Fr. Jonathan Wilson

Let’s continue the exploration of portrait photography with a frame of Fr. Jonathan Wilson standing at the rear of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church before saying his first Sunday Mass after assuming duties as the new pastor succeeding Fr. Charles Klinger.

Father Wilson had made several other appearances at Mass previously although this was his first Sunday Mass.

I spend time before the 7:30 a.m. services continuing a project begun a number of years ago. Titled “St. Paul Sunday Morning,” it is a collection of photos taken around and inside the church. Almost all are before the earliest Sunday Mass although sometimes I wait until a later time because of a special occassion or service later in the day.

The rumor mill told me Fr. Wilson would say Mass at the Sunday services so I stationed myself at the rear of the church a few minutes before the start of services. I’d earlier made photos outside the church just in case I wasn’t able to make Fr. Wilson my St. Paul Sunday Morning photo.

He and Deacon Mickey arrived adjacent to the baptismal font where I’d positioned myself for a quick frame.

Shot in portrait mode with my iPhone XsMax using the small cross in the background as both a design element for depth and as a defining element adding to the sacramental aspect of the photo.

Processed in Focos app to adjust the depth of field and slightly alter the highlight shapes. Finished processing in Snapseed using the portrait function to emphasize the face and eyes. Slight crop to eliminate dead space at left and bottom.

Shot five frames only one of which Fr. Wilson’s expression was slightly animated. Must admit I surprised him so he was a little less animated than I’d hoped.

I am hoping for more opportunities to make photos of Fr. Wilson but there is a great historical context in this portrait.