"Christ Risen"

Posted by Ian Bramham (Manchester, United Kingdom) on 6 July 2009 in Art & Design and Portfolio.

This is a photo from a small side chapel in Liverpool's Metroploitan Cathedral and shows the golden light from one of the beautiful stained glass windows falling across a statue of the crucified figure of Christ.

I thought this scene symbolised redemption and I found it very moving.....particularly the interaction with the shadow where the figure of Christ looks like it is still on the cross.

To those who have an unshakeable faith or for those who have lost someone close to them, I can see how places of serenity and beauty like this cathedral might bring a real sense of inner peace.

Apart from a tiny bit of contrast and sharpening for the web (oh, and a small crop) this photo is straight from the camera without any special processing.

I've done a bit of research and found out that the statue is called "Christ Risen" by the Liverpool sculptor Arthur Dooley : http://www.liverpoolmonuments.co.uk/dooley/christrc01.html

For purchasing high quality archival prints of any of these photos you can send me an email by clicking here or by going to MY NEW WEBSITE where prices are listed in the gallery sections under each individual photo.
.

Links to the websites of other photographers whose work I love and who have all helped me enormously over a long period of time. I find the work of all 3 to be inspirational.

Hugo Poon
John Leech
Ian Smith

vfxy Photoblogs | Cool Photoblogs | Listed on Photoblogs.org

Comments (21)

dj.tigersprout from New York City, United States

stunning light and shadow -- a very beautiful frame!

6 Jul 2009 5:07am

@dj.tigersprout: thanks dj!

Mirko Herzner from Germany

I hope to remember to add this to my VFXY collection when returning home. A stunning shot in its color and simplicity.

6 Jul 2009 5:14am

@Mirko Herzner: Thanks Mirko!

Mike from Lichfield, United Kingdom

Nice to see this photo again. The arms are disproportionately long but I'm guessing this was how the sculptor intended them. Wonderful lighting, shadow and stone texture.

6 Jul 2009 6:51am

@Mike: Thanks Mike!.....yes the arms are very distinctive aren't they. Don't you think the length adds to the feeling that the figure is reaching out.

Reiner from Germany

You have captured the scene very well. Love the play of light and shade.

6 Jul 2009 7:04am

@Reiner: Thanks Reiner!

John Leech from Grange-over-Sands, United Kingdom

My irreverent view pick up on this statue creating the first two letters of a certain Beatles album cover. Kind of deep when I think about it a bit harder. The setting is excellent here, love the construction lines subtly introduced by the tiles and the alignment you have.

6 Jul 2009 9:36am

@John Leech: Thanks John....I was really pleased that I spotted this one. Photographing someone elses art work is not something that I normally get excited about but here I thought that the light and especially the shadow were thought provoking and it's a photo that I feel really happy with.

Frida from Sweden

I really like the play between shadows and light. I have never seen christ presented like this. Beautiful composition Ian.

6 Jul 2009 9:43am

@Frida: Thanks Frida.....yes, the shadows and light are the key to this photo and i was really pleased to have caught them in a photo like this.

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

Oh my gosh, it's superb, but then again, that never surprises me Ian...that the shadow is in cross form is amazing and to the left of the shadow there is another silhouette, looks like a jackal...how strange that feels...do you see it?

6 Jul 2009 10:23am

@Lorraine: Thanks Lorraine......photography is amazing sometimes isn't it. Just the act of having a camera with me makes me look at things in a more intense and questioning manner. There's no way I'd have spotted the significance of the lowered arms of the shadow in this scene if it hadn't been for the fact that I was looking at it from the perspective of a photographer.

Anna.C from LA ROCHELLE, France

a divine light ;-) excellent play of light and shadows !

6 Jul 2009 11:13am

@Anna.C: Thanks Anna!....I'm really pleased you liked it.

Cheryl from Texas, United States

BEAUTIFUL!! excellent light and shadows as Anna C stated!

6 Jul 2009 11:52am

Luca Bobbiesi from Milano, Italy

Beautiful framing, I like the shadow

6 Jul 2009 12:40pm

john4jack from Corvallis, Oregon, United States

Terrific capture. Exquisite light. Fascinating shadow. Well done.

6 Jul 2009 2:40pm

MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany

A remarkable sculpture! You've captured a great moment of spirituality here!

6 Jul 2009 4:15pm

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

The light is really wonderful. Makes a really powerful statement.

6 Jul 2009 5:10pm

Stefan from Thiersee, Austria

Great play of light and shadow, beautiful!

6 Jul 2009 5:42pm

Tammy-Cricket from somewhere out there, United States

Wonderful and powerful image. The shadow is amazing.

7 Jul 2009 12:46am

Hal from New York, United States

Terrific photo. Simple, and very powerful.

Was this handheld or with a tripod? Which lens?

7 Jul 2009 1:14am

@Hal: Thanks....the camera exif information is listed at the side of the photo but the lens data is converted to 35mm equivalent. As my Nikon D40 uses an APS-C sized sensor the listed 75mm focal length translates to 50mm. The lens I used for this shot was a 50mm f1.4G prime handheld at 1/50th second at f5.6. It's a really nice lens on the Nikon D40 as it's very lightweight and small which suits the small size of the camera body.