Mikeinlagardette's photos with the keyword: churches

Following on from the last pic, here's another church doorway from the 12C, this time in central France, and we can see that although it is more stylish than the one in Guiting Power, it has many similarities. Like St Michael's, the church was drastically altered, here in the 17thC, but again the doorway was incorporated in the later work. The decoration of the arch orders is very elaborate, and it's remarkable to think that it was done more than 800 years ago by men who probably lived in little more than mud and straw hovels! The style of decoration with the polylobal inner arch is quite common to this area, whereas the ball ornaments in the fourth order are more unusual. Taken with the Welmy Six a few years ago. 1952 Tasei Koki Welmy Six, f4.5/75mm Terionar lens, X2 yellow filter. Fomapan 100 in Caffenol C, 10 mins @21C. Scanned @1200dpi on Epson V500

The previous two photos were taken with folders, but this was with a TLR, my ancient and battered Mamiya C2, which I still have. Although heavy and rather unwieldly, these are one of the best tlr's ever made, and the only one with interchangeable lenses, which are world class ! Guiting Power is a village in the Cotswold Hills, north of Cheltenham, and the church is a little way out of the town. Originally 12thC, it was extensively renovated and much altered during the 19thC, but the restorers kept this rather grand Norman doorway. Mamiya C2, f2.8/80mm Sekors. Shanghai GP3 @ 200, developed in Thorntons Two Bath, 4 + 4 mins @21C

Church and State! Here is the church seen from the main street, and you can see the way that it is the most prominent building in this part of town. The tower was built at the beginning of the 15thC, as much for a fortification as for religious purposes, and indeed, for some time it served as a prison during the middle ages, as well as the base camp of the feudal lord and his entourage! The houses are much later, 18thC I guess, and the one nearest us actually has a pathway to the church running beneath the bedrooms, although there are the remains of what I think was an old bakery behind, so maybe it was the baker's house - who knows! 1948 Kodak Tourist 120, f4.5/105mm Anaston lens, x2 yellow filter. Foma 400 in Thornton's Two Bath, 6 mins stand in A & B @21C Scanned @ 1200dpi on Epson V500.

The church of Saint Sulpice was built in Romanesque style in the 12th century, but has since been extensively altered, most notably by the the fortification of the choir and eastern gable sometime in the 14thC, and the construction of the massive tower around 1400. Like most of these small villages and towns in the area, the church is the dominant building, but there are quite a few other interesting old buildings in the town. More play with stand developing two baths, this time with the Kodak Tourist for transport! 1948 Kodak Tourist 120, f4.5/105mm Anaston lens, x2 yellow filter. Foma 400 in Thornton's Two Bath, 6 mins stand in A & B @21C Scanned @ 1200dpi on Epson V500.

That's enough railways - for now! Notre Dame de la Reconnaissance, seen from the market place. Most of my local pictures tend to be of older buildings, but this church is relatively modern, built between 1905 and 1908. It replaced an older church, which was apparently beyond reasonable repair. Taken with a 1948 Kodak Reflex II, a beautifully made American camera, the first production TLR to have a fresnel screen viewfinder, and razor sharp lenses of an unusual design - the fact that is 620 means it doesn't get used as often as a 120 camera might, but it's a pleasure to use. 1948 Kodak Reflex II, f3.5/80mm Anaston lens, x2 yellow filter. Foma 100 in divided D23, 5+5mins @21C. Scanned @1200dpi on Epson V500