Recently my family and I had the opportunity to live in a village west of London, England.  It was during this time that I had a chance to visit and photograph some of the stunning English Churches and Cathedrals.  Of course the buildings were fabulous and each unique, but due to their sheer size and design it was often difficult to get satisfactory images.  Images need to do “justice” to the experience, they also need to that have an appealing “composition” and have a real sense of “why”.  As I had the chance to visit and photograph and re-photograph many of the fine churches I was able develop some pleasing themes in capturing the experience of a Cathedral.  Now of course everyone’s tastes and style are unique but if you have a similar sense as I have you will likely keep reading.

This site provides some basic insight into some things to consider if you are planning a trip to photograph churches or cathedrals.  Of course most of what is presented can be applied to any inside of a structure such as office buildings or even your home.  At the end you will find a brief summary of some of the Cathedrals I was able to see, there are many more but I hope the information helps you use your time well. 

Before we go to far, it is always good to first explain why one does what they do.  Photography is generally a reflection of the photographer and this is where the term “personal style” comes from, this style generally reveals what motivates the image creator.  For me when I create images of cathedrals or churches I try to invoke expressions of awe, upwardness, intricate beauty, worship and history as this if what I experience when I visit cathedrals and this is of course reflected in the techniques and compositional methods that I use and will talk about.   

Santa Maria in Trastevere

The Basilica of Our Lady in Trastevere is a titular minor basilica, one of the oldest Churches of Rome, perhaps the first in which Mass was openly celebrated. The basic floor plan and wall structure of the church date back to the 340s, The first sanctuary was built in 221 and 227 by Pope Callixtus I and later completed by Pope Julius I