If you ever photograph while traveling, chances are good you will visit a church or other place of worship during your trip. Some churches are massive and ornate, others are simple and quaint. You probably shoot a few exterior shots, some of the detailed stonework or statues, and maybe a cross on top. Next you move to the interior (if photography is permitted inside). Dial up your ISO and photograph the paintings, stained glass windows and burning candles. These subjects are all great to photograph, and will be a meaningful part of your travel portfolio.
But what about creative church photography? What if you want to go beyond recording the subject, and want to do something more abstract. Next time try using multiple exposure twists. No, that is not a technical term, but it does describe what I often do photographing churches. I’ll set my multiple exposure to 4-7 frames, and rotate my camera after each shot. The end result is a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes.
Here is your standard candle shot in a church; nice image, has some emotion and warmth associated with it. But what else can I do?
Here is a multiple exposure candle shot. Not there is a sea of candles with strong graphic elements. At the top of this post is stained glass windows shot using this technique. Next time you are in a church, try out this technique for some unique images.