Untitled (inside a church)

[peter27]

 

[timor]

I understand the symbolic meaning of this shot, however in this case the configuration of light and detail around the book doesn't really work well for me.

 

[SnappingShark]

Without you mentioning church, it could have been anywhere, so I didn't really think it portrays anything other than a(ny) book on a(ny) ledge.

 

[peter27]

I understand the symbolic meaning of this shot, however in this case the configuration of light and detail around the book doesn't really work well for me.

:thumbup:

Without you mentioning church, it could have been anywhere, so I didn't really think it portrays anything other than a(ny) book on a(ny) ledge.

This photo was brought to you by the letter T and the number 3 Seriously, though, it's quite clear that this is a prayer book and that these are pews, isn't it? I mean, I'm not particularly religious but out of architectural and cultural interest I've visited enough churches and chapels for this to be obvious to my eye. I suppose it could be mistaken for a library or some place like that, but otherwise....

It would be interesting to know how others see this - is it clear enough that it's in a place of worship, or could it really be just about anywhere?

 

[peter27]

This just to bump my edit

 

[The_Traveler]

I understand the symbolic meaning of this shot, however in this case the configuration of light and detail around the book doesn't really work well for me.

:thumbup:

Without you mentioning church, it could have been anywhere, so I didn't really think it portrays anything other than a(ny) book on a(ny) ledge.

This photo was brought to you by the letter T and the number 3 Seriously, though, it's quite clear that this is a prayer book and that these are pews, isn't it? I mean, I'm not particularly religious but out of architectural and cultural interest I've visited enough churches and chapels for this to be obvious to my eye. I suppose it could be mistaken for a library or some place like that, but otherwise....

It would be interesting to know how others see this - is it clear enough that it's in a place of worship, or could it really be just about anywhere?

Not anywhere, specifically, but a church would be my first guess but others could work.

However, the picture itself isn't so much but hopes to pull gravitas from our ideas of book and church.
It's like having a title that says: 'Big Symbolic Image Here - be impressed.'

 

[sashbar]

Without you mentioning church, it could have been anywhere, so I didn't really think it portrays anything other than a(ny) book on a(ny) ledge.

well, a photograph often does not give you the answers, it gives you THE OPPORTUNITY to look for the answers, or the story. If you do not take the opportunity, it is often not a photographer's fault. And this image is a good example in my opinion. The interpretation is up to you here.
It may be a church or a university. But the clean solemn composition and a book that suspiciously looks like the Bible do not hint at students, it is most probably a spiritual place. So the church comes to my mind first.
If you look further, the image represents not just a church, but a MODERN church - both composition and details are streamlined, simple, light and contemporary. It says "we are modern these days, we do not believe in witches, human sacrifice, burning bushes and pseudo-religious medieval nonsense. Our mind is clear. We just believe in the main thing". As Bill Maher says "the most stupid part".
So unlike you I was entertained by this image. Because I took this opportunity.

 

[amolitor]

Well, I think it's quite nice. It's a small picture, of an austere style. I don't feel that it "says" anything particularly much, but it's a pleasing arrangement of forms.

 

[Designer]

I would have moved the book one pew up into the pool of light that is now mostly a distraction.

 

[peter27]

I understand the symbolic meaning of this shot, however in this case the configuration of light and detail around the book doesn't really work well for me.

:thumbup:

Without you mentioning church, it could have been anywhere, so I didn't really think it portrays anything other than a(ny) book on a(ny) ledge.

This photo was brought to you by the letter T and the number 3 Seriously, though, it's quite clear that this is a prayer book and that these are pews, isn't it? I mean, I'm not particularly religious but out of architectural and cultural interest I've visited enough churches and chapels for this to be obvious to my eye. I suppose it could be mistaken for a library or some place like that, but otherwise....

It would be interesting to know how others see this - is it clear enough that it's in a place of worship, or could it really be just about anywhere?

Not anywhere, specifically, but a church would be my first guess but others could work.

However, the picture itself isn't so much but hopes to pull gravitas from our ideas of book and church.
It's like having a title that says: 'Big Symbolic Image Here - be impressed.'

Thanks Lew, this confirms that an image like this could function to introduce or support a general idea. I've been putting together a portfolio of work on churches, and I want to add a few images that lean on associative ideas.

Without you mentioning church, it could have been anywhere, so I didn't really think it portrays anything other than a(ny) book on a(ny) ledge.

well, a photograph often does not give you the answers, it gives you THE OPPORTUNITY to look for the answers, or the story. If you do not take the opportunity, it is often not a photographer's fault. And this image is a good example in my opinion. The interpretation is up to you here.
It may be a church or a university. But the clean solemn composition and a book that suspiciously looks like the Bible do not hint at students, it is most probably a spiritual place. So the church comes to my mind first.
If you look further, the image represents not just a church, but a MODERN church - both composition and details are streamlined, simple, light and contemporary. It says "we are modern these days, we do not believe in witches, human sacrifice, burning bushes and pseudo-religious medieval nonsense. Our mind is clear. We just believe in the main thing". As Bill Maher says "the most stupid part".
So unlike you I was entertained by this image. Because I took this opportunity.

Thanks Sashbar, again this confirms for me that I'm going in the right direction on this. BTW, you are a real thinking man's photographer!

Well, I think it's quite nice. It's a small picture, of an austere style. I don't feel that it "says" anything particularly much, but it's a pleasing arrangement of forms.

Thanks Andrew, when I took the shot I thought if nothing else it had nice, classic composition that would be appealing.

I would have moved the book one pew up into the pool of light that is now mostly a distraction.

Thanks Designer, I thought of this but for two reasons I decided not to: 1) I wanted the two other books in the shot and the pew in front of the well lit pew was quite dim due to a pillar, so if the other two books were positioned there, they'd have been too dark. 2) The scene is exactly as I found it, and this is an important part of the study: I want to record these places as I find them and not to disturb or influence anything.