Joe Imel/Daily NewsPhotographer Pamela Harper speaks about her work, on display at The Presbyterian Church.

Raised as a Christian, Pamela Harper never questioned her faith.

That was until her father, John Watson, who was an ordained minister and evangelist, was diagnosed with cancer in 1997 and two years later, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder.

“I began asking questions,” she said. “I became bitter, and when my father died, I became angry.”

During this time, Harper – a Cincinnati native and resident of Howell, Mich. – worked for a think tank and had befriended a Jewish man who worked for a think tank in Jerusalem. Armed with a digital camera her husband bought her, Harper made a journey to the Holy Land, documenting everything she saw through her camera lens.

The trip was in 2005 – in honor of her father.

“My first trip over was a healing journey,” Harper said. “When I took (the photographs), I wanted my family to experience my journey when I got home.”

With a nudge from a friend in the art world, Harper – who was told her photographs were good – realized she had a gift. Harper’s ability to depict historic settings in a modern day format is now being displayed inside The Presbyterian Church’s art gallery. The fairly large room to the left of a winding staircase is filled with several prints of Harper’s journey – her photographs captured using natural light and the colors and textures created by nature without color filters or digital manipulation.

“The Presbyterian Church feels strongly that the arts represent one of the great gifts God has given us,” said Paul David Gibson, church director of music.

Through her photography, Harper has been able to communicate the connection to the Old World. Her depiction of local inhabitants within the context of her scenic compositions is a testament.

“I think it is quite beautiful,” Gibson said of Harper’s photography. “The photographs are very emotional and very moving, especially this time of year as we are celebrating Lent and looking forward to Easter.”

Harper has gained many awards since submitting her work with International Photography Awards in 2005, when she received honorable mention in architecture in the non-professional category for her “Jerusalem” image. In October 2005, her image “Sunrise over Desert” taken in Ramon Crater, Israel, was selected to be in the fifth annual HIGH AND DRY exhibition at Texas Tech University’s International Cultural Center. In 2006, she won honorable mention in nature in the non-professional category for her “Mediterranean Kaleidoscope” image.

Yet it was through her connection with other Christian artists – and a search on the Internet – that she came to know about The Presbyterian Church’s art gallery.

“She heard of our exhibits here and contacted us,” Gibson said.

Harper said she sent a letter to the pastor requesting to showcase her work. That letter was sent to the church’s art board.

“I was honored,” she said of the church allowing her exhibit.

Although the church has been having art exhibits off and on for about 10 years, it was only a year ago that exhibits became a regular part of the building’s fabric. More churches are getting into visual arts.

“To me it’s a great outreach,” Harper said.

The church’s gallery has hosted numerous art exhibits with artists from Nashville to Michigan, showcasing not just religious artwork but a vast variety of art.

Gibson said while the gallery is not restricted to sacred or religious art work, he knows there are many Christian artists out there, and the church would love to display their work. He said until the last century or so, most of the great architecture, art and music was commissioned by the church.

“The Christian church in general has history of showcasing art, from its structure on, and churches should focus on that now,” he said.

Pursuing her interest in photography and inquires by friends led Harper to open Photography by Pandora, which specializes in scenic landscapes and ancient architectural photography. Harper’s photographs are a combination of the landscapes and history and modern-day Israel.

“It is such a state of turmoil, and all you hear is bad things,” she said. “I want people to see what a beautiful country Jesus walked through. That is my goal.”