Hotel Pulitzer is located in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam, Netherlands. My husband (Jonathan) took this photo during our recent vacation to the city, and it is the Photo of the Week in the LifeWay newsroom.

So here's the background: Hotel Pulitzer is not named after the same Pulitzer as the famous journalism award, though I think it is the same family. Wikipedia let me down on this; I can't find any definitive info about the Pulitzer family tree. All I know is the hotel is named for a businessman by the name of Herbert, and the award is named for a publishing magnate by the name of Joseph, and Joseph has a descendant named Herbert. Make sense? Regardless, being in the journalism field, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to have dessert and coffee at the aptly named hotel (being in the journalism field, I couldn't afford to stay at said hotel).

Anyway, years ago in Amsterdam property taxes were figured based on the width of the house. Naturally, people did their best to avoid paying higher taxes by building ridiculously tall, skinny homes along Amsterdam's many canals. These became known as canal homes and many are now more than 300 years old and still occupied. 

Along came Herbert Pulitzer in the mid-1900's with the brilliant idea to buy several of these dilapidated canal homes, renovate them into a single building, and open a 5-star eponymous hotel. Voila! Hotel Pulitzer. It consists of 25 separate canal homes combined to form one deceptively large hotel. The photo above is taken from the front entrance of the hotel, looking out to its loading dock on the canal.

Entry by Brooklyn Lowery

On a recent trip to Russia I had the opportunity to visit Moscow’s Red Square. Throughout the many centuries of Russian history, Red Square has served citizen and government alike, both as a public market place and as the site for official governmental ceremonies, coronations, and displays of military might.

Red Square is home to the Kremlin -- the historic fortified palace complex that has been the home to many of Russia’s early Czars -- that served during the Soviet era as the seat of government for the USSR, and currently, as the official residence of the president of Russia.

The name Red Square is not derived from the color of the bricks in the square nor from the color red which is often used in defining communism. Rather, the Russian word “Krasnaya” which means either “red” or “beautiful” was first used to describe St. Basil’s Cathedral (pictured above) located at the southeast end of the square. Over the years “Krasnaya” has come to define the entire square.

St. Basil’s, with the nine colorful onion-domed, red brick towers was built between the years of 1555 and 1561 by Ivan the Terrible. It is arguably the most famous, as well as one of the most beautiful and most photographed, structures in all of Russia. As I explored the square, I saw literally hundreds of visitors shooting pictures with everything from digital camcorders to point and shoot cameras to cell phones. 

Here’s some insight into why I took the photo the way I did.

Many non-professional photographers take “picture postcard” style photographs. These are technically very good photos of favorite places or subject matter, great to show family or friends and place in the photo album at home. But, aside from being a pretty picture documenting where one has been, these photos tell little about the place itself or the people who live there.  A professional photographer will do the same, but after taking several “record” shots of a subject, he or she will explore the subject further and attempt to capture the same image in a way that will tell a story or visually comment on the life or culture of the people related to his subject.

This is what I call “slice of life” photojournalism, which documents the common, everyday occurrences that gives viewers a sense of lifestyle and place. 

In this photo of St. Basil’s (above), I included in the foreground a pair of local photographers who had set up shop on the square in front of the cathedral. They had erected a small picture board showing prices and samples of their work, as well as photographs of children, couples, friends, bridal portraits -- all shot in various locations around the square, some with St. Basil’s as a backdrop. On the left, the photographer’s body language indicates mild frustration as he watches tourists with their digital cameras and cell phones snapping away at this historic landmark, ignoring completely the services that he has to offer. His partner’s attitude on the right? He just wants to enjoy the morning newspaper.

Entry by Kent Harville

Check out the "photo of the week" section of LifeWay.com/news for more photos! Click here.

Here is a photography technique that adds the “wow” factor to a photograph and moves it to another level – and it works especially well with subjects that have interesting, distinctive or recognizable shapes.

