When is the camera irreverent or intrusive?

In certain places, contexts or environments, exactly where is the line between reverence or "intrusion" on the one hand and capturing-the-moment on the other?

This Mass — on a Cursillo weekend — was for fewer than two dozen of us who had spent the weekend together sharing in small groups, sometimes "formally" and sometimes informally. Given all the conversations of the previous 2½ days, I felt comfortable that everyone else present knew me well enough to know that I still possessed an appropriate reverence-for-the-moment, even though I was capturing-the-moment with a camera. (Alternative title for this image was “Why I ‘church’,” which is the Eucharist.)

1 year ago (“A glorious day on the lake!”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2014-03-08
2 years ago (“Strangely beautiful?”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-03-08
3 years ago (“Light fixture”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-03-08
4 years ago (“Fat Tuesday”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-03-08

[ IMG_103_6176S12x9tm :: f/2.8 :: 1/100" :: ISO 800 ]

[Danette Thompson]

Well taken. I take photos at church all the time, trying to be invisible while wearing black. During the sermon, I stay seated and shoot from there.

[Thom Mitchell]

@danette Thanks, Danette. This was taken from my seat. If you saw my 3-days-ago post, when I first served as an altar server, I took no photos while I was actually *at* the altar!

[GaryW]

Awesome photo Thom! I, too, take photos in church. To me, it is very reverent to capture the solemn moment. Beautiful colors! Thanks for sharing this. I hope God spoke to all of you on the retreat!

[Mags]

Nicely done on the capture and the narrative. Thank you! I've got one for you - https://365project.org/marlboromaam/365/2012-05-28