Sacred Spaces, Holy Places
Pigeon returning with olive branch-this let Noah know the flood was receding.
This session provided the great opportunity to photograph a local historic building, the First United Methodist Church of Georgetown. This Gothic Revival building was erected in 1893, and showcases a sanctuary of stained-glass windows, rich with color and beloved symbols—Christian reminders from the Bible. Over two stories tall, the verticality of the pointed arches seems to reach to the heavens. Depending on the time of day, the windows change colors sometimes muted, sometimes shining like gems, making any viewer behold the wonderment of light. This backdrop is a wonderland of photo opportunities.
During this shoot, the photographer practiced a technique known as High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography. For this session, HDR was captured by the method of leaving the f stop (aperture) and ISO at the same setting and adjusting the shutter speed to capture an underexposed, overexposed, and regular exposed photo. A tripod was used to ensure the image was the same regardless of exposure.
Next, these images are, “layered” in an editing software that allows the range of colors and light to be captured from all exposure levels and “flattened” into one photograph. The photographer learned that an overexposed image can overpower the other layers. Thus, depending on the software, the photographer may need to start with the underexposed image. Much tinkering with the editing software was required using the underexposed image vs. using the overexposed image on the first layer and so forth. It sounds easy, but is time consuming.
Depending on the time of day, the luminosity of the windows and their brilliance changes. There is truly a sacredness and divinity about the building that puts one in mind of divine light. The Lord’s light, like the windows luminosity changes in us. If we think of our lives in the terms of one day, we can see how divine light shines through our lives differently throughout our life course. At times we shine brilliantly, and the season is rich, life is clear; other times life is dim, and the season is dark and maybe no light can be seen at all, but always, it is present. Like our lives, the windows are just sheets of glass until illuminated by the power of the light, and its beauty is bestowed. This photographer was inspired by this photography shoot. Many thanks to all involved.
HDR using multiple layers to capture all light and shadows.