Dennis Aubrey Photography

Magnifiques photos d'eglises romanes. Vous avez un grand sens de la composition en architecture.

Dennis, I see that you admire Romanesque style, which is the one that I prefer too. You convey the mood of mediaeval churches perfectly, thanks to your architecture photographs we may rest for a while in these silent interiors feeling calm and harmony. As I see that you have joined photo.net only two weeks ago (I am here for almost a year now) I wish you many comments and constructive critiques. Regards, Michal.

Thank you both for the very kind comments. Am very interested in romanesque architecture in France (especially Auvergne and Poitivin styles). Will go back and shoot again next year and will post those shots as well.

Hello Dennis--indeed I used HDR processing on the Blue Rocks picture. I noticed Altamira in your bio--Altamira sponsored the live waterfront concerts that we hosted in Toronto each August--opera etc. I am an on-air broadcaster with Classical 96.3 FM in Toronto (CFMX-FM)---you have impressive work here---Michael Lyons

Dennis, thanks for your kind comments. I am impressed with your work as well and look forward to seeing more of it. You do nice work with the church architecture, bringing out the serenity and majesty it embodies. You non-architecture work is equally if not more impressive. I have no speciality; I'm just a lifelong Boston guy who ended up in the Pacific Northwest searching for who knows what.

thank you very much for your kind words... you have a great portfolio. i love churc photos. you captured them in a very artistic way. congrats...

Very gentle treatment of your subject. Well made.

Dennis, thanks for your comments on my portfolio. I like your interior shots a lot, they are very beautiful, and perfectly framed. I feel honored about your words. Regards. Ruben

Hi Denis, I appreciate your supportive comments on my Pantheon (Paris) shot. It brought me here to your portfolio which is most impressive. The mood and atmosphere of your Romanesque work is so evocative of those magnificant places. As an architect I applaud it. I agree with your comments in your bio about ratings. There is no consistency or value in such a numbers game. I wish more people would take the time to comment and especially to offer constructive criticism like: "could have considered a different crop" or "the shadows are a bit deep" or "consider a warmer tonality". As an architect we are trained through critique and there is merit i such dialogue. Thanks for your comments - cheers. - Paul

Thank you for your supportive comments on my works. I like your work, your Romanesque shots are excellent, very well done in a poor of light conditions. I'm looking forward to see more of your shots. Regards.

Dennis: Excellent Portfolio...especially HDR work! Thank you. John Math

... thanks for your kind words on my portfolio, and thanks for looking at my work. The critical feedback is one of the great things about PN.

Hey. Your portfolio is a preatty damn good!i like your works.

Fantastic Portfolio.Compliments.

Many thanks, dear Dennis, for your critique.

Si, vivo in questo periodo, il momento piu' brutto della mia vita....

But, this is the life...

Best regards.

La vostra arte e piena della bellezza, Oliver. Cio e vita.

Tanks much for your visit... i like very much your portfolio!!

Dennis, Few photos but all extremely beautiful ones, have begun a big beautiful job, I will return to visit your page photonet. Sincere compliments!!!

Saluti dalla Sicilia

Saro

... Grazie per le vostre parole gentili. I am glad that the subjects that I shoot are to your liking. I am so anxious to go back and continue the project. I have in mind a dozen or so more churches and a handful of the Madonnas. If you haven't seen it, I have a new presentation on the Black Madonnas.

Your portfolio is really very good..i like all of your photos...congrats.regards.

Congratulations for your fantastic work. Good compositions and beautiful captured light. Best Wishes Dennis. Thanks so much for nice words and your Velazquez, was really great comparation, very appropriate!!

I love your church pictures. Few people seem to appreciate what it is that you like, I guess it is an educated taste. It's nice to meet educated people then. Thanks for looking at my picture and for your insightful commentaries. I read you bio and looked at your pictures...Interesting. I have tons of church pictures Gothic and Roman but not too much interest out there so I keep em for myself. I like both styles...the plain honesty and simplicity of the Roman and the nature like thin and delicate Gothic. Rouen and Chartres have wonderful Cathedrals if you ever have a chance to visit. I was explained about black madonnas (by my mom) but I forgot. I will check it out now.

I am not dissillusioned with the low raters, I know very well that when someone submits his/her work to the public her/his work is no longer his/hers but belongs to the public. I am dissillusioned at the way this site has dwindled to levels I never could have imagined. I guess that massifying it is the only way that the present management has found to making more money out of the site. So be it with their site, but not any more with new pictures of mine.

I shall, however, continue visiting your pictures around here.

Anyone interested in visiting my more recent work is invited to come to my web page or to the site linked below:

www.albertoconde.net

Alberto Conde-profile and uploads in pQ

Awesome work on the Romanesque cathedrals... This type of photography is difficult to do...right.... The rest of your 'folio is handled well with your skills and eye.

Thanks for stopping by my 'folio.

As for the drive by ratings, immature folks that enjoy low balling good photography and rating some really bad photography high. Also, depends on time of day. If PN didn't filter the 1's and 2's there would be a whole boat load of those. Don't know about you, but I don't post 3/3 work for the public to see, even tho' I shoot a whole boatload of them! I take it with a grain of sand & salt..;-)

... but the fact of the matter is for me that I just don't care. My only position is that I don't rate, only critique. I believe in dialogue, not monologue. Lots of people work really hard on their ratings and I appreciate that. The best thing about this subject for me is that when members rate, their names are posted, and that introduces me to a number of people, many of whose portfolios are superb, which I appreciate whatever rating they assigned a particular photo of mine.

And Pascal, thanks for the reference to Rouen and Chartres, very familiar with both, in fact shot for a couple of days at Chartres last May (the black Madonna Notre Dame du Pilier is in my portfolio and in the Black Madonna presentation). Will be spending more time on the Gothic after I do the Romanesque, which is my primary target. As for your statement that people aren't interested in these church shots ... maybe not thousands, but I have certainly made contact with lots of people who resonate with both the buildings and sometimes with the shots. Go ahead and post yours, I would love to see them.

Dennis, thank you for visiting my work. Your images express glory, reverence, ingenuity, beauty, and your passion for your chosen subjects. I admire your work, your philosophy, and how you encourage dialogue over rating. I sometimes fall prey to the need for validation to overcome my lack of confidence. A complicated issue, the whole number thing. I think your passion is a gift. Thank you for sharing. Regards. Denise

Thanks for visiting me and glad to get to know you and your work. It is strong in its genre!

... addressed your story under the pic. But thanks so much for telling me. I am not a religious man, but I do have a strong religious instinct. It finds its outlet in the quest to represent the divine here on earth; in words, in music, in statuary (the Sedes Sapientae madonnas). I'm not a great believer in nature as the representative of God, which it clearly is, but there is no struggle in that. Nature is his handiwork and it is what he made it. Our attempts, on the other hand, to grope to an understanding of what is divine in the world, in nature, in ourselves, is of infiinite interest to me.

Hi Dennis, I just want to say your portfolio has opened my eyes to really fantastic images of the beautiful churches, they are truly majestic and such a wonder to behold! I'll visit again with pleasure. Thanks for taking the time to visit my porfolio, I'm glad you like it :) Warm regards, Teresa!

We have a lot of glass in our sunroom, so we get plenty of bird smashes, but it never ocurred to me to photograph one, so when I saw your image, I knew I had to give it a 7 for originality! I do like the cathedrals and madonnas better, though...really lovely.

Wishing you all of the best my friend

My friend, I felt so happy going through your Portfolio here, wonderful skill and very great talent reflected in very superb work of photography which I did enjoy viewing

Thank you my friend for sharing this very impressive and beautiful Art with us.

very impressive indeed, the choice of the subject, actual interpretation of the subject-value is incredible, you have realy made these pictures speak or should i say S C R E A M!!!!

very beautiful! great portfolio!

Very Beautiful! Love your portfolio! You should do more people too! Love the picture of the child in the helmet. amy

Great portfolio, I like expecially architecture photos, very interesting and well done. Congratulations also for your famous compression algorithm. Bye.

Dennis, your architectural images are simply exquisite and splendid! Congrats. Regards.

Hi Dennis.

Thanks a lot for your comment at my portfolio. As I can see you have a very good one, with excellent shots and the black madonnas too... very interesting.

You are not just a photographer, you like to "talk" about culture in your shots, and that is amazing. Congratulations ;-) and well done.

Your portfolio speaks volume of your artistic abilities and your arches work caught my immediate attention, HDR is also very beautifully done but I loved your arches work very beautifully and masterly done. Good luck

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my photos, especially "Strings", because it is dear to my heart and not many people seem to notice it. You have a wonderful collection here; I really like and admire that you have a "goal" with the church series. And you've done a beautiful job with them.

... Rashed, thanks for the good words and for your falcon, it always pleases me to see it around PN.

Naveed ... hope I don't annoy you with my screaming ... thought it was just a gentle whisper :)

Tanya, Amy, Vittorio and Kelvin, thanks for the kind words. I very glad that these pictures resonate to others. I spend a great deal of time thinking, and studying, and shooting these images and sometimes wonder if I am going in the right direction. Feedback like yours helps make sure I stay on track.

Donibane ... "talking culture" in my pictures, thank you very much. It is interesting how the study informs the pictures. I have been learning medieval vault construction for a couple of years now, and as it starts to sink into my consciousness how brilliant these artisans were, I try to capture it in the shots. The Romanesque renaissance was an inspired time in Europe and especially in France. We are lucky to have such tangible residue from that time. What I am trying to do is reconstruct how it felt, what it meant to them. Something in that touches me profoundly.

Yasir ... you are too kind in your words, but thank you. I am particularly interested in your comments on the HDR, since (if it comes under my control as a technique), it is ideal for shooting Romanesque churches which are, by definition, fairly dark. My next trip to France in September and October will feature a great deal of HDR work.

