The Church by Chipka
Close
Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.
Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
Description
It is a strange place, its original purpose—an import from the Western Lands—is lost. It was a temple; this much is known. There are those who can utter the single syllable that defines the nameless god for whom it was built, but in Agara—in the cities, towns, and villages—that strange (and sometimes violent) syllable is a hollow and alien thing. What meaning it retains strikes atavistic passions in Agaran blood: utter that single syllable and hands reach for knives no longer sheathed and hanging from belts of hemp or leather. Make the cruciform sign—oh-so-holy to the invaders who’d swept through Agara in the Crusade Years—and demure women may purse their lips (tightly and subtly) and men (young and old) may spit derisive laughter. Or subtle, elegant threats. Agara, after all, boasts her own gods: twin brothers who created the universe and all within it as a gift to the other.
Walk the streets of Agara, in cities like Tesk or Nessim, or in towns, and you will pass such temples. Some retain their strange grandeur and stand as museums: markers of history where such national heroes as Semö Ekkainnen and Nina Bek drew guns in their rallies against both Nazi and Soviet occupation. In others, you may find the youngest men in Agara (boys, if honesty compels you to look beyond the scant thatch of scraggly hairs on their chins) seated in study of ancient alchemical texts. Step into such a place, and into the walled gardens, and you will see them in quiet meditation, or tending the copious number of blooming things set into their care.
--Amanda French/Agaran Nights: Ramblings of an Existential Tourist
(Saint Martin’s Press, 2004)
*** ***
Whenever I visit Corey (every weekend) I see this church: a young, though decidedly-gothic cathedral named for Saint Ita. I’m not up on my saints, so I have no idea what she did, or who she is, but I do often wonder since Ita is a woman, why isn’t the church named Santa Ita? Hmmm…must be a Chicago thing. At any rate, I pass the church regularly, and its gothic details always catch the sunlight (or streetlight) in intriguing ways. You’ve seen the streetlight (and traffic light) in front of it in Corey’s most recent post, and now here’s the single tower that isn’t exactly a steeple, but it’s close enough. I don’t know why it has only a single steeple tower without the pointy-bit, but knowing Chicago history, there’s likely an intriguing story of corruption behind it, or of the ethnic balance in a neighborhood changing. At any rate, with its single tower, it looks a bit lopsided, but impressive nonetheless.
I’d planned on posting this as a straight photograph, but I’ve been in grunge mode quite a lot lately, and I’m intrigued by the way this particular image turned out. I wanted to give it that particular aged look, and as I watched layers accumulate, and colors shift, it struck me that this particular image closely resembles an “Agara Image” I’d planned on posting back when I was in Český Krumlov.
*** ***
As always, thank you for viewing and reading and commenting on this and my previous uploads. It means quite a lot!
Comments (23)
DarkStormCrow
Excellent shot and postwork, well done...
beachzz
Ah, you used grunge to truly age this foto, give it that ancient look, almost as if it were a ruin. The violent, gory history of the church is so incredible; and today's attitudes towards so many things are just as bad. Black and white, and don't dare see a shade of gray. Wonderful shot, Chip, and of course your tale just brings it to life.
bimm3d
wonderful shot and work!!!
tennesseecowgirl
I am behind the times, I must be the only one that hasn't tried this technique yet.. beautiful attempt here.
sontaeseok
excellent color~~~~^^cool work^^*****
Prematos
Great image
icerian
Well seen. Excellent result of photomanipulation!
durleybeachbum
'Grunge' works on this. I'm still struggling with the use of this word in this way, to me it describes a mode of dress beloved of a certain breed of rather aggressive lesbian. Ah well! Language is a living animal. You have introduced me to a writer new to me. I'm not sure I would enjoy reading more of her, I'm not able to define why. Anyway, a super image, Chip, of what we call here a Gothic refrigerator.
tamburro
Great photo and post work!!! Fantastic angle of camera!!! Hugs...Orlando.
Roxam
it's looming over dwarfed by the sky... beautiful angle in the light and shadow, your post-work on this image worked beautifully: "it's its time" Your explorations with post-work are adding dimensions to your visions--- wonderful adventure, Bravo!
photostar
'Grunging' this photo the way you have, it takes on a feeling of being a watercolor rather than a photographic element. Nice work, Chip.
ladyraven23452
great work as always.
romanceworks
The monuments (temples) erected to the Gods and to Money seem to be the biggest. The angle on this as well as the grunge technique are quite effective, adding power and age. Makes one feel rather insignificant in its shadow. CC
MrsRatbag
The technique works very well for this image, Chip; and it blends with your narrative perfectly. Well done!
igorsv
this image looks like a gum-bichromate print. wonderful post processing.
elfin12u
I love old buildings with their carvings and intricacies. The craftsmanship and skills that went into them now all but a lost art! Our modern structures may be built safer, and sturdier, but will never have the appeal, or be so captivating a labor of love as the old relics such as this. Thank you for sharing!
timtripp
EXCELLENT
auntietk
Image and words combine to create a mood, a world, and the choices you made in postwork support the whole. Excellent work, my friend!
NefariousDrO
I love what you did with this photo, the varying graininess is a fascinating texture that adds even more complexity to the already intriguing stone of this church, and such a captivating POV! Even more fascinating is the excerpt you've put with this, now I simply MUST find that book and read it!
alwaysonmymind
This reminds me of the work of the 19th century Belgian painter, Jean-Baptiste Van Moer. http://www.artnet.com/artwork/425943673/148/jean-baptiste-van-moer-view-of-san-marco-square.html.
anaber
Wonderful photo and great resoult!I love the atmosphere here!
elisheba
OMG...stunning shot you got here!! I've always been a fan of gothic architecture and the way those churches really seem to wanna reach the sky... I like the extract you chose, and your insight as well. This capture is extremely impressive, you chose the perfect angle to express the power of THIS church -as a temple, not a religion. Excellent and stunning work.
KatesFriend
You did a great job with the photo. Definitely the church seems from another age, coming across as old even when photography was young. This looks like one of those photos that was first black and white but was then hand tinted and reproduced and then ending up in some families old photo album. It's great to go back to Agara again I look forward to hearing of more of its mysteries.