Tom McCreary, APSA, MPSA
July 2024 - Old Church and Cemetery
About the Image(s)
I was out exploring the countryside near my home and I came across this old church building and cemetery. I wanted to use some of the grave markers to add interest to the foreground. It is St James United Church of Christ ( but the name has changed several times over the years). The church building was built in 1896, and an interesting fact is that at that time, the sermon was given in German, but soon changed to English. Some of the grave markers are dated in the 1850's. I used my Olympus camera and 14-150mm lens at 17mm, 1/500th second, and ISO 200.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
9 comments posted
Tom, you did a nice job on this and as expected you did a nice job technically. The image has a lot of visual interest and tells its story plainly. Having said that, I find my eye bouncing between the headstones and the church - I'm not sure how I would improve the composition but images with a COI and where the viewer remains focused on a single subject tend to do better in compositions in my opinion - still, a really nice and different capture Posted: 07/04/2024 23:24:06
It may be the headstone on the far left, since it has so much visual detail. Removing that head stone, or blurring the detail may help the image -- what do you think? Posted: 07/12/2024 19:52:10
A good composition - Simplicity (less is more!); the grave markers acting as foreground interests; the grave markers acting as a 'repetition'; the church itself with its windows and architecture. Posted: 07/08/2024 16:00:20
Tom - yes the headstone on the far left does hold the eye for a second or so, but even if removed, my eye would still wander through the image. I think the image needs a clear center of interest, in this case, you have head stones and a church. Posted: 07/12/2024 20:40:58
Very nice image Tom. Whilst I get what Butch states, I would view it differently as the headstones acting as leading lines and adding to an interesting element to the image and even enhancing it. Without the headstones, it would only be a church. With them included the story is complete. I would not change a thing. Well done. Posted: 07/15/2024 13:59:47
Hoshedar, thanks, that is what I was wanting for the image. Butch has a differing idea, but maybe that is why photography is considered an art with viewers seeing an image differently. Posted: 07/15/2024 14:05:41
I guess being 83, gravestones send a chill. The scene is so bright and cheerful. maybe be a bit darker. The clouds are cheerful too. But sort of point to the church. The tombstones provide a leading line to the church. It is a well presented and and well handled photo. Posted: 07/24/2024 20:14:40
Thanks for the comments. I am 79, so not much younger than you. Posted: 07/24/2024 21:58:09
I like your overall image Tom speaking of an older church with character in its design, many mature shade trees, an accompanying cemetery and a gorgeous sky. To Butches point, yes there is no one specific COI, but instead, there is a basic story here to be noted. Posted: 07/26/2024 20:43:24