And S.J., it is nice to have a goal. I've never been interested particularly in photography as an end in itself, at least for me. There are so many more people here (including you) with a far more developed photographic imagination. But I am trying to get at something hidden, mysterious and secret, something resident in these splendid buildings. The fact that it will never unveil completely makes the process at the same time frustrating (life is not eternal and I will never finish the project) and exciting (...can't wait to get up in the morning and see what can be learned next).

Thank you all for your interest and your kindness in commenting on both the portolio and the individual shots. It is possible to learn a great deal on PN because of the generosity of its members.

thanks for your nice comment !

very good portfolio and fantastic light on church !

Hi, Dennis, nice collection of very thoughtfully composed shots for such a great portfolio, the light, composition, color tones & details are just wonderful!!! Thanks for your visiting & warm comments! Best regards

Thank you for your nice comment on my pictures. It gave me the opportunity to discover your portfolio ; And I am just amazed. your churches pictures are with no doubt the best I've seen so far. Your use of light is unique and perfectly stresses the greatness and beauty of the awe inspiring architecture. Nice portraits too. I will be back...

Cher Dennis,

merci infiniment pour tes gentils mots au sujet de ma Photographie!

I like very much your Interiors of Church as for the light and composition! Well done also with your Subject - Black Madonna - great concept and you are going to make a good documentary on that subject!

My warmest regards,

et bisous,

Biliana

... merci, Jean Louis.

Richard, your portfolio is amazing ... you are one of those photographers who can seemingly shoot in any style, any subject, and come up with great results. I appreciate your praise.

Alain, in my opinion, the finest architectural work in this field comes from the camera of Theo Jacobs(http://www.photo.net/photodb/member-photos?user_id=329745&include=all). He shoots many of the same subjects but is technically and artistically a superior photographer. Please check out his site and let me know your thoughts.

Biliana, merci tellement de votre interet. Combien de langues parlez-vous ? I went back to your portfolio again last night to see some of the water drop shots. Amazing work.

Dennis, Thanks for all your helpful words. I really needed someone to fill me in on the file size upload detail. I also apreciate you for taking the time to point me towards John Crosley's street photos. I like the images I see on your portfolio at first glance. I will comment after I've had time to look them over well.

Dennis, it was a pleasure to talk to you around the Westport table Saturday; I thank you for the pointers to Theo and Carsten, and have explored some of your work here as well. I must say the Meymac Madonna is a favorite; I had no idea such things existed. A worthy project. Your images are very faithful. And now I am aware of HDR too...

... ain't the internet grand? A chance remark about a camera shop in Paris and look where we ended up! It was a pleasure, thanks for making contact and I'll be over to visit your stuff soon.

(=hello in finnish), thanx for yar comment about my ?church II) forum post! like yar shots; it seems that ya ave interest in architecnical details.. would like to see more shots about people etcetera, ya ave good eye, ave to admit that. ya asked questions about my photo, this church is definitely huge part of our cultural history, if yar interested to kno more here's link to Turun Tuomiokirkko's page: http://www.turunsrk.fi/portal/turun_tuomiokirkko/english/ hope that ya find the answers ya need! greetingz from Finland; keep posting man all the best;

-Mikko-

Dennis, My grateful thanks for your input......"my primary concern as a photographer is the subject, not an interpretation of the subject". At last someone with the 'eye' and intellect to go with it. I have lost count of the many times as a professional I received the likes of: " we are photographing a bloody motor car, not a dolly bird". The key is to photograph what interests or appeals to you and you have certainly taken that to heart. Your protfolio is tight, clean and technically of the highest order and I congratulate you. Do not, under any circumstance, be deflected from your vision of what is or what is not the correct view, angle or composition...you have a great future as an image - maker if you contuinue to do it your way......John

... for the extremely kind words and advice. At my age, am pretty much set in my ways as to the path of my life, but always try to be open to the way to do it better, your note falls directly in that category. Am going back to France for 2 months this fall to shoot about 25 churches and another dozen vierges romanes. Am doing the research now and can't wait to get over there. While I get lots of images that I like, every once in awhile there is something that shows up that wasn't planned. Those images, of course, are the most special. In particular, there is one image of the south aisle of Notre Dame la Grande in Poitiers. I was trying to take the picture of a widow lighting a candle in the far distance, but by the time the shot was set, she had disappeared just out of sight. Took the picture anyway, and really didn't even look at it for about three months, and then, boom ... there it was. That feeling of the living spirit of the church and the impulse that built it almost 900 years ago. Exactly the reason that I am taking these shots in the first place. That alone confirmed my path. So, thank you for visiting and commenting. It means a great deal to me that you did so.

Although there are very few photos in the collection, but it's a glimpse of an artist. Please upload more.

Regards...

Hey Deniis, how are you. I'm finally getting to your work and d It is Quite lovely! I especially like your street scenes in France and all your arches stuff. Love the Bass fishing hole in Boston also! Thanks for the continued support of my work, which by the way i might add is all HAND manipulated work with No Computer Aid. They are polaroids that i heat up and manipulate with various tools. The finished product is a 50X50 inch canvas piece that i stretch like a painting and varnish. I'ts fun work!! Thanks again ,Matthew.

thanks for looking... i really liked that one and thanks for the advise

Great portfolio. I am particularly fond of all your wonderful church interiors. Each one is a gem. Thank you for sharing your photos with us. Dan

Beautiful landscapes & cityscapes.

Thanks for your comment on the Wood's Hole Harbor shot. I must admit that I agree with you. All to often when we fix one thing another problem is created. I also admit that I did not take a great deal of time correcting something that another person suggested. A few quick clicks of the mouse rarely fixes anything substantially. However I am fortunate enough to have had someone like yourself be honest enough to make me aware of the goof. We do learn from our mistakes.

I did enjoy my visit to your impressive collection. Cape Cod is a favorite vacation spot for me. I plan to visit there once more this summer with my girlfriend. Of course the cameras will be with us as usual.

Cheers, and keep up the good work.

Dave

Great work! Excellent portofolio wiht superb shots.

Congrats.

Dennsi, It may be a black madonna indeed, I was also surprised. Wolf

Dennis,

The madonna was found begin 15th century found at the shore of river Beerze, near Oirschot//Eindhoven//Netherlands.

Wolf

---------------text in dutch-------------------------------

Maria van de Heilige Eik

Het originele 40 centimeter hoge beeldje van Onze Lieve Vrouw van den Heiligen Eik wordt in de Sint-Petruskerk van Oirschot bewaard; de kapel die met dit beeldje verbonden is ligt enkele kilometers ten westen van het centrum van Oirschot.

De oudste vermelding van de legende is te vinden in een geschriftje van Petrus Vladderaccus, begin 17 de eeuw. Volgens deze versie werd er begin 15 de eeuw op het zand in het riviertje de Beerze een beeldje van Maria met kind gevonden, dat vervolgens in een eik werd geplaatst en door de boeren en herders werd vereerd. Nadat men het beeldje naar de kerk van Oostelbeers (of Middelbeers) gebracht had, stond het de volgende dag weer op zijn oorspronkelijke plaats. Toen bracht men het beeldje naar Oirschot en bouwde men ter plaatse een primitief kapelletje. In een andere versie wordt het verhaal nog iets aangedikt: hier dreef het beeldje stroomopwaarts en deed men twee keer een poging het beeldje in 'Beers'

... appreciate the information and the link to where I can find more. Fascinating subject, the madonnas. Amazing how much they reasonate, even today, among the believers.

Thank you so much for your very nice comments dear Dennis!! Are you French? It's such a perfect photogenic country.... I wish I was there right now, hahaha. Thanks!

... but a lover of France, having lived there seven years and visited regularly for 25 more. Thank you for your kind words, and I agree about how France is a photographer's paradise.

Thanks for your visit Dannis, i was happy to read your comment and to see your gallery. Your architectonic works inside the churches is very interesting and well done. See you soon, best regards.

good eye for panoramas and architecture!

Dennis. Thank you so much for your comment regarding the photomontage of Coventry Cathedral, very much appreciated. Compliments aslo to your work. Regards.

Great work. I love the black Madonnas. I hope some day to take photos like yours. Thanks for all of your comments, suggestions, and your encouragement. Thanks Lex

Awesome work on the cathderals. Respect!

You have a fantastic folio yourself. I really like the composition, and the lighting in the photos you take. The photos of the churches are really inspiring, and looking forward to seeing more of the images. Well done. Cheers

Your nice comment on my portfolio brought me here at your wonderful gallery of architecture and interiorshots.High quality work and often underrated ,IMO. Keep up the great work! With kind regards,Jim

... and you have an ghift for landscapes, architectura, /historical kind of photos. Your portfolio is hindsight.

Best wishes, Cristiann,

... what a very nice comment that you made. My photos are "hindsight". It took a moment for me to understand what you are saying, but I think you are absolutely right. I am looking into the past and trying to feel and understand what has happened. Thank you for the very nice phraseology.

Hi, Dennis,

Thank you for making the effort to comment on one of my Photo?s, it is always appreciated. As a user of HDR, I enjoyed your subtle use you have made of it, you have managed to expand the limits of the dynamic range and capture detail though the range, also nice use of colours in the Romanesque HDR section. A interesting Portfolio.

Roger Harper.

a very rich portfolio filled with classic photographs....you deserve congraulations! john

... having recently discovered your fine portfolio, am quite pleased that you found this work of interest. Appreciate the time you took to visit and comment.

Dennis, thank you for your nice comment on my 'introductory' portfolio. I am new to posting on this site and find the ratings system intriguing. All of your images are stunningly photographed and I look forward to visiting, often.

Thanks for your most kind comments on my photos as of late! Your words are always an inspiration for me!! I can tell you get it! I know a while back you inquired about getting a piece for your lady and i never got back to you, and i apologize for that as it was a very stressful summer and early fall as my lady was injured pretty badly at a music concert and has been recovering. Didn't do much shooting this summer except for the diptych you commented on, and to hear that you loved it really made my past 4 months!! Thanks for your support as always and i look forward to commenting on some of your photos soon, hope all is well with you and your lady!! Matthew.