This technique involves the photographer intentionally under-exposing his subject against a bright background, thereby causing the main subject to appear as a dark silhouette in the photograph. The result is an added sense of mystery and drama to the image, or even a sense of doom or foreboding in some cases.

My photo subject above is of the famous Spasskaya Tower, also located on the Red Square near the St. Basil’s Cathedral, the subject of my last photo blog. The front gates of this very beautiful and ornate tower, built in 1491, serve as the main entrance to the Kremlin from the square and were once used for ceremonial processions. The tower has four magnificent clock faces on each side that were installed in 1850. A large star, added by the Soviets nearly a century later, adorns the top of the tower’s steeple.  

After taking the obligatory “postcard” photos of the tower, I changed my position in relation to it until the mid-morning sun was directly behind the tower’s steeple. With its ornate detail and the large distinct star on top, I knew that a silhouette image of the tower would make a dramatic, yet recognizable photograph. Because the tower was somewhat small in relation to the immense bright sky behind it, I moved a little more to the side of it, where I could include the front portico of St. Basil’s Cathedral as a foreground element, adding another distinctive structure of interest as well as depth to the photograph. I was careful to keep the sun completely behind and blocked by the tower to avoid camera flare when taking the picture.

To take a “silhouette” picture like this, set your camera in the program or auto mode, compose your image, focus, and trip the shutter. The camera should automatically expose for the very bright background, thereby causing your main subject in the foreground to underexpose to a silhouette. By adjusting the camera’s compensation dial to a plus or minus and re-shooting your subject, the exposure can be tweaked to make the silhouette a little darker with less detail, or a little lighter, allowing more detail to be seen in the subject. If shooting the picture with manual settings, simply set the correct exposure for the bright background, rather than your subject, and take the picture.

Photo and Entry by Kent Harville
Corporate Visuals Coordinator

Lillian Bingham, wife of Senior Pastor Lincoln Bingham, enthusiastically leads the music for the Sunday morning worship service at St. Paul Baptist Church at Shively Heights (Louisville, Ky.)

I took this photo Oct. 18, which was Harvest Sunday at the church. That day the congregation celebrated the 50th anniversary of the predominantly white Shively Heights Baptist Church, and the 120th anniversary of the predominantly African-American St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. The two churches merged into one on the last Sunday of August this year, so this was also a celebration of their new joint anniversary. 

Lead Pastor Mark Payton, who co-pastors the St. Paul church with Bingham, is the former pastor of the Shively Heights congregation. To read more about this church and the work it is doing, check out "LifeWay's urban curriculum works for church in transition."

Entry and photo by Kent Harville,
Visuals specialist

Photo by Kent Harville, LifeWay's corporate visuals coordinator.

Kent Harville is a great photographer. I've enjoyed getting to know him personally, as well as professionally. From time to time, Kent will provide a photo blog for us, giving us amatuer or unexperienced photographers some expert knowledge behind the 'what' and 'how' of some of his photos -- like this one or this one.

The picture above was taken by Kent while he was on assignment in Kentucky. He and his wife stopped by Southern Seminary (my alma mater!) to check out the campus. As you'd expect, Kent found the opportunity to snap some nice photos while he was there.

Kent commented how beautiful the campus was, and I agreed. I love the rich, vibrant colors of the spring and fall seasons, as the photo implies. If you ever have the chance to visit Louisville, Kentucky, don't pass up a stop at SBTS -- and make sure you visit the bookstore!

I'm glad Kent took this picture and I'm nostalgic as I look at it. I'm reminded of my time on campus as a student (almost a decade), passing through many changing seasons. And I'm thankful for God's wisdom, creativity, and power that brings about change -- in seasons and in life.

Entry by Micah Carter (SBTS grad '02 and '08)

Take a minute to enjoy this multimedia presentation from Kent Harville, LifeWay's corporate visuals coordinator and photographer. Kent takes us "behind the scenes" as he explains the process and results of finding a photo opportunity when there doesn't seem to be one.

