Michael Belk has been a fashion photographer for 30 years. His clients include Calvin Klein, Nautica and J. Crew, and his pictures have appeared in such publications as Vogue, GQ and Vanity Fair.
Several years ago, Belk sensed that his talents needed to be directed elsewhere. The self-taught photographer says he heard God ask: “What are you doing with all that I gave to you? Are you using it only for yourself or are you sharing it with others?”
He stepped away from his career and pursued an idea God gave him. Journeys With the Messiah is a collection of pictures that uniquely communicates Jesus’ timeless lessons and messages with a modern and artistic twist. His photos juxtapose a first-century Jesus and modern-day scenes that represent His timeless lessons.
“I wanted to create photographs that strip out ‘religion’ to show the raw life and message of Jesus,” Belk says. “Transitioning from photographing fashion models to Jesus wasn’t as big of a leap as you might think. The stories Jesus told were always edgy, relevant and told with an unexpected twist—much like fashion photography.”
Belk’s collection will be displayed in a traveling exhibit, with posters and a 108-page photography book. A DVD including photos, Belk’s journal, behind-the-scenes footage and other material are available at thejourneysproject.com.
The Buzz offers a sampling of photos from the Journeys With the Messiah collection. Click on the photos for a brief explanation of the inspiration for the photo. Watch Belk explain his vision for this project in the video below.