... perhaps one reason is that we both work in fields that are out of the mainstream of PN photography (manually manipulated polaroids and Romanesque churches?), although I have found incredible support here from a great number of people. Surely your work does as well. Look forward to hearing from you again, and best of luck.

What an amazing portfolio! I am amazed, I could spend all day here. Too bad I have to do a few things today. I will return for a much more in-depth look. What I have seen so far is outstanding. Marking you as one of my interesting people :)

Thank you Dennis, for adding a comment to my portfolio.

Once my proff mentioned that all that we like and love is when we see a bit of ones self in it, or could associate with it, eg ones Kid, ones religion, a favourite book etc.

You have worked on fractals, hence the word fractal interested you, seems you like symmetry, patterns, that could be a reason the tunnel picture was a bit interesting.

Reasoning aside, I will take all the feedback appreciation I can get, especially from some one like you. Thank you.

Sorry for the mumbo jumbo :)

The fractal was misleading, physics sence of it, but thought was representative of my impression on the picture -- when I dig into the picture, the art the picture captures has same tone as the picture itself, isn't it what fractals is about, when you zoom in on a pattern/form you realize that the compenents forming the subject approximate the subject eg the univere to the sub atomic particles, surface profile at contact etc.

I am fortunate to get a comment from you, and I am very glad, thank you

In this case I want to tell you THANKS with all my heart. Your tender gesture to me (and my sadness) has been full of significance. I have been visiting your images again and, Love your Black Madonnas work, please continue doing so well. Send you big HUG. Muchas gracias por tu bello y conmovedor gesto. You are GREAT dear Dennis! Thanks so much.

You have a wonderful collection of churches. Its a great subject but any reason why you are taking only photos of these structures. The presentation of black madonnas is interesting but I would have to come back with more time to look at them. Thanks for visiting my profile and leaving comments.

... Marta, you are very welcome, I hope she helped.

Deb, interesting question. Actually do shoot other things than the Romanesque churches of France, but that subject is an overwhelming passion right now (along with the associated Vierges Romanes). It is part of a larger project, and well, perhaps I am a monomaniac of sorts:)

i love allways your ligth !!

on the "Romanesque 2007" folder, you are always softness, gracefully and beauty, your portfolio have more respect from this fantastics churchs, your point of view are magnified by your sensibility some colors. for me, you are the best photographer, about the serenity of this places.

i like too your folder "vierge romane" i have do a work, on the divers vierges in the street of my city.

PS: i'm really desoled for my language maybe is strange, pardon !!

... essayez en Francais, si vous voulez. Et merci pour ces mots; Je suis en admiration de votre travail!

j'aime toujours beaucoup, votre lumiere !!

dans votre fichier "romanesque 2007" vos photos ont toujours beaucoup de douceur, de grace et de beaute. votre portfolio est le plus respectueu de ces magnifiques eglises. votre point de vue est magnifie par votre sensibilitee des couleurs et de la lumiere. pour moi, vous ete le meilleur photographe en ce qui concerne la spiritualite et la serenitee de ces endroits.

j'aime aussi votre fichier "vierges romanes" car j'ai fait un travail semblable, sur les vierges, dans les rues de ma ville.

j'ai vus une photo qui pourrais etre de vous chez cette personne Brittany Brown: http://photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=2277684

dp: je suis desole de vous avoir fait peur avec mon "viaduc de millau", moi c'est l'inverse j'ai tres peur du vide !

... merci de ces mots merveilleux. J'essayerai de ne pas prendre trop de photos des espaces vides et de ne pas vous causer n'importe quelle crainte:) J'ai vu les vierges d'Arles dans votre fichier ... elles sont belles dans leurs places ouvertes. Merci encore.

Dennis - really great work. I look forward to returning to europe and photographing some of these fantastic cathedrals. Attached are two Madonna images from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.

-Chris

And the second.

... it appears to be using the same forms as the Sedes Sapientiae, except that the Madonna is standing and holding the child. But very much a serious version of the Madonna and Child. Thanks.

You have very beautiful and well thought out photographs. I would say you are a bit of a Weston. I understand your critiques and point of view. I do have many images where I use HDR, small apertures, and a tripod with cable release and so forth. Do you ever shoot with large format film? I'm curious about your style and wonder how you approach a subject. Also what means you go through to present your photographs on the web with such detail. I too like madonnas and cathedrals...david...

... you make me smile, David, at the extravagance of such a compliment. I'm a guy who who loves to shoot Romanesque churches, and if I do that well, it's plenty for me. But thank you. My style is to look at a church, try to understand it both structurally and ... well, emotionally, is probably the best word. You can feel if a church is alive, or if it is merely a monument. Some of the most famous don't come alive until they are empty of tourists and then you can read the church like a book. So I always get a certain number of fixed shots ... straight down the nave toward the apse, generally capturing the vault. That shot, whether I use it or not, defines the church. After that, it is a question of access. Can we get up into the galleries and shoot from above? Can we shoot in the apse? Is there enough light? Sometimes I am doing 30 second exposures at f8 just to try to see the church, which is too dark to see with my eyes.

But there is always something ineffable about these places, something secret almost, and that is what I try to capture. The sense of why it was built the way it was, how it turned out, how it survived the cataclysms of French history. I have never regretted a single minute spent photographing these structures, not once.

Technically, I shoot almost exclusively with the Canon 24mm tilt-shift lens. I use various other lenses for closeup work on capitals, but 90%+ is done with the wide-angle. The lens is very sharp for being as mechanically complicated as it is, and the ability to correct for vertical perspective distortion is worth the price of the lens alone. Use a Bogen Manfrotto tripod with a geared head, since I also do panoramas of the churches in situ. The geared head is incredibly useful in making small adjustments for the architectural work.

All the shots go into the Adobe Lightroom application for logging, tagging, and archiving. What a program ... smart and efficient. We kept 16,500 shots from our 7 week trip this fall, you can imagine how complex a job it is sorting those out. But we logged them in every evening (maybe 45 minutes work) and it's done. I shoot RAW format and "develop" in Lightroom. Hardly ever use Photoshop anymore, amazingly enough. When I've got a "print", I export at the 72 dpi resolution for Photo.Net, and if necessary adjust the levels and sharpen a little bit (thanks, Theo!) , then frame the shot simply, That's it. I try to do as much in the camera as possible, sometimes shooting 9 brackets because the light is so subtle ... think about the glass in these dark buildings, the time of the day, how the light changes as the sun moves. When things get really crazy, I'll do an HDR, but try to keep it within the stylistic frame of reference established by the single shots.

So, that's it, David. Hope it helps. Good luck with your work!

Hi, thanks a lot for your kind words on my portfolio, it means a lot to me. You have a great portfolio with awesome interior pics, I am looking forward to learn from you :-) Keep In touch.

... have you shot anything there. If so, I'd love to see your work. Thanks for the kind words.

Hey Dennis- Thanks for your comments on my portfolio. After cruising yours you leave no doubt about where your passion resides! Great work, I hope to get over there sometime soon and may ask for some suggestions on locations. Would be great material for some PS compositions! In addition, I deal a great deal in subtle HDR so feel free contact me if you have any questions. Best, JQ

... feel free to ask if you want some recommendations on places to shoot. You can do it publicly or privately via email, and I'll be glad to help. Are you going to put some elephants in a nave?:)

Dennis your passion for architecture is more than evident in the quality of your work. I can hear the echoes in the halls and musty smells of history right before me. I suppose I am most impressed with your exposures which retain the softest details in those glorious rays of light reaching into the shadows and back again. Congratulations.

Dennis

An impressive portfolio on Romanesque church architecture. I am allways impressed by their 'relative simplicity' of the their architecture. There are many examples I will remember, but amongst the most beautifull for is Vezelay

... for your comments. These churches are truly a passion for me; can find wonder in the simplest village church as much as the great basiliques. That being said, Jef, I agree with you completely about Vezelay. Have elsewhere written about my admiration for Viollet le Duc and his astonishing restoration (he got the assignment at the age of 24). There are about five other shots in my portfolio of Vezelay, and probably 500 in my personal archives. Spent 8 days there in September, 4 days the previous May, and at least another week on a couple of other occasions. It changes hour to hour, season by season. To have the great doors of the narthex open through to the nave is one of the great sights in this world of the Romanesque, and if you are ever lucky enough to see it with the church empty ... how absolutely marvelous.

Wonderful architechtural shots.

Nick

Your work is so nice. I'm gonna study your photos somewhat and see if I can't improve my style and perspective towards architecture. If you are ever showing your work in a gallery I'll travel to see it in print and appreciate it more. --David.

Thanks for your comments Dennis ....and guilty as charged ...did do some digital fidelling around ...guess I still have a long way to go before I perfect it... love your compositions... cheers!

Thanks for visiting my portfolio ...ok now I dont know how to put this... but I'm gonna remember you for the rest of my life whether you like it or not... your's are the first comments on my portfolio... thanks buddy and cheers... please do visit often and critique like nobody can... got a feeling you luv doing this anyways....and let the Wisdom of a thousand Black Madonnas dawn on you!

Wowwwwwwwwwwwww! What can i say? Nothing...Thank you for your time and for sharing with us all this diamonds!!!

Its been a pleasure for me to find your gallery. I'm a fan of romanesque and your work is simply outstanding, the best I have seen in PN ever. Congrats and let me put you between my favourites.

Hi Dennis,thanks for your comments...well noted and shall work on it and re-post...Cheers!

Have enhanced the yellows and posted...pls check!Tks!

Terriffic Dennis... it looks perfect...and.... I dont think you are presumptuous!

Thanks for your comment, I really like your France and Panorama sections - regards!

Dennis, Thank you for all of your comments!It is always a nice motivation for people like me who are those little fish in the ocean. I am learning and those comments are more than apreciated. I spent a lot of time on viewing your great portfolio, so I can do better job next time.. Jitka

I thank you for all your kind comments in 2007 and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year plenty of good photos. Ciao, Alx

Amazing collection of architectural shots. I will be back to look closer and comment.

