Panel 1  Medieval Church Architecture in Black & White

Photographs by Richard Ingle FRPS

The pictures below were original printed for exhibition purposes at about A3 size with extensive burning and dodging in the dark room. These prints have been re-photographed using a Nikon D70 camera and posted to this website without any further adjustments.

1.  Exeter Cathedral, Figure of ‘Praying Monk’ in Choir Stalls

This was one of two photographs taken in the Choir Stalls which contained many fine wood carvings.  It was taken on a Nikon 35mm camera with the aid of a single pocket sized flash with a semi-transparent brolly placed between the flash and the carving, in order to diffuse the light. This simple equipment seemed to work well.

14 Sep 1984, Nikon FE Camera, Exp Flash through Brolly

2.  Wells Cathedral, the Chapter House Steps

The steps at Wells cathedral are a wonderful subject that inspired many photographers in the 19^th and 20^th Centuries.  A great deal depends on the nature of the light, and in this case the scene outside was quite misty, which helped to give smooth modelling inside. 

21 Nov 1988, Wista 54 Camera, Lens 90mm W/A, Exp 2min at f22

3.  Collegiate Church of Notre Dame, Mantes-la-Jolie, France

Mantes is just to the west of Paris and borders the River Seine.  The Church is an example of a transitional style between the round semicircular Romanesque arch and the pointed Gothic style.

13 Sep 1988, Wista 54 Camera,  Lens 90 W/A, Exp 40sec at f32

4.  Basilica of Ste Madeleine, The North Aisle, Vézelay, France

Vézelay is well known as one of the finest churches in Burgundy.  Try to imagine yourself at the West End of the North Side Aisle looking due eastwards in the late afternoon, as in this view.  Look at the beautiful capitals with their rich sculptures and see how they are illuminated by the soft light of the evening sun that is streaming in through windows on the left that are hidden from view.

14 Sep 1987 at 6.00pm, Wista 54 Camera, Lens 135mm, Exp 30sec at f32

5.  Church of St Hilaire-le-Grand, Poitiers, France, ‘The Steps’

Poitiers lies in the centre of France, and has several beautiful churches of which the Church of St Hilaire-le-Grand is one.  As in the previous photograph it is vital to be there at the right time of day.  Five minutes too early, or too late and there would have been no such enticing sun patterns! 

31 Aug 1987 at 11.30am, Wista 54 Camera, Lens 90mm W/A, Exp 1 min at f32

6.  Church of Notre Dame, St Père-sous-Vézelay, France

This is about 3 km down the hill from Vézelay.  We just happened to arrive when the sun was illuminating the figures in the side aisle. 

15 Sep 1987, 11.00 am, Wista 54 Camera, Lens 65mm Very W/A,  Exp 15 sec at f32

7.  Bristol Cathedral, Entrance to Chapter House    

This is the ante room of the Chapter House, a view taken using only the existing light.

4 April 1988 at 2.00 pm Wista 54 Camera,  Lens 90mm W/A,   Exp 30sec at f32

8.  The Temple Church, City of London, The Chancel

This very fine church is just inside the City of London boundary.  This is the chancel and we get a glimpse of the circular nave.  I was fortunate to arrive at this time when the light was good, and I went on to take Photograph 17 which was of the circular nave.

7 Feb 1989 at 10.35am, Wista 54 Camera,  Lens 90mm W/A,  Exp 30sec at f32

9.  Exeter Cathedral, Carved Head in Choir Stalls

This was taken by exactly the same method as photograph No 1, using a small pocket flash and a brolly.

4 Sep 1984, Nikon FE Camera, Lens NR, Exp Flash thru Brolly

10.  Norwich Cathedral, The Nave

Note the beautiful flowers which the ladies had just finished arranging!  I love looking at the roof of the cathedral which is illuminated by the clerestory windows.  As in almost all my architectural photographs (except for some small details) this was taken entirely by natural light.

20 Sep 1988 at 11.00 am Wista 54 Camera, Lens 90mm W/A, Exp 15sec at f32

11. Bristol Cathedral, Detail of Chapter House Wall

This is the view you see when you have walked through the Entrance to the Chapter House shown in Photograph 7.  It posed no particular problems in its photography. In fact, I tilted the camera upwards slightly, quite deliberately, because to my mind it looks better with the verticals converging.  You may not agree!

18 Aug 1984, Nikon FE Camera, Lens 28mm, Exp 4sec at f8

12. Albi Cathedral, The Choir, France

A highly colourful scene.  Taking it in black and white has brought about a welcome simplification ~ to my mind.

7 Sep 1988 at 2.30pm, Wista 54 Camera, Lens 65mm Very W/A,  Exp 1 min at f32

13.  Winchester Cathedral, South Aisle

An interesting view looking along the tall and narrow side aisle.  Two vergers were standing in it, and one of them moved during the long exposure.  I was fortunate in that the natural light was falling on the marble figure.

6 Feb 1988 at 2.30pm. Wista 54 Camera,  Lens 90mm W/A , Exp NR

14.  Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset, Detail of Bench End

Taken by a similar technique as the two figures in the choir stalls of Exeter Cathedral.  However, the top left corner came out much brighter than the bottom right and drastic shading was required in the darkroom.

13 Sep 1984, Nikon FE Camera, Lens 35mm PC, Exp flash direct  45deg / 45deg

15.  Abbey Church of St Philibert, Tournus, France

This scene was taken with an exceptionally wide angle 65mm lens. 

10 Sep 1987, Wista 54 Camera,  Lens 65mm Very W/A , Exp 20sec at f22

16.  Church of St Nicholas, Compton, Surrey, The Sanctuary

This was taken at Harvest Festival time.  There was no particular difficulty in taking the scene, but it required extremely complex burning and dodging in the darkroom to produce the effect that I visualised at the time.

6 Oct 1985, Wista 54 Camera, Lens 65mm Very W/A, Exp 2.5 min at f45

17.  The Temple Church, City of London, The Round

This is a further view of the Temple Church, in this case taken from within the circular nave. It needed a very wide angle lens.

7 Feb 1989 at 11.00am, Wista 54 Camera, Lens 90mm W/A, Exp 15sec at f32

18.  York Minster, The Nave

This was taken just after Christmas, early in the day, just as the sun was piercing the mist outside.  This has given a good sense of modelling, and was not too difficult to print.  Compare with a similar view in Panel 2.

3 Jan 1986, Wista 54 Camera, Lens 90mm W/A, Exp 7 min at f32