Saturday, November 29, 2008

Pictures
















































































Mele a friend of one of our parishioners took a series of photographic sketches that we will eventually put up on a website. The grainey black and white seem to work better than the colour ones.
I think it is interesting what a non-Catholic found interesting in our worship.

4 comments:

gemoftheocean said...

I've been struck by how narrow your aisle seem to be. Particularly the center aisle.

PeterHWright said...

Colour photos can be distracting, I think. The eye is drawn to the brightest colour. Photo #1 is an example. The eye is irresistibly drawn away from the entrance procession to the bright red of the fire extinguisher in the corner of the photo.

I've seen many pictures of the great cathedrals of Europe spoiled completely by a row of brightly coloured cars parked in the foreground. It can't happen in black-and-white !

This is perhaps why it is easier (at least, in my experience) to read the architecture of a building in black-and-white. The eye is free to travel along the lines of perspective without distraction. The light and shadow is more obvious.

For decades, our art books were illustrated in black-and-white. Colour plates were rare, and being printed on a different paper, were "tipped in". I had no problem with this.

Of course, for close study, especially perhaps of stained glass, colour photography is highly desirable.

Photo #4 gave me a jolt. At first, I thought it was a shot of Father celebrating at the old high altar, until I remembered that the old altar is no longer there !
But it demonstrates clearly where the focal point of the building is.

Adrienne said...

I noticed the "collection" was caught on film.

Beautiful church!

PeterW - Black and white photography is better for all the reasons you listed.

Gemmie - I think the aisle was more narrow 'cause folks didn't use to be so "plump". I notice in most the older churches the pews are also waaaaay smaller.

PeterHWright said...

Thanks to Adrienne for agreeing with me !

I've just read the comments (including my own). For photo #1 I meant photo #4. For photo #4 I meant photo #1. I am apparently going dotty (in the nicest possible way, of course).

Mea maxima culpa.

PHW

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