I suspect I'm not alone in finding myself drawn to the small rural churches that dot the landscape in Iowa and the Midwest. I find their simple design appealing and maybe more appropriate for a place of worship than more formal designs of churches found in large cities.
Many of these churches have been in use for generations. I can't help but feel that after decades of witnessing countless hours of prayer, the joy at weddings and baptisms, and the sorrow of funerals these buildings have absorbed a sense of spirit that truly makes them sacred places.
This is the Palmyra Methodist Church (Palmyra is near Carlisle, IA). I'm posting it because I've submitted a grant to the Iowa Arts Council to fund a project to take similar pictures of churches throughout the state. Preparing the grant proved to be an intense experience. By forcing me to look at the project from different perspectives, it's been worth the time I've spent on it even if funding isn't approved. It was also good practice for applying for other grants in the future.
I tend to work too fast when photographing. I keep trying to tell myself to slow down but apparently I'm not a very good listener. It helps, a little, to shoot in large format because nothing happens quickly in large format. I still find myself moving more and thinking less. This is rarely a good combination.
I'm happy with this picture because I actually did slow down and it paid off with a much better photo. I had composed a shot concentrating on just the three outside window shapes. I was about to take the photo when I told myself to step back and look again. This time I listened. That's when I noticed the sunlight shining through to the interior wall. I had to move the camera a foot or so to get the fourth window shape framed properly.
Chalk one up for patience.
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