The photos are excellent, and they were taken at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Asheville, NC.

I was shooting photographs recently of a choir rehearsal made up of both children and adults, when three children on the front row -- well, actually their feet -- caught my attention. I'm always on the lookout for a photograph that causes people to pause, reflect, or otherwise take another look. So, the individuality of the children’s dress in regards to their choice of footwear, became the subject matter for my photograph.

"Stand, therefore ... [with] feet sandaled with readiness for the Gospel of peace" (Eph. 6:14-15, HCSB) came to mind as I watched the children singing for God’s glory.

God doesn’t mind the size or the style of sandal we wear. He isn’t concerned about what we paid for our sandals, or if our sandaled feet are stylish or old fashioned in appearance. All God desires is that whatever type of sandals adorn our feet, our feet are ready, willing and better able to share with others the love of Jesus Christ.

Photo and comments by Kent Harville

Corporate Visuals Coordinator

As a photographer, I’m always observing the light while out taking pictures. In fact, it is the way that the light strikes an object that often captures my attention in the first place, when searching out picture possibilities.

How light and shadows play across a subject will often determine whether a photo will be striking, or mediocre and boring -- the quality of the light is often much more important than it’s quantity. Photographers must often be patient and wait for the “right” light for their subject to be seen in it’s “best” light. 

In the photo above (taken on a large ranch in Colorado), the sweeping vista of valleys and hills, and the water and mountains were very drab and colorless on a grey, cloudy day. I took a couple of photographs of what should be a very beautiful scene, but was very unimpressed with the results. The light was very flat and uninteresting, and did nothing for the majestic view that was before me.

As I prepared to leave, I noticed that the sun began peeking through the clouds and began to strike and highlight different parts of the landscape. A grove of aspens in the foreground and a valley with small hills and plateaus in the background were struck with independent shafts of light, as well as shadows that added depth, interest and dimension to the landscape. The resulting photograph was much more vibrant and interesting than the first ones that I took.

I thought about Jesus’ words in John 8:12, and how the light that day on the mountain opened my eyes and heart to better understanding. He said, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life” (HCSB).

The light of Jesus Christ not only gives life to the believer, but also adds depth, interest, vibrancy, dimension, clarity and beauty as well. Very much like the natural light as it plays across God’s creation.

Posted by Kent Harville

Corporate Visuals Coordinator

Faith Whatley, director of church ministry training and events at LifeWay, speaks to attendees at the recent Girls' Ministry Forum. It's clear from the photo that Faith is having fun as she presented to over 200 gathered for her session. Her expression is priceless.

For a little more information about the Girls' Ministry Forum, be sure to read the news story or their blog. Also, don't miss our previous blog from Polly House about an important and disturbing topic that was discussed during the conference.

Photo by Kent Harville

Inspiration and great ideas can come from the most unusual places.

On a recent trip to Oklahoma City with my wife to visit our son-in-law and now very noticeably pregnant daughter, the subject came up as to what we -- the soon-to-be grandparents -- are going to be called by Jace, our grandson on the way.

The other set of grandparents have selected their monikers already, and we have realized that time is short, since Jace is scheduled to arrive some time in June.

My wife Barbara has pretty much settled on “BB” (pronounced Bee Bee) because she knows a grandma that has settled on Sue Sue, and that has worked pretty well for that family. She also knows a Mi Mi, and a Gi Gi, and wants to make she she doesn’t make a Boo Boo in her selection!

Both of our daughters, our son-in-law, Barb’s mother, and I have all agreed that BB is cool. For myself, I thought Granddad or even Grandpa would work OK, but I was told (by the aforementioned) that it sounded too old fashioned, or probably more truthfully, it makes me sound like an old man.