Thanks for taking the time to view and comment on my work.

Thank you Dennis for your comments in my shot. It comforts to receive the commentary of a master, if in addition, this allows to discover a as good gallery me of photos as yours. I request excuses to you by my level of English. Congrats.

Amazing collection! This is for you. Mary Christmas and all the best, Eduard

Dennis, I am impressed with your amazingly well focused portfolio. Your images are consistant and of high quality. Unlike me, you have found your inspiration and it shows in the care you take in your capture through to processing. Your HDR work is inspiring along with the subject that you photograph. The images of the subjects you capture require more than a short visit because of the complex nature and the unbelievable detail rendered. I could spend hours on just one of your images. I would like to see so more HDR images in your gallery. Thanks for your comments on my image. All the Best.

... I think that if you like the subject and HDR, you must know the work of Theo Jacobs. He has a wonderful presentation on church architecture and HDR, and his work is the best. Keep in touch, there is a community of very fine photographers interested in this kind of architectural work. As for your inspiration, I'm sure it's just a matter of turning the right corner.

Please find here the shots I promised http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6743351

I just came across the comments you left in my portfolio and wanted to let you know how grateful I am that you took the time. I was awestruck by your images. You have seen many beautiful and wonderful things and your ability to capture them is a benefit to all who view them. Thanks again.

Regards,

Tim Z

Tks for your visit and comment Dennis. Cheers!

I saw your bio, learned that you developed the Genuine Fractals software that I use and admire, and was floored; went on to view your portfolio--

I am so floored. Merry Christmas!

Your comments on my HDR pics of Trinity church brought me to your gallery - I am truly impressed with your photography and so glad to have had the chance to see your work.

It is also good to know that there are others out there who are fascinated by arches - it was really arches that took me to India, the mix of gothic, Indian, Persian and, yes, even Romanesque architechture has to be seen to be believed! It was also my trip to India that brought me to PN - other tourists in our group requested I put my pics on the web (I think they figured that anyone who lugged 20 lb of photo equipment and tripod around India had to take good pictures - a false premise I might add). I'll be posting more pictures - I've only joined PN a few days ago, so I hope you'll drop in to my gallery again sometime. To tempt you I have posted a picture of the stunning stained glass in the ultra gothic Ste. Chapelle, Paris...

Best wishes to you and PJ in 2008.

excellent portfolio...nice photos u have added

Thank you very much fro your very kind words, and especially for letting me discovering some more meaning of my photo with your very subtle understanding. And thank you therefore for letting me discovering your work. You make it look like HDR is as very easy task, which I know it isn't. Your architecture photography is very beautifull.

Wow I repeat! Dennis, you have an incredible collection of photography particularly your churches. I am really impressed. You obviously know and appreciate what you shoot.

Paul Henri

You have a collection that needs time to enjoy. I m so happy i met your folio Dennis.Perfect work.

... you, me, Jeff Long and Photis. Thanks for the wonderful comment, Ioannis, funny how we cross paths, eh?

Dennis .. thank you for commenting on my abstract gallery. I appreciate your feedback. Best Regards

I remember last October and early November we got in touch again after months.

It's really a pleasure.But let me get serious for a while.

Your images of churches here are unique,made by a true specialist.

Your commitment and dedication on this subject is unbelievable.

There are times I really wonder why is this your favourite subject.

Is it because you're so close to religion,God,faith in general?

Is it a project you have dedicated yourself in because you truly believe in man's fear of the supernatural and worship of Christian religion?

Or is it an esoteric pathos for imaging the symmetry,based on an individual plethoric idiosyncracy of philanthropic scope?

It is not my character to be ironic or sarcastic,so I apologize if my "diagnosis" rather emphatically loses the metron and becomes inelastic and orthological.

I won't apologize for having tyranized you with a little hellenic phraseology,because your gnostic level has been quite didactic for me.

I sure hope we all meet soon ,exchange ideas and enjoy retsina!

Cheers!

... the "why" of it all is hard to answer. I'm not religious per se, although I think I have a deep streak of the need to believe, which takes expression in artistic work. I first fell in love with Romanesque architecture because of its beauty, durability, and variety. But over the years since I've studied it, have come to believe that it is one of the most perfect expressions of faith that architecture has ever produced. Your ancestors, with their temples, the Egyptians with theirs, the Chinese, Japanese, so many others have all found a unique and powerful way to match structure and belief. But it was, not to be showing disrespect, elitist. The Romanesque and Gothic, on the other hand, were "partout", everywhere. Hundreds of churches built every year by towns, cities, monasteries, episcopal sees. They were not just the reflection of Man and God, as are the others, but the record of an entire people. When that faith dissipated, as is inevitable in any civilization, we were left with a stone record of incredible beauty. A direct link, as it were, to the aspirations of these people. Like the Greeks of the Athenian golden age, they were built by a free people. In the 12th Century, these people moved more stone in building their 80 cathedrals and thousand churches than did the Egyptians in the entire history of building their pyramids using slave and conscripted labor.

So, that's where my fascination begins. It goes deeper with the understanding of the Vierges Romanes, of medieval vaulting and how it affected construction, and how these structures have withstood a thousand violent years of history and can still tell their story, if we will only listen. I, my friend Photis, will listen. And I am lucky that PJ listens with me.

Your authenticity wasn't challenged!It is taken for granted.

After your statement,in my mind your whole concept is a prayer and not a stuck-in-the-mud academic approach.

I feel privileged meeting you here .

How right you are to praise the real free people who had built the temples of worship,so unlike the slaves a lot of civilizations used to accomplish the building of forgotten gods' temples.

Bravo for your very coherent work !

Dennis I just checked back to see if you had answered my comment, and what did I find here a comment in your portfolio that I had addressed to Photis. I think it got here because I usually type my comments on one screen and have what I am commenting on, up on the other screen than I copy and paste in to the appropriate place. This time I made a mistake somewhere along the way. have deleted and shall start again. Boy you hit it on the head from "one monomaniac to another" I really enjoyed reading all the comments by yourself and Photis and also Jeff on the Arkadi image. I lived on Crete for 3 and a half years way back in the early 70's, was a wonderful time and have so many fond memories of both Crete and also the wonderful people who inhabit that magical island. I have made you one of my interesting people, to this day I am not sure what it means but have found it quite handy in that I have gotten very forgetful as I get older, so it works well when I forget a name. I just go there and have a browse and up pops the name.

Would love to join you on the beach for a bit of octopus and a taste of that delightful ouzo. You my friend have a wonderful body of work here, all the best..........roger

... and we both have that in common, as well as monomania. I think I've convinced myself that the only cure is that octopus and ouzo bash on the Greek beach. I welcome you to join me in the cure!

Thank you for your nice comment! The tendency of me turning to the left for taking a photo, must be something subconscious. I don't do it on purpose, and I didn't even notice it myself, until you wrote it. But I think, you are right. Turning to the left means being on the right side of the object. Maybe it is a habit that results from driving cars (where you are always on the right side of the road).

I find your work really impressing, especially your church photos.

Dennis, thank you very much for stopping by my portfolio and taking the time to view my photography, it means alot. Also, thank you for the comments you made in regards to my flower pictures. I have been to your portfolio many times and have marveled at your architecture photos. All of your photographs of the cathedrals are amazing, with your lighting and angle of shot, your framing, all spectacular. In short, I think your work is great and I love all the info you provide, it is like I am there. Thanks again, and keep posting.

Mahalo,

Mark

I really like your photos as I am a fan of old churches as well . The photos are really good and I need to put time away to have a look at every one close up - really fasinating! Thanks as well for your comment on my portfolio. Greetings from Scotland - Maja

... we are represented from Germany, Hawaii, and Scotland! How wonderful.

Eike (the right-handed:) ... you're from Aachen I see, home to the wonderful Carolingian Palatine Chapel, which someday I will photograph. It's perfect for you, Eike, because it is octagonal!

Mark, thanks for your kind words ... you know I admire your flowers against the black backgrounds. One problem with the overloading of images on the web, on PhotoNet and in the world itself is that we tend not to look at them, they just kind of pass before our eyes, becoming part of the noise in the environment. In my particular case, I stopped looking at photos of flowers, no matter how beautiful and how perfect. Your shots and Roger Sonneland's got me to look again.

Maja ... your picture of the stag looking back across his body almost defines Scotland for me. I loved it so much years ago when I travelled there, but haven't been back for over 30 years. I'm sure it has changed so much, as has the world. But hopefully the highlands are still wild and cold and windswept, and the spirits still sing in the night.

anche le tue foto sono molto interessanti!!!!!! grazie del tuo positivo commento. A presto Gianluca

Hi Dennis, I've been looking your excellent portfolio up and dawn several times in the last two days. Your Romanesque church images are wonderful, not only from technical and P.P.technique point of view, but you've also been able to make us feel the atmosphere of those places!!! The Black Madonnas presentation is so good that I feel I have to know far more on this subject! Thanks for the very very inspiring work!!! Carlo

... of Romanesque churches and vierges noires. Thank you for your kind words, and welcome to an HDR pioneer, as far as I am concerned. Anyone who reads this post and is interested in realistic uses of HDR should look at Carlo's work posted in early 2008. Carlo, please feel free to post questions or comments on the Black Madonna presentation page and I'll try to answer or point you in a direction. There have been some very interesting conversations on the subject.

Thanks for your comments on my much more modest portfolio. What a superb collection - both as photographs and as objects!

Dennis,

Your series about Romanesque, both exterior and interior, is the one I like the most. By looking at your pictures I can learn more about architectural photography. Thanks for sharing your images with us !

Dennis, I'm so pleased I came over to your portfolio. I'd never really thought about the Madonnas and your presentation and subsequent comments have given me a great deal to think about. The photographs throughout your portfolio clearly demonstrate your passion not just for photography, but for the subject matter as well. Wonderful stuff.

