Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire

[Mike Shimwell]

I'm not sure where these belong, but I'll post them here as they are a documentary record of yesterday afternoon's walk with the girls around Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire. The Abbey has long since fallen away from religious use and is now owned an operated by the national Trust. I took the girls for a walk whilst Sue worked on an essay for her masters.

Anyway, no tripod and low light, but I was pleased with what I'd been given on my return home. I've another picture that I'll post in due course, but it doesn't quite fit with these.

Best

Mike

Fountains Abbey

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[Asher Kelman]

Mike,

It's a challenge to photograph a shell of a Cathedral in either a meaningful or unique way. Doubtless, tens of thousands of photographs, maybe millions have been taken in this place.

I'm not sure where these belong, but I'll post them here as they are a documentary record of yesterday afternoon's walk with the girls around Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire. The Abbey has long since fallen away from religious use and is now owned an operated by the national Trust. I took the girls for a walk whilst Sue worked on an essay for her masters.

Anyway, no tripod and low light, but I was pleased with what I'd been given on my return home. I've another picture that I'll post in due course, but it doesn't quite fit with these.

Best

Mike

Mike Shimwell: Fountains Abbey #3​

Let me address this last picture first. Unless there's

1. exact symmetry
   
2. some creative asymmetry
   
3. the view though the window behind the cross is impressive

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we're far too close to get the essence of this massive, trans-generational house of worship and governance. Beside, there's no person there with a gesture or pose that would bring us some humanity to this fragment of the place.

Mike Shimwell: Fountains Abbey #1
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Now here's great dimension we must give deference! We find ourselves in the presence something grand that surrounds us with awe. We have, in this way, become very small.

Above, the arches span the broken roof and ahead, on the ground, there's a doorway, to the darkness. Such mysterious passageways might take us from one place or time to another now unknown or from this place on earth to another existence, beyond this temporary sojourn. This should have a special meaning to Cem Usakligil whose work often touches the theme of transitions and movement between spaces, cultures and time.

Mike Shimwell: Fountains Abbey #2​

This picture, still has the ghosts of slowly moving columns of gowned monks and huddled congregations, passing for one of the scheduled prayers or perhaps, carrying statues or relics for a a solemn feast or Saints day.

Thanks for sharing.

Asher

 

[fahim mohammed]

I'm not sure where these belong, but I'll post them here as they are a documentary record of yesterday afternoon's walk with the girls around Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire. The Abbey has long since fallen away from religious use and is now owned an operated by the national Trust. I took the girls for a walk whilst Sue worked on an essay for her masters.

Anyway, no tripod and low light, but I was pleased with what I'd been given on my return home. I've another picture that I'll post in due course, but it doesn't quite fit with these.

Best

Mike

Fountains Abbey

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Mike the above two are excellent. I can ' feel ' the vastness. I can only imagine the solemnity and
religious ' grandeur ' that would have been felt in those days long past.

I adore the flying pigeons.

Regards.

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Mike Shimwell: Fountains Abbey #1
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.... Such mysterious passageways might take us from one place or time to another now unknown or from this place on earth to another existence, beyond this temporary sojourn. This should have a special meaning to Cem Usakligil whose work often touches the theme of transitions and movement between spaces, cultures and time.

Yes indeed, the pictures grabbed my attention immediately. Like Fahim, I too think that the flying pigeons add value here. You have certainly done a good job at keeping the verticals vertical without a tripod, or did you correct perspective in the post? Never mind, it is the result which counts. For my own personal taste, I think I would consider adding a bit of a local contrast enhancement to bring our the structures in the stones.

I hope that Sue were able to complete her essay while the girls were being educated in appreciation of history and beauty in their surroundings. Counting the pictures, it seems like 3 birds with one stone to me .

Cheers,

 

[Mike Shimwell]

Thanks all for your comments.

The pigeons (or seagulls) were a lucky break. They arrived as I was making a couple of exposures and I only have one frame with them in - of course that is the 'keeper', if only because they add a dynamic that the other frames cannot have in comparison. Cem, I very slightly corrected the perspective, but (for once in my life!) managed to shoot straight otherwise.

The cloisters could be inhabited by ghosts - all too often they are busy, but this day was quiet for some reason. I think that in the past the monastic life would have been one of quiet and contemplation for much of the time and the cloisters were central to a life of prayer. When the visitors are absent then you start to hear the echoes of the past.

The cross by the window appealed to me, but it is not placed symmetrically and I wanted to pick up light at the end of each arm. Interestingly, the image creates quite divergent opinions, either being underwhelming or liked quite strongly. I should try the printed set on a few more people.

cheers

Mike

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Mike,

I'm not sure where these belong, but I'll post them here as they are a documentary record of yesterday afternoon's walk with the girls around Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire. The Abbey has long since fallen away from religious use and is now owned an operated by the national Trust. I took the girls for a walk whilst Sue worked on an essay for her masters.

Lovely images.

I especially like the one with the birds in the background. They might warrant a little artificial sharpening.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Charlotte Thompson]

Mike
I especially like the first
the color is done very well for the subject-gives it an antiquated look that it should have
it has a doomed feel for me rather than prayerful
seems very closed in and way solid for any one who would be spiritual-
do you know what the time/history (what years) is on this
seems almost Arturian in style-
a beautiful shot!

Charlotte-

 

[John Angulat]

Hi Mike,
So sorry for not commenting sooner.
I think these are splendid.
There's a feeling of expanse, while at the same time a feeling of cold, hard containment.
I agree with Doug re: the sharpening.
It might bring out the feeling of hardness in the stone.
Well done!