Devotion by Christopher Roche

Devotion is a photographic project that explores the different peoples' faith traditions across the world.

The photographer, Christopher Roche, hopes to see beyond the dogma and capture the common humanity behind these traditions.
Similar rituals such as pilgrimage, prayer and meditation practiced in differing parts of the world reveal a shared thirst for spiritual fulfillment that goes beyond our superficial differences.

From the Buddhist monasteries of Tibet to the rock hewn churches of Ethiopia; from the Sufi shrines of Iran to the burning Ghats of India and the animists in the Peruvian Andes, the project captures both the intimate and epic nature of varied spiritual practices.

It is the photographer's experience that many of the ancient devotional traditions that have been central to the culture of these regions for hundreds if not thousands of years are now under threat from the forces of globalization, mass tourism, political oppression and even global warming. This photographic project hopes be a testament to the importance of these traditions and to capture the essence of a deep and universal aspect of the human condition.