Saint James Church, Midhope

The long exposures associated with low cost infra red photography tend to suggest static subjects. Graves and graveyards seem popular for IR photographers for this reason and the late Simon Marsden turned it in to a bit of an obsession. I understand he used a Nikkormat and a 24mm lens.

http://www.marsdenarchive.com/

The contrast between dark gravestones (here in Penistone Cemetery) and glowing, back lit foliage does seem to work and IR also seems to suit the stone work of churches well.

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St James the Less at Midhope is an old favourite and despite its dark and worm eaten interior it never fails to please.

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The fisheye converter was the only way to include the pews and gallery fully and gives a good sense of what the interior feels like.

While I was taking this image a woman from Halesowen called to view the church en route to an ancient well nearby and we had a pleasant discussion about how wells and churches are often found near to one another.

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Here are three from the archive including one from my broom period. The labels, from the time when pews were rented, give a nice insight into the way things were.

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The church information leaflet contains a good prayer, which puts the emphasis on God leading us (and presumably a willingness on our part to be led) rather than the standard form of asking God to do things for us.

Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth;
Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust;
Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace;
Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe.




St Nicholas church High Bradfield is well situated on the edge of the village to ensure a fine view. I was talking at the time (to a man from Hailsham with a Nikon 7000 and a huge telephoto lens) and failed to notice that the trees behind the church were in shade.

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