Thank you for having taken the time to comment on my photos! I am falttered that you found that I came to photography (recently enough) through the love for antique paintings and old masters. But more than that, your comments made me discover your amazing portfolio. The quality of your work is incredible and for an amateur photographer as I am, with no technical experience, you are a great lesson in style and coherence. In my portfolio I made few shots of the Maritime Abbey of Beauport near Paimpol (Bretagne). It is a place I found incredibly evocative, I hope one day you will have the occasion to visit it. Nicolo'

... and you come from more than paintings and old masters, but wonderful movies as well. I very much appreciate your comments on my portfolio. PJ and I have two more trips to France to finish this current phase of the project (Pyrenees in September and Normandie the year after. How lucky am I that she loves this project as much as I?). Then we will do the Camino Franc?in Northern Spain. After that? Who know, PhoSant (Photis) has made a great case for the monasteries in Greece! I am glad to have found you and your work on PhotoNet. There is a circle of people who I admire as much as I admire their work.

BTW, I had just commented on your Abbey at Beauport when I came back here and saw your comment! We must have been cross-posting.

Thank you again for nice words. I admire your absolute passion for romanesque. I am just looking for inspiration here and there, my work is not serious and has no discipline in comparison to yours. But I share your admiration for romanesque, as the golden age for church builders. Have you ever considered Italy as a destination? My absolute favourite in the Duomo di Modena. But from north to south you would found dozen of churches in the most pure romanesque style!!!

... absolutely. Lombardy is the birthplace of the Romanesque. There are so many churches there that I want to shoot! Right now, however, it will be between Greece and Italy for the next phase after northern Spain. What a choice, right? Glad you like the Romanesque as well. It is funny, but when I first started posting these, people told me that they had their own shots but nobody was interested. But it is my own experience that many people are interested, even fascinated. Most, to be sure, prefer the Gothic, but still ... to think that these shots still strike a chord. I am very pleased.

Time waits for no one.Rolling Stones.

But these monasteries up there will be there for you,any time you choose.

... amazing shot and vista, with the monastery so far away. PJ and I are researching the Pyrenees now, but you're tempting us! Do you see, Nicolo, what I am up against? And with Marta Llamera pushing for Leon! Now you know why PJ and I will be moving to France in the next few years!

A man who has been into so many churches and monasteries shouldn't have used such a word!

I have just scanned for you a new evil temptation ,captured by a monk in Mt Athos,Holy week.

.... you torture me. What a great shot. I only have the poor man's version of that shot. http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6582604

...I'm an outside only shooter,here's a glance of the Russian monastery's main church in Mt.Athos.Not mine of course,cause I've never been there.

Thanks for the comment and suggestion on my HDR attempt. Really like your portfolio overall and especially the chosen three!

Hi Dennis,

I'm making this comment after commenting on a photo. I have read most of your comments and hopefully my points attached to the photo are still some what relevant.

A very impressive collection indeed is this folio.

I've also learnt a few things, and along with discussion being important, learning also is right up there.

Congratulations on your comments on "the meaninglessness of points" - this echoes my feelings too.

Regards Peter

Denis

It was a great temptation to me, after your so deep and interesting review, you have done at one of my photos, to know more about you through your art-photo work.

I was stunned by the beauty of your photos and especially by your persistence on churches photos. I don't want to call you a liar, but I am sure that somewhere deep in your heart there is a place where God lives, imprisoned in walls.. Your photos have a deep spirituality, OF THEIR OWN, not caused by the minds of the viewers !

But we shall talk it over.

Marios

(have you visited Athos ?)

... Thanks for the comments.

Peter, learning is the great thing, maybe the best thing in the world for me. Today I spent two hours rereading and studying one paragraph in Conant's book on Carolingian and Romanesque architecture. It took that long for me to understand what he was talking about "pseudo-quadripartite vaulting" at the Abbey Church of the Trinity in Caen. I read, looked at the photo, read, looked ... until finally my eyes opened and I saw it. When it happened, it was like a lightning flash in my mind as I understood in a completely new way how medieval vaulting developed. This after a constant study over the last two years. All because of a single word in a single paragraph. Now, when I go to Normandy in two years to photograph the church, it will be a whole different experience than if I had not understood that paragraph.

Marios, thanks again. I believe completely in these exchanges on PN, whether in jest like the Arkadi photo that PhoSant posted, which was so much fun, or in the shot that you and I discussed on your site. It is quite something when ideas spark across the distance like this.

altough I'm more of a cemetery man myself I hardly ever walk past a church or cathedral and I have to say you've got some great ones here. It seems to me that your not into b&w but I think that a lot of them would be just as good, if not better in b&w. Good work.

... funny, but I just put a black and white of Germigny-les-Pres up today. I think I need to get better at black and white processing first, but thanks. I think you may be right.

Excellent portfolio, Dennis. And many thanks for your comment.

Thank you for visiting my site and leaving such a kind word. Coming from you is indeed an honor. I have been very interested in Genuine Fractuals since I have many request for larger prints from my clients. For billboard size I usually use the Hasselblad H2D 39 mb DSLR. It does do justice for studio work but shooting travel shots is a bit cumbersome. Your interior architectural work on cathedrals are superb.

... the comments are always appreciated.

Alec, we developed GF over ten years ago (first released in 1997) and it is still in the market. I'm very proud of that. At the time, it was revolutionary, today, just one of the tools in the arsenal. I appreciate your kind words on my photography of Romanesque churches. I'm afraid I don't range as freely or as creatively as you do across the photographic landscape :) But I love shooting these churches and will be going for at least another two years!

Dennis, as soon as I first saw your portfolio and realised that you are such a specialist in photographing romanesque architecture, the fact that one shot of mine of this kind had deserved your attention truly came as a compliment! Quite a collection of finely crafted shots you have, where competence, quality and beauty stand out. I soon found myself having opened over 20 windows for a closer look at various shots. Quite telling, although somewhat overwhelming! So now I have the difficult task of selecting a couple to tell you more specifically how I feel about them ... I will.

I also have to say that the statement, in your bio, about your photographs not being intended as an interpretation but as a plain representation left me scratching my head a bit. Is it modesty, perhaps an alibi ...? The fact is that many of your shots, because of the choice of viewpoint, selective framing or even timing, go in my opinion well beyond a literal representation to become something more personal, which only adds further interest to your portfolio. Just my view, of course, but I am sure I am not alone on this one!

Thank you very much for your recent kind attention to my modest travel pictures. I look forward to seeing more of your work and keeping exchanging impressions in the future. All the best for now.

... and thank you so much for your kind words. Of course I understand that my interpretation of the shots is inevitable, and even desirable, perhaps. I was reacting to people who don't try to understand the buildings, who dutch the angles and try to impose their aesthetic on the buildings. I am trying to subordinate to the artists and craftsmen whose genius and beliefs created these masterpieces. If I can penetrate that 800 years and try to feel and grasp what they held to be manifest, then maybe the building's photograph can show some of that. I look forward to hearing more from you and to seeing more of your own work. That last cloister shot, from behind the dark pillars, is quite special.

Not to worry I posted that Vegas shot just before I left to meet Chris in Death Valley. Chris will tell you it was one cold turkey out in DVNP this weekend. We figure in the teens easy. And windy to boot. But got some great shots and I know Chris did too. Thanks for looking. Oh, check out my Death Valley folio from Chris, Leo's and my November trip...RAY

I should be in bed by now but I just want to tell you having been here few times to get an overview of your impressive portfolio. Seems like we both are dedicated to out dear subjects, you having the impressive churches, me the ships on the move. Both passionate, and dare I say, stubborn in our "call" too. I will come back to see more in detail. Thank you for your visit.

Thank you so much for your interest in my portfolio. I value your comments and appreciate your input. I'm serious about my photography and constructive criticism helps me improve.

I have been using Genuine Fractals for some time now and applaud your management of this excellent product.

Your portfolio is stimulating and inspiring.

Warmest regards.

Hey Dennis,

Thanks for your recent visitations to my corner of photo.net. And thank-you for transporting me so eloquently to another place and time with your own images here... Despite our disparate styles and subject matter, I can feel a mutual appreciation society coming on!

(-:

Just excellent portfolio...awesome and superb photograph's i see in ur portfolio...........!

Thanks for your comments. I must say I am very impressed by your architectural work and landscapes. I will probably have to get a 24mm TS.

Yours,

Michael

Dennis, outstanding shots, just great, I love most of them , pure art. Felicidades and best regards from Mexico //Spenaloza

Great portfolio, very impressive your feeling for the architecture of curches. BR Joerg

It is a pleasure to know your portfolio is here for me to access for divine inspiration at any time. A folder full of very fine work. I shall keep coming back.

... hadn't realized that people had posted here (when are they going to do a notification like the photos?).

Ray, am enjoying the work that you and Chris did in the desert. Can't believe you camped in February!

Markku, there are a few of us "monomaniacs" out here and I guess nothing anyone says will change us :) Stay on your course, because it is yours and yours alone and yielding wonderful results. Glad you find my passion here interesting as well.

Ken, appreciate your kind words about the portfolio and GF. I haven't had anything to do with the software since 1999 (we released it in 1997) when I left Altamira. I am very glad to see that 11 years after release, it is still going strong. Am proud of what we did and your words are a reminder. Thank you.

Pete, in a way our styles are diametrically opposed, except for our choices in composition. We both lean toward formal and structural composition with clean lines. Our choice of subjects may be completely different, but I think we meet there. Thanks for your interest in this other time and place.

Fedaee, you are very kind in your praise. Welcome to Photo Net, an amazing community of colleagues from around the world. We use our photographs to show that we are no different, one from the other. Please keep posting and I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Michael, can't recomment the 24TS high enough. I use it on 95% of my shots of the Romanesque churches and it is a marvel. I know of a couple of others who have bought it lately because of discussions here, and they are pleased as well. Let me know if and when you get it and post some sample shots. We'll have a 24TS Society :)

Salvador, I return greetings back to you in Mexico. I loved your shot from Puebla Mexico yesterday (just happened on that and now find you have commented on my portfolio).

