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Religious Leaders in Salt Lake City
When Downtown The Magazine contacted me to shoot the feature stories for their first issue, I was most excited about a story on religious diversity in the city. As the worldwide headquarters for a major religion, Salt Lake often leaves people with the impression that few other religions exist here. Clearly, that is not the case. In fact, a healthy dialogue continues regularly among religious leaders in the area. They all know and speak highly of each other.
The editors initially wanted 3-4 leaders from different faiths, and left it up to me how to approach the series. I immediately thought of shooting environmental portraits combined with up-close studies of the faces in black and white, inspired by Platon. Unlike Platon’s powerful series though, with its varying lighting setups and poses, I wanted a sort of uniformity to run throughout the series, something to help connect the commonality these religious leaders share, despite their disparate beliefs. I also wanted the environmental portraits to portray these leaders in their spaces of worship: both to show just how many beautiful historic structures Salt Lake actually has and again to locate them in a space of commonality.
I ended up photographing seven leaders, but the series is not finished yet. I’m in contact with three or four more faiths to round out the project. I hope to finish it in the next month.
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The Most Reverend John Wester | Bishop of Salt Lake City
Bishop Wester is the highest ranking Catholic leader in Utah. He presides over the Cathedral of the Madeleine, one of the most beautiful religious structures in the entire state. The stunning cathedral combines a Romanesque exterior with a Spanish Gothic interior. I ended up photographing Bishop Wester on the same day the new pope was announced, so he was very busy. Despite all the media attention (our session followed interviews with local TV news), he was extremely patient and kind, accommodating the four setups I wanted to shoot.
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Reverend Eun Sang Lee | First United Methodist Church
It’s one of the oldest congregations in Utah. The historic First United Methodist Church on 2nd and 2nd is iconic. Prominent Utah architect Frederick Albert Hale designed the Victorian Eclectic style that has stood for more than 100 years. Reverend Lee has a quiet, humble way about him, interrupted by disarming bursts of humor and a warm smile. He grew up Christian in South Korea, where he went to college, before moving to Denver. His wife is also a pastor.
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Father Elias Koucos | Greek Orthodox Cathedral
The Holy Trinity Cathedral is one of the more beautiful churches in downtown Salt Lake. It hearkens back to the distinctive Byzantine architecture and has stood since 1925. Father Elias is a lifelong Utahn. He’s served the local Greek community, especially the youth, for most of his life.
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Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman | Congregation Kol Ami
I cannot overstate how enjoyable my shoot was with Rabbi Schwartzman. She’s a third-generation rabbi with a surprisingly sharp wit and a latent wisdom that belies her young age. Three years ago, at the age of 31, Schwartzman was chosen from 36 applicants to lead the large Jewish congregation here in Salt Lake. The Reform and Conservative movements of Judaism generally meet in separate congregations, but Kol Ami holds services for both traditions, something Schwartzman must balance as Rabbi. With her open mind, education and sense of humor, her congregation is lucky to have her (as is Salt Lake).
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