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Inverness Cathedral


Inverness Cathedral
Photo Information
Copyright: Jon Fair (Jonela) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 377 W: 2 N: 374] (2727)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-06-11
Categories: Daily Life, Architecture, Mood
Camera: Sony Alpha A300, Sony 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom, 55mm CPL Polarizer
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-06-16 3:24
Viewed: 186
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This was taken from the south side of the river Ness on my recent visit to this beautiful part of Scotland. We had been out for a walk dodging the rain and were on our return trip back to the digs when I stopped to shoot this lovely structure.

Inverness Cathedral was built between 1866 and 1869 by the Inverness architect, Alexander Ross. Gothic in style, the exterior of the cathedral tends to attract slightly unflattering comments in architectural guides, and there is no denying that it would have looked rather prettier, and still more imposing, had the funds stretched to include the 30m spires the architect originally intended to top off the west towers. The original designs also envisaged a church with a rather longer nave. Having said that, the main west doorway and its surrounds are truly magnificent, and provide a fitting entrance to a building which is much more appealing internally than externally.
The Cathedral is Mother Church of the Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness, one of the seven Dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church, which is part of the world-wide Anglican Communion and can trace its history back to St Columba and the early days of Christianity in Scotland.
ike its sister-church south of the border, the Church of England, the Scottish Episcopal Church is governed by Bishops. This is one of the things that distinguishes it from the much larger Church of Scotland, a Presbyterian Church governed by representatives of the congregation. This may not initially sound like a major difference, but it was King Charles I's efforts to impose government by Bishops on the Presbyterian Church of Scotland which led to a riot in St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh on Sunday 23 July 1637.
This in turn led directly to the Bishops' Wars; the Wars of the Covenant; the English Civil War; the execution of Charles I; and Cromwell's occupation of Scotland: 23 years of wide-ranging conflict that did not really end until the restoration of Charles II in 1660. Those days are, thankfully, long gone, but it helps to know that differences of opinion about church governance were once, quite literally, a matter of life and death.
Although a minority religion across the Scottish population as a whole, it was estimated in the mid 1800s that three quarters of the "landed proprietors of Scotland" were Episcopalians, a by-product of so many sons being educated at English public schools. One result was an explosion of Episcopalian church building in the second half of the 1800s, and one product of that was Inverness Cathedral.
Internally, the cathedral seems considerably larger than you expect, and you get a sense that this was where most of the effort, and available funds, was expended. The nave is separated from the aisles by columns made from Peterhead granite, and the fixtures and fittings, from the pews to the floor tiles, are all of the highest quality.
The nave is separated from the choir by a beautiful oak choir screen added in 1923, above which is suspended a large cross. The choir itself is nothing short of magnificent. The choir stalls were made from Austrian oak and added in 1909. The bishop's throne dates back to 1869. At the east end the altar and the reredos, the carved screen behind the altar, finish off this end of the church in a very pleasing way. Both were made from stone imported from Caen.
Inverness Cathedral has a number of statues, including a large angel carrying a font and a bust of Bishop Robert Eden. It also has an impressive collection of stained glass windows. Perhaps the best is the beautiful west window, in the gable immediately above the west door.


cropped
sharpened
and got ready to upload to TL in pspx1

All c and c's wellcome
manujmehta, chrisJ, moli has marked this note useful
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To moli: thanksJonela 1 06-17 11:24
To hifimusicdai: thanksJonela 1 06-17 05:34
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To chefcop: thanksJonela 1 06-16 11:27
To szekelykristof: thanksJonela 1 06-16 11:24
To bri: thanksJonela 1 06-16 11:19
To chrisJ: CathedralchrisJ 1 06-16 04:33
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Critiques [Translate]

hello Jon
how are you friend?
nice view, like the foreground too
good focal length mentained
thanks for sharing

regards
Manuj Mehta

Hi Jon

Good framing of the old stone castle with excellent warm cold colour contrasts, superb sharpness & nice fg reflections. TFS!

good pov Jon nice details in the stonework tfs
regards bryan

helo

nice shot i like the tone here beautiful ambiance too..

nice work.

best regards
bhot

  • Great 
  • soe Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 402 W: 0 N: 107] (2461)
  • [2009-06-16 4:42]

Hi Jon
Nice capture of old stone castle. Great color with detail and sharpness.Nice composition.
Tin Soe

  • Great 
  • bri Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 311 W: 0 N: 365] (1998)
  • [2009-06-16 4:56]
  • [+]

Hi Jon,
Great shot of the Cathedral, the detail is great and the overcast sky and dark water frame the trees and building nicely. TFS
Bri

Hi Jon,
Beautiful exposition of this catherdral, what I like the most is the enlightment of the building. Well framed naturally by the two trees, the dark sky above it looks fine as well, good contrast to the catherdal. Well done, TFS!
Greetings,
Kristof

Like this one Jon, great brooding sky. The juxtaposition of the stonework against the trees works really well too.

Use of portrait mode really suits the image, some purists might find the Cathedral a little to central in the shot, but hey rules are made to be broken.

All in all an excellent image.

Peter

Hi Jonny, you couldn't have followed the rule of thirds any better!!! Compositionally by the book, I would say!
The colors are the stand-out feature for me .. trees are vibrant green, and the dark clouds add to the shot, as does the dark water below.
Great job.
Hope you're having a good day:)
Trudy

Lovely riverside view of the Cathedral surrounded by trees.Looks very tranquil. Did you crop very much (it looks as though it could be sharper)Nice composition and pov. I like the sky
warm regards
David

  • Great 
  • moli Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1388 W: 275 N: 1876] (11642)
  • [2009-06-17 7:10]
  • [+]

Hello Jon.
Another fine shot from Inverness here in your gallery.
Well composed.
Interesting note as well.

Best Regards
Janek Kloss

Hi Jon

Well composed shot of the Cathedral.
Like the use of portrait here.
Nice one.

Regards Derek

Hello Jon,
I like very much your latest shots. This one has an ancient air, as one of early colored images. Water is so dark, and makes a pleasant contrast with the sunny Cathedral.
Ciao, Elena

  • Great 
  • korbee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1349 W: 0 N: 1644] (13402)
  • [2009-07-14 3:57]

Looks a bit like HDR soft ,this classical picture Jon,a nice and quiet place,Im glad you have some good sunshine on the towers contrasting with the green trees.


jan

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