Post Your Interior Architectural Photographs here

BAC1967

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Not quite as nice as Stephen’s beautiful cathedral shots but I haven’t been to England for quite some time so here’s an abandoned building in Spokane, Washington.
Messy Office by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr
 

MattKing

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I always find it so inspiring to think that none of the people that built all the amazing cathedrals that Stephen has photographed so well ever saw a photograph of a cathedral - or anything else!
If you want to take amazing photographs, aspire to understand light the way that those wonderful builders did.
(and the way that Stephen clearly does too).
 

Stephen Benskin

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That's very generous Matt. Thank you.

Let's not forget, they didn't have blue prints or perspective drawing at the time either. On the other hand, we've missed out on the atmospheric effect of light through the candle and incense smoke.
 
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doughowk

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First Presbyterian Church, Green Cove Springs, FL
High Victorian Gothic style including hammer-beam trusses
Metal rods added later to handle outward thrust of steep roof
Bronica SQA w 150mm lens.
C41 processed & printed commercially
 

ColinRH

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Stephen, I must say what a wonderful selection of abbey/cathedral images you have made. Thanks for showing them. A question though……….. how on earth do you manage to get – what I would guess is permission – to use a 5x4, tripod and all the gear in some of these very popular locations? Also no-one in view, perhaps out of hours entry? But again how?

I do photograph local older churches which have not been ‘Victorianised’ but they are few and far between but have never managed to get permission for larger edifices.
 

Stephen Benskin

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Hey Colin,

Maybe things have changed since I was there. For the most part, I just purchased a camera permit and where necessary, a tripod permit. Stuck them to my tripod like country stickers to a steamer trunk. If asked, I would say I wasn't a commercial photographer. I only had trouble at Wells with the cathedral manager. Even the priests were afraid of him.. He didn't ban me or anything. He just threatened me (in God's mercy). Although an assistant at Wells more than made up for his rude behavior. He was very nice and helpful. He even asked a group of people to move and took down a rope so I could get a shot. We even had a nice discussion as to whether or not the stairs had been repaired since Frederick Evans shot them. He didn't think so. I did, and am probably right, although we couldn't find an image in the gift shop. A priest let me close the doors to the quire, but only after looking around for the manager and warming me about him first.

I tended to shoot early and off season. Otherwise, the exposures were long enough not to record people walking through or long enough to give me enough time to pop on the lens cap. A problem with 4x5t is that people assume you are shooting when under the dark cloth, so they stand back and wait, but aren't aware that you are actually making the exposure when you are standing next to it. I can't tell you how many times a person would stop in the middle of the shot and stare at the weird camera. I once had a class of children walk into the shot, sit, and conduct a 30 minute class.

Stephen
 
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ColinRH

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CHURCH OF ST ANDREW, BEDDINGHAM. EAST SUSSEX.
Originally a Roman villa site. After their retreat from Britain the Saxons erected a wooden church of some form.
This church was built originally built by the Normans in the 12th century although over the years like most churches various alterations have been made. 10x8 selenium tone
 

ColinRH

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CHURCH OF ST PETER, HAMSEY, EAST SUSSEX. .

Lonely on a slightly raised piece of land a short distance from the River Ouse (pronounced ‘ooze’!) it was built by the Normans although
there was certainly a church in the Saxon times. 925 saw the Saxon King Athelstan meet his counsellors here and the Domesday Book
refers to ‘a church’ being there. Normans built the current church in the 12th century of which a good portion of it remains. Due to a change
in the location of the local population the Victorians built a new church in 1860. As a result there is no power or water at the site, summer
services are held and a popular candle lit carol service at Christmas.
services are held and a candle lit carol service held at Christmas.
 

Stephen Benskin

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Very nice. I'm going to have to check with you first if I ever get a chance to go back.
 
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