The Church at Ballintoy

The Church of Ireland church at Ballintoy was completed in 1813. It was a replacement for an older structure that is believed was built in the first quarter of the seventeenth century.

Extensive renovations were made in 1883 and further repairs after a hurricane in 1894.

The church makes for striking photographs

Ballintoy Church, Antrim Coast and Glens 20190703_3088_jorr

Ballintoy Church, Antrim Coast and Glens 20190703_3081_jorr

Ballintoy Church, Antrim Coast and Glens 20190703_3097_jorr.jpg

Prints of these images, along with others from the Antrim Coast and Glens can be purchased here.

First Church

Back to my Lightroom catalogue. I took these images of Saul Church in Downpatrick in 2016 and for some reason I can’t remember, processed them in colour. They look fine (I’ve even sold prints) but I can’t figure out why I haven’t processed them to black and white before now.

Saul Church is built on the site of St. Patrick’s first church in Ireland. It is said that when he came to Ireland in 432 the local chieftain gave him a barn, where the church now stands, to hold services in. Patrick is believed to have died at Saul and his reputed grave is in the grounds of Down Cathedral, Downpatrick. Flowers are laid there on St. Patrick’s Day each year.

Services are still held in the Church at Saul.

 

Saul Church, Downpatrick, County Down
Saul Church, Downpatrick, County Down

 

Saul Church, Downpatrick, County Down
Saul Church, Downpatrick, County Down

 

Saul Church, Downpatrick, County Down
Saul Church, Downpatrick, County Down

 

Open Bible in Saul Church, Downpatrick, County Down
Open Bible in Saul Church, Downpatrick, County Down

Belfast Cathedral

In a previous post I said that most photographs of Writers’ Square are taken with St. Anne’s Cathedral in the background. This is a photograph of the Cathedral without Writers’ Square in the foreground.

Photographing the Cathedral from the Square gives a straight on front view. There is no parking permitted in front of the church but parking is allowed on the opposite side of the street. This, along with one or two streetlamps on that side, makes for a messy image.

St. Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, Belfast Cathedral
St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, Belfast Cathedral

 

This photograph was taken from the side of the Cathedral with a 24mm equivalent lens. I was able to stand on the road and although there is some distortion it gives an uninterrupted view. The bright winter sunshine warmed the stone, revealing the texture. I returned a couple of hours later but the sun was lower in the sky and the buildings at the rear of Writers’ Square are casting a shadow on the Cathedral.

I had intended to convert this image to black and white (I still do) but I haven’t been able to get it just right so far. When I get it right I’ll post it.