What’s the best way to show the beautiful features of the ceiling in a 12th century building?
I’ve just got back from a short trip to Tewkesbury and the Cotswolds. The abbey at Tewkesbury is one of the best religious buildings I have ever photographed and the Cotswolds is famous for its areas of outstanding natural beauty. But for this weeks challenge I’m going to show you a photograph taken in the abbey.
The Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin, Tewkesbury, (commonly known as Tewkesbury Abbey), in the English county of Gloucestershire, is the second largest parish church in the country and a former Benedictine monastery. It is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Britain, and has probably the largest Romanesque crossing tower in Europe.
Walking round the abbey, you can find so much to photograph, I spent nearly 5 hours there. The artwork on the ceiling is very intricate, but, because the abbey is so tall you don’t half crick your neck trying to view it…
…and that’s where the mirror comes into its own. By looking in the mirror you can view the magnificent ceiling of the abbey easily.
Not the easiest thing to photograph though, I had to get a lens cloth out to polish the fingerprints off the mirror and for some reason I had difficulty getting the camera to focus sharply, but here it is anyway. A different POV for the ceiling in the abbey.
Have you ever seen anything like this? Or perhaps you’ve found something that helps to display unique features in a building?
Say It With A Camera 
Very nice POV
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Thanks for looking…
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Great POV – makes you wonder though why people would want to put their fingers all over the mirror! Thanks for the ping back.
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Thanks for taking the time to visit and comment. As to the finger marks. Quite possibly because they are pointing something out to a friend.
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Look, look can’t you see – right there! That must be it…
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Where? Where? Are you sure that’s it….?
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🙂
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Yep!
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Great shot! I was just reading an article last night on using reflections in our shots. Great example! And thanks too for the ping!
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I use reflections a lot in my landscape photographs but it must be the first time I have used a mirror. Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment..
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This is so unusal and beautiful. Never heard of a using a mirror for viewing but this is so different and to me original. I must say that the abbey is IMPRESSIVE and you are so fortunate to have so much beauty in the UK to photograph.
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It’s the second time I have visited the abbey, Yvonne, and this time I found different things to photograph. The mirror photograph was one of those “that looks interesting” ones. It was almost closing time in the abbey, it was quiet, no tourists and I had walked down to get one final full length photograph. I was standing by the mirror and you know the rest.
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Very well done reflection, Mike. I love capturing reflections, it’s part of my photography. Thank you for sharing. http://www.corneliaweberphotography.wordpress.com
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Thank you for taking the time to comment. If I can incorporate a reflection I will…
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That is one beautiful photo! I would love to visit there someday. Thank you for the pingback.
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It’s my second visit to the abbey. Great place to photograph and so much as well…added bonus Gloucester Cathedral is a short drive away.
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This is truly awesome. Both the church and the way you captured the ceiling in the church. Hope you don’t mind me reblogging. (I am a bit obsessed with architecture)
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Thank you for taking the time to visit. Earlier this year I decided to go Creative Commons, not only on my pictures, but also on my blog musings. So I have no objection to you re-blogging anything from my blog.
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Reblogged this on Something to Ponder About and commented:
What a ceiling!
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