english – Season Images

Series of Four #8 – English Landscapes in black and white

Series of Four

This is the eighth Blog in the “Series of Four” series. Each blog focuses on a different aspect of photography, either technical or creative. To see the full set of “Series of Four” blogs, click here.

English Landscapes

These are four English landscapes taken in the ‘Home Counties’ – Surrey and Kent – within a 20 minute drive or so from my home. You can see where the English masters such as Turner and Constable got their skies and clouds from. Using black and white emphasises the contrast and drama of the images, as does using different portrait and landscape formats.

The top two images are from Penshurst in Kent, England. They were taken in September 2011.
The third was taken near Shere in Surrey, England shortly before a storm in September 2008.
The fourth shot is of a Post Office in Kent, England, taken in May 2009.

Series of Four #3 – The four stages of Greed

Series of Four

NOTE: I took this Blog down because on reflection I thought it was a bit frivolous and I never usually manipulate my images with Photoshop but a couple of people who had already seen it said I should put it back – so here it is ….

This is the third Blog in the Series of Four series. Each blog focuses on a different aspect of photography, either technical or creative. To see the full set of “Series of Four” blogs, click here.

The Four Stages of Greed

Greed has a way of becoming part of you – distorting you – making you into a different thing. [I have been having some fun with Photoshop which I generally do not use often. A bit corny really, but it is interesting how something as ordinary as a hand can become creepy …]

The Growth of Greed

Apparently Greed started growing in a secluded woodlands setting in England many centuries ago and was exported to Africa during the early colonial period where it has taken root as an invasive alien species, mixing with local varieties of greed and proliferating rapidly. Imported and local varieties can now be found all over the world.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cathedrals of England: E-Book Published

I have arranged and published, through an Internet Publisher, the first copy on a 90 page book entitled “Cathedrals of England” which contains images and some introductory information on all 43 Anglican English cathedrals. The E=Book can be browsed through this link.

What next?

The next step will be to have discussions with various parties including the Church and publishers to see if we can take the project further. Producing one-offs is very expensive. Of course, if there is going to be a commercial aspect to this we will need clearance from each Cathedral to include images of their property.

Watch this space – You may be able to order a copy soon.

All 43 English Anglican Cathedrals Photographed

The first Cathedral I photographed was the Episcopal National Cathedral in Washington DC. Then I attended a multi-faith meeting on water representing the World Bank which was held in Salisbury Cathedral in England in July 2009, and I visited the Cathedral of Bath and Wells in Somerset where I have family roots. I was overawed by these magnificent buildings and the idea dawned to set about photographing them all – which I completed yesterday (3 March 2011) when I flew to the Isle of Man and photographed the Peel Cathedral (see Blog post –Peel Cathedral, Isle of Man – the Friendliest Cathedral in all England). A selection of the images taken at each cathedral can be seen in the Season Images Gallery.

The purpose

The cathedrals of England hold a tension, an irony, being at once places of devotion and contemplation as well as representing wealth and power from a past era. A tension runs right through most elements – a warmth and a coldness, the familiar with the alien, minute detail overshadowed by vast lines and cavernous spaces. My purpose in these images is to explore these tensions, seeking not to create an architectural record but to capture unique perspectives to be reflected upon and contemplated over. A very real contemporary tension is how these sacred buildings, which have priceless historical value, recreate themselves to hold real significance in the largely secular, urban, 21st century contexts in which they find themselves and remain true to their primary function as places of Christian worship. My hope is that in a small way these images can bring to life again the dedicated creativity of centuries of artists, architects, builders and masons.

A list ….

The most inspiring and my favorite is Wells Cathedral.
The most striking font is in Salisbury Cathedral.
The friendliest was Peel Cathedral on the Isle of Man.
The most informative and amenable guide was in St Alban’s.
The most awesome for sheer size was Liverpool.
The cross-of-nails in Coventry was thought provoking.
The most picturesque surroundings – Lichfield Cathedral.
The most expensive was …….. – £120.00 per hour. (Fill in the gaps)
The least attended was …….. – I spent an hour there and did not see anyone.
The most unsteady – ……… Cathedral did not let me use a tripod.
The least friendly – in …….. we had a run in with very rude University Proctors although the volunteers in the Cathedral were friendly.

Peel Cathedral, Isle of Man – the Friendliest of all Church of England Cathedrals

Peel Cathedral

Yesterday (3 March 2011) I had the privilege of visiting the most recently hallowed Cathedral in England – St German Cathedral Church in Peel on the Isle of Man, Cathedral of the Diocese of Sodor and Man. (See the images on the Season Images Gallery) The church of St German was hallowed as a cathedral in 1980 – the church was consecrated in 1893 to replace the ancient church of St. Peter, in the town centre, which had become too small for Peel’s growing population.

The Dean and the Church Warden were warm and welcoming – I flew to the Isle of Man for the day from Gatwick and was collected at the airport and made to feel very welcome with a cup of tea. Although St German’s is the most recently hallowed Cathedral in the Church of England, it is very much a living, worshiping community and could teach some of its more ancient brother / sister (??) cathedrals a thing or two. If you ever get the chance to visit the Isle of Man, you must visit Peel and you must visit the Cathedral.

1DB_2843 — Sanctuary - the heart of a living cathedral

1DB_2877 — Menorah made from spent rocket casings

1DB_2861 — Prayers for all impacted by conflict and injustice

Peel town

Spring was definitely in the air and after photographing the Cathedral I strolled down to the promenade and enjoyed the sun and the seaside.