Churches

[Bluesteel]

The planets must have aligned last weekend! I finally had the time for a photo outing and the weather cooperated perfectly (we've had a lot of rain lately). And I discovered the Painted Churches of Texas. They were out in the middle of the country and, like the lighthouses, the journey along the way was almost as nice and interesting as the churches. I made it to four of them last Saturday and they are really awesome, ornate buildings built by Germans around the turn of the century or before, I think. You can google "Painted Churches of Texas" and read about them and probably see some better pictures if you're interested. There was a lot of very cool light and shadows which were challenging to capture. I think I got it in a few but the majority of the pictures miss the boat, but they still show the beauty of the church. I am going back again and plan on practicing until I figure it out and also add some that I didn't get to on Saturday. It's very hard to capture the feeling and affect of the stained glass windows and the light and shadows inside as well as enough light to see everything. Any tips you have will be appreciated. I think I may have better luck on an overcast day rather than a bright sunshiney one. I started a new thread thinking there are probably a lot of beautiful churches around and everyone can add to it.

Here's the first one I went to in Praha, TX. I probably should've done a slideshow like MM did, I'm running out of time posting them individually, but I'll post this one now and the other three over the weekend. I guess I'm doing a "to be continued" series!!














This was taken from the front of the sanctuary looking back. I really wanted to go up in that loft, but it was closed to the public.

[Bluesteel]

Here's the second one. It was even more challenging to capture. It was darker and much more ornate. There was also going to be a wedding there later in the day. There were decorations I tried not to get and people were in and out, so I wasn't able to take as much time as I wanted. This one was in town of High Hill and it is considered the "Queen" of the painted churches.












One side of the church was shaded by trees on the outside and I was able to get the windows better. That's why I think I'll try again on an overcast day. I would love to see this one lit up at night, too.


This one also had a lovely loft that taunted me becuase it was closed to the public, too. It looked like there was a nice pipe organ up there.

[Bluesteel]

On the way to the third church, I found myself on a really cool, narrow, curvy almost-dirt-road and was hoping it went somewhere because it was only me and the camera and neither of us do reverse very well! It took me over a delightful old bridge called the piano bridge built in 1885. It's called the piano bridge because of its piano-wire truss-I was hoping more than piano wire was holding it up! Of course, I stopped and took pictures of it! After a few more bends in the road I came to the third church located in Dubina, TX. I could only go into the foyer of this one. They had a barred, locked gate and I could only take pictures through the bars.

The Piano Bridge

[ShiksaPrincess]

These churches are absolutely beautiful, Bluesteel! I look forward to seeing more as you add photos. Thanks for sharing!

The pictures remind me of the first time I saw the interior of a tiny white stucco Russian Orthodox church that was in my neighborhood when I was a child. The church was very plain and unimpressive on the outside, but I literally gasped when I walked through the front door. The interior was magnificent! I had never before seen an iconostasis, and it was a spectacular sight to behold.

The Congregational church that I attended in my youth was small and "Pilgrim plain". As a member of the choir I got to participate in choir festivals at some architecturally remarkable larger churches in the New York area, and that was always a treat. Protestant churches in general, however, are less ornate than Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

[Bluesteel]

Thanks, Shiksa, I thoroughly enjoyed my day touring these churches. They really are magnificent and the pictures truly do not do them justice. They're only an hour from here and I will go back and try again. I'd like to see if I can take a private tour and see everything and get closer. A couple of them looked like they had beautiful pipe organs in the lofts and I would love to hear them as well as see them up close. Here's the fourth and last one for this trip located in Ammannsville, TX. I know there are some beautiful churches in Houston and I'm going to try to take some of those, too. Hopefully, some of you all will add some pictures of the churches in your area, old and new ones. I know there are a couple I would like to visit when I come home again.













This is a front-to-back view with another lovely loft . . . and a nice open staircase on the left that caught my eye!


The confessional booth . . .


and now I have to confess! All day long I had only looked at the lofts above and tried in every church to go up wanting desperately to get a cool shot from them as well as the pipe organs I thought I saw, but was locked out all day long. Finally!! The last one had an open staircase, no gate, no lock and no rope! I went halfway up and saw a sign that read "Do not use the stairs or enter the choir loft"!!!! I looked around knowing no one was there, inside or out, except me and I looked up the stairs thinking "Man, just one good shot, I won't be long!" I knew there wasn't an organ up there, it looked like it was just pews, and I was just going to take a picture, so I went up a couple of stairs and stopped again arguing with my conscience but really wanting that shot. Then I thought about where I was and knew I definitely wasn't alone! Probably the worst place in the world to break the rules was in church!! So, no, I didn't go any further and no loft shot! With a big sigh, I made my way back down stairs where I took the picture of the confessional booth and felt glad that I didn't need to use it myself!!

I'm entitling this picture "The Temptation"!!!

[Tomboymama]

Those are really neat, Bluesteel. All of the details are amazing in those places. I took a few in a church down in St. Genevieve, MO last year. I will try to dig some up one of these days to add to your cool thread. I can see why you were tempted to go up the stairs. That would have been a neat shot. Good to see you having time for pictures again. We have had too much rain here too.

[HickFinn]

Awesome subject and great pics BS!

[Class of 69er]

Really beautiful churches you found BS! They are gorgeous! The windows are beautiful as well. You did a great job capturing everything! Glad you had fun!

[Bluesteel]

Thanks, everyone! It was a fun photo op.

[Dan]

Nice Church shots BS!