On a hot sunny day when being out of doors on a Sunday just wasn't something I could take more than an hour of, I was on the way back from the beach armed with the camera bag, and decided to stop in to our only 'old' church - Bethesda By the Sea in Palm Beach, FL - for some photos of the beautiful structure. ; Those of you up north wouldn't likely be as impressed - big, old, stone gothic churches are dime-a-dozen for you northerners...but in South Florida, to find any structure that's 100 years old and built in an old-world gothic style is pretty rare. I got extra lucky on this day...I started in the gardens and on the grounds before stepping inside...once inside the gorgeous medieval interior, I was treated to the organist 'practicing' - this place with the soaring stone walls and timber roof dozens of feet up is also filled with some excellent pipes - fitted in 4 different spots in the church. ; So when the organ is in full tilt, it can vibrate your heart in your chest and send chills up the spine. ; Quite the theme music for photographing this place! ; Anyway, here's some views around our historic church, with the A550 and Tamron 10-24mm UWA lens (as usual, small pic posted with link to the larger view just below each): http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/124028305/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/124028306/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/124028307/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/124028308/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/124028311/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/124028304/original.jpg The gardens back behind the church are lovely too: http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/124028296/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/124028297/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/124028298/original.jpg Of course, I have dozens of flower pics too from the gardens...but that's for the flower thread! Comments, critique, or questions always welcome.
Thanks all. ; Churches, especially older ones or classically designed ones, have always been a favorite of mine, and definitely a good use for UWA lenses!
we stopped in every church/cathedral we saw in europe, karen to light a candle and me for the photos, they are just some of the most impressive stonework and stained glass you can ever see. and quite often the grounds are really nice, esp the gardens/cloister areas
Beautiful shots, Justin. ; I just wish you had the sound of the organ to go with it. Several years ago, I was with a group who toured the workings of a Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ in Cincinnati. ; They let us in the sound box while they played a few notes. ; Talk about feeling the music!
You might appreciate a private museum located just a few miles from my house - it's a private collection which is housed at a 2-story converted office building, available for charitable events and private appointment. ; I've been hired to photograph events there. ; Besides antique cars, airplanes, bars, and carousels (yes, whole carousels!)...he also has one of the largest collections of self-playing organs and automated musical instruments. ; The collection includes quite a few pipes, tied in to a Wurlitzer console and a Walker digital console. ; Google Milhous Museum!
Nice work Justin. ; Those old churches have a special character to them. ; You just don't see that level of detail in the stonework or stained glass anymore. ; Plus you don't find those large organs that often. ; I know several churches in my area that have them, but don't have the money to maintain them, so the sit unused. ; My church is fortunate in that one of the members donated a large sum of money to establish an Organ Fund to help offset the costs of the annual tunings and maintenance. ;
Thanks all. ; Indeed, the organs are beautiful and something I hope all churches manage to save or restore. ; To hear one of those in full glory, especially in an older, tall ceilinged stone church that really lets the sound soar and echo, is an amazing experience. I wish we had more old churches down here, but in South Florida, something 50 years old is considered an ancient wonder.
If you enjoy good organ music and are ever in the Washington DC area, try to catch an organ recital at the National Cathedral. ; 10,647 pipes in 189 ranks and 9 seconds of reverberation creates an awesome sound. ;
I've been in National Cathedral, but never with the pipes going. ; I have been in Montreal's gorgeous Basilica Notre-Dame and heard that amazing organ belting out, and it was something that has stuck with me forever.
I've never heard one of their organ recitals, but I did get to hear it during one of the regular church services and it was amazing. ; I would love to get to hear it from the choir where you're literally surrounded by the pipes.