Joerg, that feeling for the architecture has become my passion in the last few years of my life. Thank you for the time you have spent looking at the shots.

Hugh, thank you as well (last but not least). I remember your shots of Salisbury (?) Cathedral, which I found quite good. Hope you will come back over time and see more of these marvelous churches, and continue to post your own.

Dennis, the depth and breadth of your Romanesque architectural portfolio as well as its quality are indeed impressive. Each image is finely crafted and thought out and a gem in its own right. I'd be interested in knowing the amount of forethought and preparation invested in each. You took some time to thoughtfully comment on several of my images and I thank you...not the usual "modus operandi"around here. All the best, Alfredo

... there are two types of preparation here. The first is the selection of churches. I do tons of research to locate those churches that are interesting, have some high value architecturally, or significant historical value. For example, the Basilique Saint Philbert in Tournus has transverse barrel vaults, perhaps the only time that they were ever used, and they happen to be in excellent condition. For that reason, I will select that church. However, the shots themselves are selected on sight, when I get to the church. PJ and I usually spend two to three hours minimum at a church, and we are usually alone and left to our own devices. However, some churches (Fontenay, Vezelay, Autun, and a few of the churches in Poitiers) we visit over and over. That gives the opportunity to see them under different conditions of light and season, and allows us to further refine our selections.

I have a database on Google Earth that locates several hundred Romanesque churches in France and Northern Spain. On each selection, we gather all the information that we can about the church, either from the official French Patrimony site or from others on the web or in our library. We use that database to plan each trip ... to select the most effective itinerary in terms of churches and time. I guess the best thing to say is that not a day goes by without us doing some work on this project, in some way. Our next trip is four weeks to the Pyrennees, to shoot the French Catalonia and Spanish Catalunya. We have about 120 churches and 30 Vierges identified, so we must find a way to cut the number to about half of that prior to leaving.

... glad to having been redirected by our common friend John Crosley to your incredible personal project of documenting Romanesque architecture. I was impressed before I left PN for other web environments where I feel more comfortable and I am deeply impressed, to-day, to see how your work have expanded here.

And more glad, even, to see that you plan a trip to northern Spain and to Catalonia to visit the many Romanesque churches here. Let me tell you that I am, myself, a Romanesque architecture freak, although my wide collection of old slides are, alas, stored in my ex-wife cellar. Nowadays I'm deep in pursuing a similar project of yours but on Spanish castles. Effort which have already been honoured by an official exhibition and by a -coming out soon- book.

In any case, if I may be of help in discussing what churches should be visited here, don't hesitate in contacting me. May I suggest, for instance, the valley of Bohi group of churches in Lleida (Lerida).

Finally, let me agree with you about Theo Jacobs photographic mastery. A good and inspired friend that have extensively travelled my country with excellent pictures.

Hi Dennis! Thank you. I really appreciate your comments and votes but specially your elaboration!! You are so kind! Well i saw your porfolio and it's nice! congrats! is not my genre but i Think that you have some grate photos!! Congrats! Bruno :)

Your interior architectural work on cathedrals are superb.perfect portfolio!!thanks for your comment in my photo,the church is in Athens

Thank you for your comments on my photo 'It was almost an illusion. This has led me to your portfolio. It is really an interesting one and I would like to visit it again.Regards.

Dennis, just passing through

Dennis, thank you for commenting on my picture. I'll try next time to bemore picky at the details. I called it Lonelyness because I fell that the moment I took the image. I didnt notice the small mistake by not putting the cross in the middle of the far window.I'll will try to balance the ballustrade a bit more on the original.I found it difficult to get the just lighting in the black and white version. Thanks for your comments, also on the other pics as well, they are a great help fot a beginner like me. Regards and compliments on your impressive portfolio, Jaap.

Thank you very much for your comments on my portfolio. Be certain they encourage me to improve. I?ve just visited yours and I've found it impressive. You're really an expert in romanesque and gothic architecture. I like especially the way you've corrected the lens distortion so well that there is no hint of it. I see you've identified the Pedrera's roof as well. Congratulation on your excellent work. Frederic Sagues

very kind Dennis! i never seen i osprey!!! But i love this splendid Stork that lives closer to me!! cheers!!! Bruno

Your works in Hdr is much beautiful . I am to the first weapons with the HDR and TASK OF HAVING MUCH TO LEARN FROM YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR VISIT. Happy for having to you known. You pardons me for my English.

Dennis, thanks for pushing me to be more picky.It's those kind of comments that are helping me to improve my "skills" and I appriciate your help very much. And you're right it was worth it,looking at Up There. Thanks again. Regards,Jaap.

Gorgeous architecture work here, bravo. My regards, RK!

thanks for your recent comment on my roche in ruins picture. it was shot at roche abbey near rotherham in yorkshie uk. glad you liked it :) btw your interiors are stunning

how have you been? Sorry i haven't gotten back to you in a while, but my lady and i were married over the new year and it's been hard getting back into the swing of things! Thanks once again for seeing and calming my frustrations with some of these photo.net comments. That last one i just don't get!! I would hope that people would look and think outside the box when they view my work, but i guess some folks are just caught up in a creative rut. If you look at the person who commented stuff you'll see what i mean! To answer your question about a showing, i have something cooking up for this summer, and i will surely let you know about it because it would truly be a pleasure for you and your lady to come see my work!!! Your insight into my work always keeps me on track! I love your new work by the way!!

Dennis, This issue of LensWork has a feature on Cathedrals. Bruce Barnbaum. /meir

... Just downloaded the preview, will go out and get the real copy!! Thanks so much for the alert!!

It was your beautiful Rose in Flowers what brought me to your portfolio (I am a beginner here). I am absolutely enthusiastic about your amazing collection of interiors of churches. Excellent, words are missing. Thank you for sharing. Milena

Hi, Dennis

Thanks for your kindly words on my photo "galler in yellow". I look through your bio and portfolio. I like many of your photos especially the church ones. They are very creative and beautiful. Besides your panorama pictures are great too. So nice to engage in something that you like. Best regards!

Dennis - thank you for your comments about my HDR photos. I'm really impressed by your portfolio here. You have great sense for composition. And of course your HDR is much more natural then mine, looks fantastic. I'll keep looking for more of your photos.

Kind regards

Marcin

impressive work, i can't stop looking. keep up the great work.

k.mendiola.

Thank you Dennis for the comments on my shots, the more I admire your shots the more I want to learn from you, as I said before your portfolio is just art, happy shooting amigo and best regards from AZTECLAND // Salvador

What a nice collection of cathedrals and church. You have definitely bring us to a whole new perspective.

Do you shoot with tripods. Is not allowed in most of the cathedrals I visited. Do u hv special permits for that? I see some photos with great DOV and small f stop and yet well expose. The HDR photos need a stable platform as well.

Anyway, will come back from time to time to follow your talent. Thanks for the sharing.

... I shoot exclusively with a tripod, usually at f22 or f20, the longest exposures that I can manage. Many of the smaller churches we can go in and shoot to our hearts content, but others it is different. Last year at Saint Germain des Pres in Paris, we shot for three hours with tripods (PJ and I shoot together, each with our own kits) with nobody bothering us. Sometimes we need to talk to someone for permission, but we've never had a problem. Now if you are going to Notre Dame de Paris or Sacre Coeur in Montmartre, they won't allow you to shoot with tripod there because of the crowds. We also have business cards for Via Lucis, our enterprise for these photos, which helps with the permissions. Anyway, I enjoyed your shots of Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque and look forward to seeing more.

Thank you for your advice. Will keep in mind and try to get permission next time I go shooting in cathedrals. Enjoy looking at your photos and project a lot and will come back from time to time. They are simply spectacular.

It's a great pleasure to browse through your excellent portfolio. Your images have a magic and I am sure that I'll come back many times. I also would like to thank you for your very encouraging comments to my portfolio. Kind regards - Thomas.

After viewing your PF I`m proud of your visit and comments on Casta�eda. I`ve been impressed for the quality of your hole work. I love this kind of artchitectural photography (I`m just a begginer). I`ll be near you to learn about both themes (and a little english too...). I?m very happy to know you and your work. Best Regards. Nacho.

I wanted to leave this comment long ago, but never quite had that combination of time and eloquence to say what was no my mind. Even though I live now in a big city in the United States, I spent my childhood--or what was left of it after the Nigerian civil war in Alayi, a small village in Eastern Nigeria. Our church was a modest affair at a location called Mkuocha, or literally, "small white hill". But, odd names aside, for me, religion has less to do with going to heaven or everlasting life or such, but the faith of simple folk, of ordinary acts of kindness, of selflessness, of humility, of perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountabe odds, my days with my grandmother as we ate by a quiet stream during a break in the farming.

As I get older and these memories fade into the background, replaced by mortgage payments, court appearances, and daipers, daipers, daipers, I feel like an Alzheimer patient, losing bits and pieces of my brain as the days drag on, windows shut forever as I helplessly try to hold them open. What your pictures do is reopen some of those doors.

Oh, I know, these churches, with their grand architectural designs, high ceilings, and opulence dwarf the little, dusty, windowless church at Mkpuocha, but as I see those pictures, it is the worshippers that I see, the penniless widow who has lost her husband, the repentant peasant, begging for forgiveness for impure thoughts that entered her mind, the fool praying for wealth beyond his comprehension, the simpleton praying for an advantage in a business venture, each occuppying her own little space in the grand edifice.

The pope just came to America, and that useless community known as the American media spent 90% of his time asking him about allegations of priest sexual abuse, as if there is anything he could do to make the problem magically disappear. In their arrogance, they pestered him with these questions about the "death" of the Catholic church in America, as if the country was more than 4% of the world's population, as if the loss of the Catholic chuch in the United States would destroy the church.

