Zen and the Anglican Church... or how I became a convert.

[Sonnar Brian]

Funny story. Not sure what to expect from the title.

I've never really used a cable release. Use the self-timer for tripod mounted shots, usually for shots with the 1000mm lens.

It's like the camera is chanting, becoming more relaxed for the upcoming photo.

Not the twisted, coiled look of the "serpent" sticking its tongue out to jam your camera...

 

[BrianShaw]

I finally installed a scanner. This is my first real scan... so forgive me if it isn't the greatest. I'm still reading hte instructions and blindly following step-be-step.

Brian

 

[Trius]

A message from God while in a line at McDonalds would be "Get out of line ... NOW!"

 

[Trius]

I can't believe it. I'm speechless! It would take a red-head to do that. 🙂

Actually, last time I looked she was flirting with Joe. Joe, was it something you said? Something you did? Something you didn't do? 😉

 

[ch1]

I finally installed a scanner. This is my first real scan... so forgive me if it isn't the greatest. I'm still reading hte instructions and blindly following step-be-step.

Brian

Brian,


OMG (pun intended) your scan just reminded me of one of my "projects"!

During the winter of 2005 I got it in my head to shoot all (m/l) of the old churches in Columbia County, NY (i.e. where Copake is).

The County was settled by practitioners of various Protestant sects, including Dutch Reformed, Episcopalian, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Lutherans etc. There are some Catholic churces too - but the Catholics were later arrivals and so their churches are not as "clapboard classic"! Also they were more likely to live in the town centers than in the countryside so the settings are not as "picturesque".

Anyway, as I was shooting a church way up county in a small community on Sunday afternoon the minister came out and asked if I'd like to also shoot the sanctuary. I declined, explaining that I was only interested in exteriors.

Then she told me that I should go visit the bookstore in the larger village a few miles away. She said that there they were selling a photo book with the subject of, yes, Columbia County churches!

So much for the "originality" of my project! :bang:

Anyway, Brian, start a W/NW for churches and I'll flood you with pics! 😀

 

[BrianShaw]

Hi George,

I've been working on local churches for a little while... mostly scouting and very little shooting. I, too, am focusing on exterior features but given the opportunity I would definitely accept an invitation to photograph interiors. Like many areas we are seeing a lot of church consolidations and closures. I'm tryin gto shoot the smaller, older ones ASAP because they seem to be going fast.

I think it'll be okay for us to share a common project. I'll stay out of NY if you stay out of LA!

If there aren't any separation of church and state issues 😉 -- or any other objections -- a "Places of Worship W/NW" would be quite interesting. I am a believer in one particular faith, but have a great interest in how/where other faiths worship.

 

[ch1]

Hi George,

I've been working on local churches for a little while... mostly scouting and very little shooting. I, too, am focusing on exterior features but given the opportunity I would definitely accept an invitation to photograph interiors. Like many areas we are seeing a lot of church consolidations and closures. I'm tryin gto shoot the smaller, older ones ASAP because they seem to be going fast.

I think it'll be okay for us to share a common project. I'll stay out of NY if you stay out of LA!

If there aren't any separation of church and state issues 😉 -- or any other objections -- a "Places of Worship W/NW" would be quite interesting. I am a believer in one particular faith, but have a great interest in how/where other faiths worship.

Brian,

You're right to capture the sanctuaries too. When the minister made the offer (she was just closing up the church) I didn't have a flash with me and I've had too many mixed results (see my W/NW Eastertide thread) with available light to try to do so - figuring she wanted to go but felt she needed to be "hospitable" etc.

As to the turf matter - no problem. My only interest is (was) local where I have a great (but, agreed, diminishing) number of subjects*.

In LA I would think you might want to try Catholic missions. But then again, maybe they've been overshot?**

* My "alternative" after finding out about the book is to shoot "former churches" which include everything from performance halls to an old (itself now defunct) Grange Hall to a flea market venue!

** I also spend time in Tucson, AZ. There is a famous Spanish mission there some 300+ years old. Recently, while under restoration, the magazine "Arizona Highways" was given special permission to do a shoot of the many sanctuary murals and figures that are being restored. You might want to check out their website.

 

[DougK]

Great story, thanks Brian. I've had a couple of those moments with photography (and writing) and it's an absolutely amazing feeling when you're in that zone. I look forward to seeing more shots from that project.

 

[BrianShaw]

Well, somewhere in a closet I must have about 10,000 photos of the California missions. I've been to most of htem many times when I had more time to travel up and down the CA coast. I, too, thought I'd write/illustrate a book... only to find one or four nice ones already on the bookstore shelves. That was back in the 1980s and I was shooting 35mm (Nikon F3) and Rollei TLR. I don't think the CA missions are overshot, but it is difficult to get any kind of a "unique perspective".

About 6 months ago I went to Santa Barbara to catch the early light at the mission... only to find that the local parishoners who attend weekday morning Mass park directly in front of the mission church with no regard for the photographers. The morning I was there, I was shooting MF handheld but there were two LF photographers. We were quite visible, but even when asked the parishoners wouldn't yield. At least Mass only lasted 35 minutes!

I also went to San Xavier del Bac (Tucson) and Tumacacori several times. Both are very photogenic! But Ansel had aleready been to both so there were probably no more photos to be taken. I'll definitely take a look for the AZ Highways site that you mentioned. I was thinking about some of the other AZ missions (smaller?) but never got there. I've seen them on the maps but they might not be much to look at... who knows? In the back of my mind was the notion that whatever I did would probably have already been published by someone else.

 

[ch1]

....I also went to San Xavier del Bac (Tucson) and Tumacacori several times. Both are very photogenic! But Ansel had aleready been to both so there were probably no more photos to be taken. I'll definitely take a look for the AZ Highways site that you mentioned. I was thinking about some of the other AZ missions (smaller?) but never got there. I've seen them on the maps but they might not be much to look at... who knows? In the back of my mind was the notion that whatever I did would probably have already been published by someone else.

Yes, San Xavier del Bac is the mission I was speaking about - the restoration is on-going. What is interesting about the AZ Highways article is that there are icons, murals etc. that are unseeable from the ground (pews) yet they are intricate in detail. A sign of a level of devotion that is almost scary.

What is also interesting is that the figures in the murals often have Tohono O'dahm coloring and features and in places show "pre-Christianity totems" - and example of how the Spanish missionaries "adapted" Catholicism to provide a transition from the local tribe's former belief system.

Adams certainly "did" the exterior - but the interior was so dilapidated in his time that this restoration shoot is a whole new study.

But overall, you're more than correct that there really aren't any missions to "discover". Which is why when I was at "Bac" last February I shot pics of the the food vendors who set up their booths in front of the church (but at a "respectful distance").

Oh, BTW, at "Bac" besides the vendors - they also keep the tour buses and cars far from the main entrance so you can get a clear shot even on Sundays. That is nice.

 

[lmd91343]

Brian,

Nice shot. I like it.

Too bad you couldn't use a decent camera and had to settle for the 'blad. 😉

 

[BrianShaw]

Brian,

Nice shot. I like it.

Too bad you couldn't use a decent camera and had to settle for the 'blad. 😉

I'm working on it... I just haven't fully achieved "GearHead" status yet. Maybe that will happen in this reincarnation... maybe I'll have to wait for a future reincarnation. 😉