St. Luragh's Church At Night

[martinastro]

Took these during the week since it was cloudy and I felt like using the camera, spent an hour in the old graveyard of St. Luragh's Church, Maghera after midnight on a calm quite night, there was a lovely peaceful atmosphere there. The orange glow is from sodium lights across the street catching the grounds, images are 18mm ISO800, 24-30 sec.

[rjgjr]

It may sound morbid, but what a beautiful place, especially for taking photos. The BW image is just stunning Martin, blocking that light with the headstone would have been even better, things we don't see until it too late! Great shots, all of them.

[Conor McDonald]

really like that black and white one

[martinastro]

Thanks very much guys for the comments, I fully agree about the light in the b&w image Richard, I should have cloned that out, I saw it at the time and tried to move the camera more to the R so the light was out of frame, however I forgot that the optical viewfinder does not show the full FOV and it ended up on there, I should have used live view however I'm obsessed about having it switched off during exposures as it runs down the batteries and creates colour artifacts when left on for too long. I will know for next time - lesson learned  

It was difficult to get good shots as the ground was uneven with hills and deep holes hidden by pools of shadow, for the last 3 images I was sitting in a deep hole beside toomes with the camera on a steep grassy incline which involved adjusting all three legs to different heights to get the camera level, I had to be low to get the headstones in the foreground along with the church, it wasn't easy at all. For this reason I like the last 3 although I maybe should have took them in b&w. I think this place would be cool with low level fog or even in moonlit snow. I was back a second night when there was fog however it was so dense that I could barely see the church at all lol. Here's another...

[JohnC]

I think we're all agreed on the B&W Martin-its more in keeping with the location of course but  also it's not as harsh- quite spooky but it would be wouldn't it 

[rjgjr]

I again agree with John, BW seems only fitting for a cemetery scene like these. You really did a great job for all the hoops and obstacles you had to go through to get these photos, and I suppose the ground was damp also!

[Padraig OBrien]

Great shots Martin!

[paulster78]

Excellent photography Martin and what a wonderful location, you have composed the shots nicely. I can see further trips here for you over the winter. 

[markt]

Very good shots Martin!

That churchyard with frost and snow, hmmm, will be good