People tend to devote their best efforts
into building them, often producing very pleasing results. A detailed look
can discover good photo opportunities. I will concentrate just on churches
in Chile's northern third.
Andean chapel
Many such little churches were built
by missionaries who came in the wake of the Spanish conquerors. Often the
tower is separate from the nave. The high mountain climate and limited
selection of material dictates the style of them.
Church door hinge
Wood was scarce, and metal even more
so. This church door was made from cactus wood, the hinge being crafted
from the knotty, very hard wood of a desert shrub.
Church roofing
Also made from cactus wood. This is
a long time exposure employing the very dim light that enters the small
windows.
Steel church
Reportedly built by Gustave Eiffel
et Cie.
Inside the steel church.
Andacollo Cathedral
A small mining town, Andacollo gets
huge numbers of visitors every Christmas, for its traditional three-day-long
celebration. Catholic beliefs mix with other elements to produce an enthusing
feast of swirling color, as the yellow-red dancer exemplifies. Dancers
and pilgrims often come on foot in a two-day long exhausting march, finishing
the trip on their knees and often even on their elbows! The cathedral floor
is speckled by candle wax and polished by rubbing knees.
Photographing such an event requires considerable
care in avoiding offense to believers.
Peace
Simple means can be most effective
in setting moods.
