Holy isn't always a place we see with our eyes. Often, it is a place within ourselves - a feeling, a reverence, a meditation. Sometimes there are places or people that bring out the best in us, filling us with great joy, gratitude, and love. These are different places for different people - a cathedral, a mosque, a temple, a forest, a river, or a wave in the ocean can be a holy place.
Meanwhile, when it comes to photography, my camera doesn't really know "holy", it just knows how to record a moment of light and life. Some structures, and for that matter some people, prove to be subjects that feed my camera's soul-search for light and life.
For example, St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. It's a cathedral (and cathedrals are holy places, right?), but more to the point, it's eye-candy for photographers and cameras. No matter what angle or light, I just can't take one shot and walk away. I'm drawn in to visually explore the colors, shapes, and textures, ever reaching for one more treat...something more...something...to feed the soul.
So on that note, following are some treats for the eyes and soul - holy places around the world that my camera has explored. Enjoy!
San Francisco de Asis statue and adobe church in Taos, New Mexico.
Church of Our Lady before Tyn, Prague, Czech Republic
The Great Buddha of Kamakura, Kamakura, Japan
Basilica of Our Lady, Brasilia, Brazil
St. Mary's Church, Beddgelert, Wales UK
Punakha Dzong, Punakha, Bhutan
Church of Our Lady in Brugges, Belgium
Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana, Bolivia
Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca, Morocco
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
Holy Houghly River, Calcutta, India
Saint Kevin's Church at Glendalough, Glendalough, Ireland
Bodnath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
Mission San Luis Ray de Francia, Oceanside, California, USA
Tomb of Salim Christi, Fatehpur Sikri, India
Cathedral de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
Santurio de Chimayo, Chimayo, New Mexico, USA
Swayambhunath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
Templo Evangelico, Atitlan, Guatemala
Santa Maria Church, Obidos, Portugal
Church of the Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia
And for an in-depth read and photos fn the holiest place I've ever been, check out Mystical Varanasi.
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