I’m not a real cutesy name type guy. I want a grandpa name that falls on the manly side, or at least a name that won’t be construed by my male friends as being “too sissy.” I don’t want to be a PaPa  or a Peepaw or a Po Po or a Poopah.

I’m thinking about the future here. Would any man want his grandson to run up to him when he’s the high school’s star quarterback, or pitcher, or center, or whatever, and say in his deep, sometimes cracking puberty voice “Hi Peepaw, are you coming to my game tonight?" I don’t think so. Can you imagine the verbal jabs and snickers and scornful glee he would have to endure from his not so thoughtful peers?

I want a name for my grandson to call me that will work whether as a child, a teenager, or even as an adult. A name that he can use when we are fishing together or when he introduces me to the guys, a name that neither of us will be embarrassed by, whatever the stage of our relationship. Which brings me to the photo above. 

Our daughter and her husband took us to a unique restaurant on the old Highway 66 in Arcadia, Oklahoma. Out in front of the very futuristic-styled gas station, store and restaurant is a large 66-foot tall replica of a soda bottle that puts on a dazzling multi-colored light show throughout the night. The inside the building grabs your attention as well, with its more than 12,000 soda pop bottles from around the world lined up on glass shelves from floor to ceiling in front of all of the building’s windows. A cooler running the length of the rear wall contains a selection of over 500 ice-cold soda brands for diners and visitors to choose from and enjoy. Burgers, hot dogs, and salads are the main courses on the menu along with a full soda-fountain array of treats.

What’s this restaurant got to do with a grandfather to be, trying to figure out what to be called by his grandson? I pulled a ball cap off one of the shelves to look at. It had the restaurant’s name on it. I bought the cap immediately. Problem solved.

“Pops.” That will work just fine.

Dennis Pethers, author and evangelist from England, discusses his new study "More to Life" during a recent video shoot using several LifeWay employees as actors in the production. The video was shot in "The Loft," a refurbished space in an old building in downtown Nashville. The "More to Life" study focuses on helping believers start meaningful conversation about their faith with non-believers rather than simply handing them a tract or jumping directly into a serious religious discussion.

For more on Dennis Pethers and his new study, listen to our recent podcast with him, read the news story and take a look at our follow-up blog called "After the Mic" with Dennis Pethers.

Photo by Kent Harville

When people do their best to annoy, irritate and make your life miserable, “try to destroy them as enemies,” suggested Dr. Joe McKeever, preacher, cartoonist and retired director of missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans.

He quickly added, “And turn them into friends.”

A couple of years ago Mckeever spoke to a room filled with women attending LifeWay’s National Conference for Ministry Assistants, where he shared stories of those in his own life, neighbors, and church members, with whom friendship and love was a real challenge.

“You don’t have to love someone, just start doing things for them,” advised McKeever, who shared the “four most basic acts of love” as found in Luke 6: 27-30. They are:

1.    Do good things for them
2.    Bless them
3.    Pray for them
4.    Give to them

Even if you don’t like someone, you can learn to love him or her by applying these basic principles from God’s Word, McKeever said. In doing so, an enemy is destroyed and you make a friend.

Mckeever, who often follows his presentation by drawing caricatures of those who attend, added that each person is unique and beautiful in their own way. He encouraged the ministry assistants to “love the one God gave you (their spouses) and quit comparing him to everyone else.” Likewise, he said, “Love how God made you. Stop comparing yourself to others. Even if you don’t like your smile, smile anyway. It will always make you look better.”

Photo and comments by Kent Harville

What does LifeWay photographer Kent Harville do when a hot air balloon comes in low, nearly clipping the top of his house, and then lands in the middle of his street? He grabs a camera and starts taking photos, of course!

The chase truck arrived about the same time the balloon settled down in the street. The balloon was quickly deflated, stretched out to its  full length in the street, gathered neatly in at the edges, and then stuffed carefully in a large red bag. Balloon, basket, pilot and passengers were loaded into the truck and were all gone within ten minutes of landing.