len Marquardt, and in use for 60 years. Flowers come from parishioners’ gardens, patios, decks, yards.
When I took this photo of the choir, I was aiming to emphasize the outdoor setting in the woods.
Vintage pocket-size songbooks were boxed and stashed on the stage behind the Freedom Band. The first hymn of the day was “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.” At the end of the service these books, which have been used for decades, were collected.
Some of the music used by the Freedom Band was transposed decades ago from a hymnal.
Ava, 15 months, hangs out at the pop and candy stand with her dad, Ben.
A 12-volt battery and converter amplifier powered the speaker system for the worship service.
Desserts, including coveted homemade blueberry pie, and an abundance of main dishes and salads lined makeshift tables (boards supported by sawhorses) at the potluck following the worship service.
Enjoying the potluck dinner in Marquardt’s Grove while diners wait in line to dish up food. The vivid colors, the contrast of neon orange and hot pink, caught my visual interest as I captured this photo.
That’s exactly what you think it is, an outhouse in the woods, built from old barn boards. Follow the cow trail and you’re there. The outhouse is meticulously scrubbed every year before the mission fest. The grounds are also cleaned by volunteers who pick up the cow poop and sticks and then mow portions of the pasture as needed. Lynne Holst, wife of guest pastor, the Rev. Dr. Robert Holst, told my husband an interesting story about outhouses. When the Holst family served as missionaries in New Guinea from 1962 – 1968, Pastor Holst asked his wife what she wanted as a birthday gift one year. She thought, then replied, “A new outhouse.” She got her wish.
FYI: Click here to read an earlier blog post about the mission festival.
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Such great pictures of a wonderful day!! I know what you mean about trying to be respectful about taking pictures—-when we were in China touring the temples we were not sure if we could or not—asked our Chinese friend and he could not really get an answer so we went ahead and took a few discreetly….saw others taking photos also so I guess either we all did it wrong or it was okay… I am sure you are always respectful—loved the picture of Ava, especially! Sweet!
Thank you. It was a wonderful day. I tried to be respectful and not too intrusive, although once I nearly stumbled after getting up. And although the cow pies had been removed from the main worship area, I skirted that area and had to watch where I stepped. Even if the dung was dry, I didn’t want it on my flip flops.
That would have been me…..slipping and falling into a pile of dung…. The other day I totally fell in the street…sigh. Getting old is not easy. The street just reached up and bit me!!! 🙂
I understand exactly. It’s not all that easy getting down on my knees, down on the ground, etc., to take photos from interesting perspectives. Well, actually, it’s the getting back up that is the challenge. Also, because I have an artificial right hip, I’m supposed to be carefully about the angle at which I bend it. Yeah, don’t tell my surgeon how many times I’ve broken rules. But my hip hasn’t popped out of place. Not yet.
What we do for the sake of a picture!!! 🙂 Stay safe!
More fantastic pictures! Thank you Audrey for posting more pictures. Our pastor had printouts of both blogs with him at our Ladies’ Guild meeting last night, and the ladies thoroughly enjoyed it. Sharlou is my mother-in-law, and she loved the picture of the altar. I love the comments above about the cow poop. You would have been amazed how much we picked up the day before! (We more than filled a manure spreader, the box of a large gator, and some wheelbarrows.)
Thank you, Joan. I’m humbled by your words of appreciation and am delighted that the Guild ladies enjoyed the blog posts. The altar quilt is lovely, such a labor of love. As for that cow poop, wow, I would not have guessed that you picked up that much. But I suppose…
I have one more post forthcoming which features Freedom Church and photos I think you will appreciate. Not sure when I will publish that. But soon. Always so many things to write about…
I definitely caught the spirit of the day and place! Beautiful job! I know what you mean about becoming so focused on the minutiae that the ‘big picture’ is a challenge to set-up. so enjoyed your sharing….hugs, D
Thank you. That’s what I aim to do, take my readers visually, and in words, to the places I go.