As I read and watched that charade, it occurred to me that the church would survive if the pope himself was a pedophile, and in fact, that the church has survived much worse conduct by the pope, how less so a local priest. After all, Sixtus was a pope, wasn't he? Ultimately, then, the church is the sum of all those peasants from villages like mine, to whom their faith is all they have. It is a cruel person that seeks to deprive them of it.

... I don't know how to thank you for the gift of what you wrote. I have tears in my eyes as I write you back, I am so moved.

What you said, "... but as I see those pictures, it is the worshippers that I see, the penniless widow who has lost her husband, the repentant peasant, begging for forgiveness for impure thoughts that entered her mind, the fool praying for wealth beyond his comprehension, the simpleton praying for an advantage in a business venture, each occuppying her own little space in the grand edifice." That is the act of imagination that makes every single thing that I do worthwhile. It is the entire reason that this project means so much to me. I dream about these churches, Emmanuel; I dream of shooting them. I dream of what they have witnessed and survived, like you and your people have survived, like the Church itself has survived.

Our souls are not mortgages, court appearances, magistrates, or even diapers (well, maybe diapers :) ... our souls are the things that connect us with the rest of humanity. From your work and from what I have read of your words on PhotoNet, you have never closed the door to that humanity, to that empathy, and to that charity. If anything, perhaps I can make it a tiny bit easier for you, but can take credit for no more.

You have moved me greatly by writing me like this, Emmanuel. And as far as those selfish little gnats who buzz around the Pope, arrogantly thinking that they are winning points in their little tiny ugly worlds, we can only let them live their short empty lives. The world will forget them before their carcasses dry up and blow away in the first gust of wind.

A man of the written word as well, I see.

Dear Denis,

Thank you for your kind opinion and that you visit my folio. With pleasure I watched your beautiful pictures of Romanesque an Gothic interiors. They reminds me old places in Poland to which I wonder return and other places which I saw around the Europe. Your pictures reveal not only architectural aspects but also very interesting personal outlook on it, which is especially precious. Crisp, beautiful colors, excellent light and composition make your pictures unique. I will readily return here to see more. Best, Mateusz

... EXCELLENT PORTFOLIO ... 7/7 ... CONGRATS ...

Dennis, Your Gallery is monumentaly exciting ! To be with Yours wonderfoul photos is to me great honour... Thank You also for very kindly comments on my pictures... it is vey nice... Thank You Master ! Regards - Wojtek

This is the story of Harcourt Whyte, one of the most improbable stories of success in history. His songs sound so pure and crisp, even though they were made on archaic equipment. During our last civil war, so many people endured the hardships and survived, and they said that it was his songs that saw them through.

<<Background

?My name is Ikoli Harcourt-Whyte. I am an Igbo speaking native of Abennema in Port Harcourt. I was born in 1905. My parents sent me to school, but when I was fourteen years old, I developed signs of leprosy and a mission hospital later confirmed the disease.

?I was frightened because, according to the custom in those days, I would be sent to the Uzuakoli Leprosy Hospital where people with leprosy were isolated from others. The Methodist Mission operated the hospital. It had white missionary doctors and nurses from Methodist Church and further support came from the Nigerian government. Leprosy

?Leprosy isolated me into a place where I would see no other books but religious. I read and re-read the Bible and other religious books. Those books transformed me. Instead of feeling bitter that all was lost, I discovered that all things work together for good to them that love God (Roman 8:28).

Music

?I had always loved music, but the songs I sang were the folk songs of the Igbo people. At Uzuakoli, I heard for the first time gospel hymns in Sankey's Sacred Songs and Solos. In addition to the ?Words-only Edition? used by patients who attended the chapel, the missionaries allowed me to see the ?Music Edition?.

"Some of the missionaries had copies of the British hymnbook, Hymns for Divine Worship, which had been issued in 1889, also allowed me to see that hymnal.

?I began to sing in the choir, and sensing my eagerness to learn to read the musical notation, one of the missionaries began to teach me how tunes were written down by using staff notation. I wanted to sing the hymns in Igbo, but since Igbo is a tonal language, the translations lost all meaning when they were sung using the European tunes

?I was delighted when some of the missionaries returning from leave in England brought back copies of the Methodist Hymn - Book published in 1933 and used by British Methodists. I was grateful to God that He had made it possible for me to hear the news of His redeeming quality so that I could be like one of those foreign Methodists.

?Soon after I entered the Uzuakoli Methodist Hospital, I began to teach in the school operated there for young patients and the children of patients with leprosy. I formed a choir of pupils and a choir of older people who sing in the large chapel where we all worshipped on Sundays.

"I sometimes used paraphrased Bible verses for the words, and at other times the words were commentaries on Christian truths. All of my songs were sung in acapella.

?The medical staff at Uzuakoli were constantly searching for a cure for leprosy. Through their research, the drug Dapsone was discovered and it began to be used in countries around the world. I was treated with the drug, and after thirty years in the Uzuakoli Leprosy Hospital, I was pronounced cured of the disease in 1949

?Even after I was cured, I continued to work with the choirs. I wrote special music for the Christian holidays each year. For the Good Friday in, 1954, I wrote a processional hymn, ?A gburu Nwa Chukwu? (The Son of God was Crucified), which the choir sang as they entered the chapel and marched slowly up the aisle.

?Although people were accustomed to joining in the singing while, not listening to the choir, they listened that day. The choir had become famous because of the emotional impact of the songs.

"A great crowd had come to the service. Not only the patients and staff, but also many guests from outside. By the time the choir reached their seats, the whole congregation ? preacher, patients, staff and visitors ? had burst into tears. From then, my hymns and anthems became widely known and used in churches where Igbo language is used for worship.

Goodness

?Just as the European harmony is more developed than the African. so is the African rhythm more developed than the European rhythm. African music is different from the European music but if any of these can be called superior, I think it is the product of the mixture.

"However, I thank God for the privilege of service, which He had given to me. As a boy, I had thought I was doomed to a life of despair as a beggar, but Jesus turned the defeat I had dreaded into a victorious praise for His goodness. To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee and not to be silent, Lord my God, I give thanks to thee for ever.? Ps. 30:12.

Culled from 306 Hymn Writers by Chief (Miss) Alma Rohm. >>

Thank you very much for your kind comments on my photos. Your portfolio is really impressive, you certainly are a great expert in church architecture photography. Your architectural pictures show excellent composition skills, thanks for sharing with us.

Thanks so much for your kind words on my portfolio, its nice to hear reinforcement from such an accomplished and talented photographer. Your images are stunning. I especially enjoyed your black and white images... Your use of light and shadow is impeccable.....your low light images are simply gorgeous. It is really refreshing to me to find a photographer who uses HDR without making the image look plastic and over processed.....

hola dennis, you ahve a wonderful portfolio, very good compotition, wonderful use of the light, congratulations

eduardo

wishing you well

hello dear Dennis, just came by wanting to have a wee wander through your fabulous work when I stumbled upon your exchange with Emmanuel from April 28th. I feel I have been privy to something special by reading both of your words. I find it very comforting knowing there are people like you and Emmanuel in this world. Shall leave you with this rose image, which the interior of I find very similar to the interiors of some of your great cathedrals. all the best my friend..........roger

... have been away for a couple of weeks and come back to find this extraordinary image on my portfolio page. I was completely taken with Emmanual's words, Roger, a soul singing across the wires, as it were. Am so glad that you read, and were taken as well. Someday, my friend, I hope to visit you in New Zealand, share a bottle of good NZ wine and chat long into the southern hemisphere's sunset.

I very much look forward to that day!

Dennis,

This is a fabulous portfolio. It was a real pleasure to spend some time browsing your work. Just a little recommendation. If you ever get to visit the Czech Republic, I reckon you'd love St Procopius's Basillica in Trebic.

Keep up the wonderful work! All the best,

Rob

... and the compliments, Rob. I'd love to get to the Czech Republic (one of my oldest friends lives in Caslav) and shoot there, but I have so much work left in France and Spain. I am very glad that you like the shots. PJ and I go back next month for five weeks, shooting mostly in the Pyrenees. Can't wait to try out the new gear!

I am following regularly your work. Until now I did not find the right words for it. But I assure you of my admiration for your oeuvre. Congratulations. Karl

... I have in the past commented many times on your work, which I know so very well and admire so greatly. I am honored.

Hope you are fine, I am enjoying your excellent and fantastic gallery, It has taking me some time to admire each piece of fine art, great great shots, I can not wait any longer to see your new material from France (I bet the shots will come out just terrific) keep in touch , best and warmest regards , hoping to see you soon in Mexico //Salvador

Hello Dennis! Great portfolio, you know very well what you wanna do. I too have a lot of church photos, but on pellicule and it will still take a while to scan them. Nice to see someone as passionate as you!

I really liked your work. I liked the photos of the Romanesque, We've been talking about them in class; so it was nice to see some photos.

Thanks for sharing!

Marla

... Thanks so much for your kind comments.

Salvador, my friend. I really enjoy your photos of Mexican churches and hope some day to shoot them myself. It would be a pleasure to see those churches which I first learned from Eliot Porter's work, and now from your own.

Vladut, thank you, I am passionate about this work. This project will continue for the rest of my life, most likely, but we are close to finishing the bulk of the work. I would love to see your church shots when you get them scanned and posted, and I'll follow your work to see them.

Marla, you have come a long way in your year or so on PN. For someone as young as you, your work is getting better and better and I wish you the best in your continuing photographic career. I remember when you first posted, and have always remembered "Marla" with an "L", not Maria :)

Thank you for your comment :-) What a gallery you have - beautiful artwork, especially considering the difficult light conditions inside of all those chapels, churches and cathedrals, truly amazing... Maroš

Dennis, Thank you for comments and ratings on my photo’s (St. John Cantius, and Holy Trinity),I appreciate the compliments, and more so after viewing your portfolio, I can only describe your work as stunning and inspirational. Highest regards, George

Wonderful portfolio, Dennis, well done, great work!

... Maros, I welcome you (and your family) to the wonderful world of PhotoNet. Your work shows great promise and I look forward to seeing more in the future.

