Photography plays a vital role in bringing people together emotionally and generating deep empathy. Photographs are proficient at touching emotions when highlighting the beauty of religious expressions—such as devotion, celebration, grief, or compassion. Photographs are also masters at fostering empathy when visualizing moments of togetherness—whether in interfaith activities, sharing common spaces, engaging in actions of solidarity, or through everyday engagements.
In other words, images are able to transcend language barriers to convey values and emotions among people of different religions—such as love, hope, devotion, and togetherness. Thus, photographs also perform as bridges: uniting divisions, promoting respect and togetherness in humanity, in a world often divided by religious differences. Therefore, photography can communicate hope and portray the possibility of peaceful coexistence.
In collaboration with Institut français d’Indonésie (IFI Yogykarta), ICRS held a photography exhibition and discussion entitled ‘From the Eyes of the Ordinary’ on the 20th of February 2025. The photo exhibition is based on ICRS photo competition with the theme “Everyday Interreligious Engagement” held during October and November 2024. This event aims to explore how photographs can build understanding and tolerance among religious communities, especially in Indonesia.
Acting as on of the speakers in the discussion session, Budi Irwanto, lecturer of UGM and the director of Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF), discussed the visual culture of photography, which he elaborated on, stating that photography is one of the most important factors that shape the way people understand and interpret the world they live in. In this context, photography is not just a medium to capture moments, but also a way to inform the understanding we have about the world around us. He emphasized that through photography, one is not only freezing a moment but also presenting a personal interpretation of reality, which is influenced by the photographer’s point of view and the technology used, thus forming the perspective of how the audience perceives the world and the story being told.
Looking at a photograph is actually only capturing pieces of imagery in the perspective of the photographer (shooter) and is also determined by the technological equipment (camera). This confirms that a photograph is not a completely objective representation but a result that is affected by the individual’s point of view and the tools used. Thus, the theme of ‘tolerance’ or inter-religious relations raised in this photo exhibition and discussion must be positioned as a ‘photographic representation’ rather than a ‘real picture’ of interreligious relations. In this case, the photo only presents one perspective, which certainly does not cover the whole reality.
The second speaker, Bari Paramarta, the ICRS photo competition judge and professional photographer, discussed the judging dynamics of the competition. He mentioned that during the competition he received 600 photos to be scored. Paramarta explained he used two components to score and curate the photos; those are technical aspects and theme suitability. The technical aspects include exposure and composition. Exposure ensures areas of good lighting, while composition positions visual components to create a balanced picture. On the other hand, theme suitability assesses how well each photo aligns with the intended message or concept of the competition. It considers whether the image effectively aligns with the theme through its subject matter, composition, and emotional resonance.
While technical skill is important, Paramarta underlined that the theme’s interpretation and visual representation are equally important in the scoring process. Regardless of its technical excellence, a photograph can stand out and increase its impact perfectly if it is in accordance with the theme. All in all, both technical and thematic considerations work together to create meaningful photographs.
The exhibition and discussion on “From the Eyes of the Ordinary” demonstrate the potency of photography to promote understanding about interreligious interaction in society. By capturing everyday moments of interfaith engagement, the photographs encourage viewers to reflect on the shared human experience and the values that unite people across religious divides. All in all, photography stands as a tool for promoting peaceful coexistence, offering a visual narrative that encourages respect, tolerance, and a deeper appreciation for diverse faiths.
