Inspiration
When the class began and I was introduced to the many forms of Light Art, I was drawn to stained glass more so than the other mediums. Not necessarily making stained glass, but the design of it and photographing it. Then when I researched John Hardman Powell for my Light Artist presentation, the photography and scale of his work was only that more inspiring.
John Hardman Powell and Hardmans, The Great West window (1875), Worcester Cathedral.
Photo: Peter Hildebrand
Concepts
Photographing Stained Glass Windows
I plan to photograph the stained glass windows in the high school I graduated from. The photos will be edited to emphasize and enhance the effect of the stained glass, drawing inspiration from the photography and work of John Hardman Powell’s stained glass windows. This project will employ techniques I have never tried before, such as photo editing and photography, and will require careful consideration of the time of day and the amount of light coming in.
Concept 1: Stitched Window Composite
My first concept involves photographing each stained glass window individually, straight on, and stitching all the photos together to create one large piece. This approach will capture the magnitude of the full window in one photo, which cannot be done traditionally due to the stairwell blocking it. By combining the individual photos, I aim to create a comprehensive and detailed representation of the stained glass windows, showcasing their intricate designs and vibrant colors.
Concept 2: Isolated Window Illumination
My second concept focuses on photographing all the stained glass windows in one shot, likely looking up or down at them, and darkening the interior walls to the point that they are almost completely black. Isolating the windows in a dark environment will create a stark contrast, directing the viewer’s attention solely to the windows. The absence of surrounding architectural features will emphasize the luminous qualities of the stained glass, highlighting their artistic and aesthetic value.
Artist Questions
I’m trying to choose between the two concepts but am motivated to do both to see which I prefer. Which one do you think is the most interesting?
Do you think the detail and color in the windows I have chosen fit my vision?
Do you foresee any challenges in getting the effect from the windows I want in a photo?
Any other ideas to improve on my concepts?
Thank you.
Sources
https://www.flickr.com/photos/41658249@N02/36626882282/
https://fairhavenalumni.org/gallery/fhs-photos-by-frank-c-grace
https://www.visitstainedglass.uk/artist-page/powell-john-hardman
The visual of the darkened building and incredibly vibrant stained glass is a super striking image, and I think that would be the more compelling end product. Capturing it all in one frame might be difficult given what appears to be somewhat small space constraints but definitely pursue the look in concept 2.
I think regardless of the concept you pursue; the final product will be beautiful and striking. If you can, I suggest getting in and taking photos of the panels at a bunch of different angles just so you can get an idea of what the best approach might be. Don’t worry about it being perfect, just play around with it.
Also, if you end up printing out the final project and it looks cool, you could donate it to your high school or do a temporary showing. They might like that.
I like that you want to go back to your high school to capture it in a new light. I think that either project would be cool but my vote is concept 1 as I think that will be the most aesthetic way to display your complete project.
This project seems awesome! I’m definitely leaning towards concept 1 as I think it gives you the best chance to getting a good amount of detail in each shot. For this, I would definitely recommend using a DSLR on a tripod in order to take a longer exposure photo. This will let you get a much more clean, natural looking shot which should hopefully preserve the most amount of detail.
I’m leaning towards 1 personally, but I definitely think you should play around and figure out what you like the look of the best. It might be really cool if you display them in some sort of shape instead of just a rectangle for your final display but it’s totally up to you! Good luck.