Thank you so much for your kind words. George, I am a fan of your black and white shots of the Chicago church, and welcome to PN. You will find that there are many talented and generous photographers here who will encourage your work.

R Rivera, thank you very much. I saw that you were an admirer of Alberto Conde. I thought that your comment on the announcement of his passing was magnificent, "Sera el fotografo celestial de los angeles. Descansa en paz, maestro." It was a pleasure to see your comments on my portfolio.

Hi Dennis -- Spent sometime looking at your portfolio.... VERY Impressive work!!! Look foward to see future work! Best wishes, Glenn.

Great exposure and composition in your pictures especially the interior shots. Great portfolio. Regards.

Fine pictures with great colours, congratulations ! Alex.

Hi Dennis, thank you for your thoughts on my photo (into the darkness & out again). Btw, Frank Miller's work is exceptional so any correlation with it is a real compliment and I appreciate it. cheers

Pnina's image and tribute led me to your excellent portfolio. I am admiring your images in classical mould and humane qualities. Best wishes from India,Dennis.

Amazing portfolio Dennis. Your architecture shots are very impresive. Thanks for your coment in one of my photos. Best regards from Galicia (Spain)

Thank you all for your wonderful comments on this portfolio of (mostly) Romanesque architectural photography. It is such a pleasure to be in contact with people from around the world like this ... Western Europe, Romania, India, the US. It is one of the pleasures of PN, to have the discourse and to see the portfolios of so many talented citizens of the world.

Hello Dennis, your portfolio is outstanding and very inspiring. Thx for the reply in your photo and the clarification on where you are from and of Altamira :) Also, I didn't know Brad Kim, I will go and look at his portfolio.

I will be back to look more carefully at your photos.

Meantime, Happy Holidays!

Wish you all the best for you and yours, for these days and for each day of the new year. Warm regards.

Dear Dennis, I have just realized that despite visiting your portfolio numerous times I never left a formal message. Let me use this seasonal opportunity to pass my warmest greetings to you and your loved ones and to say how much I value your work, your feedback and your unique place in the PN community. Very best, Vadim

Hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful '09!

Just a short note to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. It’s been another interesting year on PN and your reviews, ratings and comments have been appreciated. Your life's work to capture all the beauty in these cathedrals is both inspirational and priceless. I look forward to 2009. Thanks... Mike Mancil, Montgomery, Alabama, USA

I want to thank you for your interest in my work and for giving me the opportunity and encouragement to continue in this beautiful experience.happy new year. Ciao Bevip

Merry Christmas

My dear Dennis, coming to leave this wee message has also given me the opportunity to view your more recent work, which as always gives me much pleasure. I would like to take this time to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy 2009.

All the best.....roger

Keep well!!

May Light and love follow you everywhere!! Warm regards, Dimitris.

Xmas Tree !

My dear Friend Dennis, I want to wish you Merry Christmas and a WONDERFUL, COLORFUL AND EXCELLENT NEW YEAR ! May all your dreams come true, Health, Money, Luck and lots of shots, affectionately // Salvador Peñaloza and Fam.

Best wishes

*

Dennis, thanks for your comment on my photo 'The cathedral of the sea'. I feel honored about your words. I like your interior shots a lot, they are beautiful. The atmosphere of your Romanesque work is wonderful. Regards and happy 2009.

Great portfolio, you have many excellent images here, well done

Dennis..what can really be said about your work that hasn't alredy been conveyed? After looking at your work, the one thought that came to my head first was ....depth. Your interior shots have such, that you feel you are there sneaking a peek inside w/o getting caught! You must feel blessed to be near such fabulous works of architecture. Thanks for sharing and continued success. R.E. Morris

... it has been too long since I've looked at this page.

Yannik, thank you for your kind words, and I wish you the best for the new year.

Jose, Vadim, Tim, Mike, Salvador, Dimitris, Roger, Paolo, and of course, Photis; I thank you all so much for your holiday wishes and for your kindness in remembering me. It is so interesting to see names that conjure up images so immediately, from each of your portfolios, that have struck me in a personal way. Some of us are tied together in a bond of church architecture, others in bonds of ideas and history, and some in the pure celebration of photography around the world. None of this would have been possible without PN.

Ricardo, thanks for your post, and I am glad to have seen your work.

Marco, your landscape work has captured my attention and I am so glad that you like this work in such a limited palette as mine.

RE, your "Tres Amigos" image had a wonderful graphic quality and I jumped to your portfolio immediately. Welcome to PN, and for those of you who have not seen his work, please take a look. As to feeling blessed, it is truly so. PJ and I love photographing these structures more than anything else in the world, and have pretty much dedicated the rest of our photographic lives to this project.

Dennis, Thank you for the kind comments on my recent work. I admire your work very much and value your opinion greatly. I hope you will return to comment on future postings, till then take care. Best wishes, --George

Hi Dennis, first of all I thank you very much for your stopping by on my shot "Bazaar", I appreciate your comment as well. But I should say that you are a great architectural professional photographer, I really enjoyed a lot to see your amazing collection, it was very interesting to me to read the comments from different photographers and some times your answer for your different shots. Probably it is seldom to see such vast criticizing regarding to other photographers. I do appreciate your art/works and hope to see more from you.

Thank you Random Generator for bringing me to Dennis Aubrey! Dennis, this is a mesmerizing collection of images... so much to be learned here about light and space and rhythm! You're a real inspiration to this beginner. Thank you.

... George, as always, it is a pleasure to hear from you. Looking forward to more of your architectural postings, on which I will certainly comment, and to corresponding with you again.

Razi, I think that the commentary you see is because of some of the high quality people you find here on PN. I have friends from all over the globe because of Photo.Net, many whom I've met with in person. We all realize that photography is just the beginning in communicating ideas and thoughts, and we continue with words. Welcome to the exchange, and I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.

Kevin, my brother says that there are no accidents, and that therefore the Random Generator is working at some deeper level :) Thank you for your kind words, and I am glad that my work pleases you. It is, of course, a life's passion to shoot those churches, and PJ and I will be returning in September for another month or two of work in France (and maybe some more of Spain). Keep up the good work, and you'll find that PN is a place where inspiration is just one portfolio away.

Interesting portfolio with great shoots, congratulations ! Roxana.Chiru

Bonjour Dennis

Une très belle découverte que ta galerie avec un patrimoine architectural de la France fort bien mis en valeur à travers tes differentes photos de très belles qualités, bravo à toi et bonne continuation photographique!

Amicalement

Eric

... Ces églises sont une passion à nous et nous les avions photographiées pendant trois années maintenant. Nous revenons à la France en septembre et octobre pour prendre plus de photographies des régions d'Alsace et de la Provence. J'apprécie vos mots aimables et attends avec intérêt de te parler encore.

Magnifique portfolio, j'ai aimé tout particulièrement les vierges noires. j'ai un ami qui s'intéresse à ce sujet et à qui je me permettrai de donner l'adresse de votre portfolio. Félicitations. Claire

Impressive photography! Excellent use of light, very good compositions and techniques. I have not very much to say, I just admire your works. You are a Master and I have so much to learn from your photographs. Churches and other dark rooms is my favorite category, but I have not very much opportunities to practice. Unfortunately in Tallinn (my home town) it is forbidden to take photos in churches. Best regards.

A fine and very impressive portfolio! The architecture shoots are a favorite and beautifully presented. I have been inspired to give this a try myself; of course in the US we have newer buildings but still some nice works to play with. I thank you for your visit and am glad that it brought me here. I will check back often and wish you all the best!

Warm regards, Pamela

Merci, Claire. Les Vierges sont magnifiques. Vus de tout près, ils sont extraordinaires.

Gunnar, forbidden to take pictures in churches? How unusual. I would hope that changes, because I wish to shoot the wonderful Niguliste kirik there, of which I have heard so much. I understand that there are still remnants of a gigantic Dance of Death there. I appreciate your very kind words about my portfolio and thank you for paying such compliments.

Pamela, your own impressive portfolio was a pleasure to discover. Am glad that you like the more limited palette in which I work :) I live in Cape Cod but PJ and I take a long trip every year to France to continue this work. We'll be going again in September and have already planned out in general terms the areas we will shoot. Glad to hear from you and I look forward to following your own work.

First of all I would like to thank you for your comment on my recent submission which gave me the opportunity to discover your wonderful and professional portfolio. I have to say that I am really impressed by your work. Congratulation on such excellent collection of high quality images .

Best regards

Sadegh

Dennis, I have admired your work for a while and your thoughtful comment, which I just discovered, led me here again. I know the people of Krete, being one of them. I suspect that you do also somehow...

Bacchae was magnificent. Troades was just here and was a superb production.

I miss Photis' work and feedback, he is my favorite Hellene artist, and I visit his work often to be inspired and learn.

Be well, always.

My dear friend, I hope you are fine, it as been quite a long time since I heard from you. I want to take the opportunity to wish you Merry Xmas and a wonderful New Year 2010, ma all your dreams come true, happy shooting, best regards //Salvador

Wish you all the best for the new year for you and yours. Thanks for your inspiration and support. Warm regards. // Nacho.

If you happen by, just a note to say we've missed your inspirational work lately. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to you and your family... Mike

Merry Christmas!

Hope you have a Merry Christmas, and may the New Year bring you good fortune, health, and prosperity. Best wishes, --George

HAPPY NEW YEAR

You have a wonderful portfolio (as we all know) and may Santa bring you more of it for the year to come

PDE

***

Wishing a very merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and your family. Warm regards, Dimitris.

Dennis, with all the good comments on your photos, I am sure you will not mind mine. I think the star shaped lights destroy your church interiors. they kill the mood for me. 

A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family... Mike

Auguri e felicità

Happy New Year

Best wishes Dennis

All the best to you this holiday season. May 2011 be the best year ever.

Enjoy seeing what you're adding to your portfolio here. You've got this down to a science and an art.

Wonderful photos and what a valuable record as well.