Churches Missions Shrines Temples
Carmel Mission Basilica, California
The Mission Basilica was founded in Carmel in 1771, and contains the Shrine of Saint Junipero Serra, founder of California and the Spanish Colonial Missions.
Carmel Mission Basilica, California
The Mission Basilica was founded in Carmel in 1771, and contains the Shrine of Saint Junipero Serra, founder of California and the Spanish Colonial Missions.
Carmel Mission Basilica, California
Founded in 1771, and contains the Shrine of Saint Junipero Serra, founder of California and the Spanish Colonial Missions.
Cheery Blossoms at Shrine Island, Japan
Taken on Miyajima island, (Shrine Island), formerly known as Itsukushima, at the site of a sacred Shinto Shrine. First built in 593, the shrine and its torii gate are unique for being built over water, seemingly floating in the sea during high tide.
Cherry BlossomsItsukushima IslandJapanMiyajima
From Japan
Little Statues with Bonnets, Miyajima Itsukushima Islan, Japan
Hundred of these little statues line the walkways. Each statue has it's own facial expression and posture. Brightly colored knitted bonnets are provided to keep them warm. Taken on Miyajima island, (Shrine Island), formerly known as Itsukushima, at the site of a sacred Shinto Shrine, first built in 593.
Itsukushima IslandJapanMiyajima
From Japan
Penetrating Light in Shrine, Naoshima, Japan
Light penetrates this very narrow underground tunnel. Located in the Honmure Art House Project in Naoshima, this very narrow tunnel, beneath the renovated Go'o Shine, is based on Shinto shrine structure from the 17-19 century Edo period when Japanese society was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional daimyō.
From Japan
Torii Gates, Kyoto
Hundreds of vermillion torii gates at the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
Fushimi Inari ShrineJapanKyotoMariaVermillion Torri Gates
From Japan
Church Dome - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Church Dome, Templo de la Inmaculada Concepcion in San Miguel de Allende
CathedralChurchGuanajuatoMexicoMike WatsonSan Miguel de Allende
Church Dome - Parroquia, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Church Dome Parroquia, San Miguel de Allende
Church Dome - Pozos, Mexico
Church Dome in Pozos, an old Colonial Spanish silver mining town
Church Dome - Pozos, Mexico
Church Dome in Pozos, an old Colonial Spanish silver mining town
Getting it Right ArticleGuanajuatoMexicoMike WatsonPozosSan Miguel de Allende
Night Scene, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
San Miguel de Allende Street Scene
ChurchGetting it Right ArticleGuanajuatoMexicoMike WatsonNightNight PhotographyNight ShootNight shotSan Miguel de AllendeStreet Scenes
Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, Paris
Saint-Etienne-du-Mont near the Pantheon contains the shrine of St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. Originally constructed in 1222 it was enlarged and restored several times and finally dedicated in 1626.
5th ArrondissementCathedralChurchFlickrFranceMissionParisSaintÉtienneduMontSmugMug
Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, Paris
Saint-Etienne-du-Mont near the Pantheon contains the shrine of St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. Originally constructed in 1222 it was enlarged and restored several times and finally dedicated in 1626.
5th ArrondissementCathedralChurchFlickrFranceMissionParisSaintÉtienneduMontSmugMug
St. Sulpice Church Altar and Dome, Paris
St. Sulpice was founded in 1646 and is the second largest church in Paris. It was a worn, eerie, gritty atmosphere, has been linked to a fictitious 900-year-old secret society called the Priory of Sion, and was featured as a setting in the movie of Dan Brown’s "The Da Vinci Code".
CathedralChurchFlickrFranceMissionParisSmugMugSt. Sulpice ChurchThe Da Vinci CodeWorkshop
Chimera, Notre Dame
Chimera gazing down at Paris from a tower at Notre Dame
BWBlack WhiteBlack WhiteCathedralChimeraChurchFlickrFranceGargoyleMonochromeNotre DameParisSmugMug
From Paris
Who are all those people?
Chimera gazing down at Paris from a tower at Notre Dame
BWBlack WhiteBlack WhiteCathedralChimeraChurchFlickrFranceGargoyleMissionMonochromeNotre DameParisSmugMug
Graffiti at Sacre-Coeur, Paris
Sacré-Cœur Basilica has a controversial history marked predominantly by politics, wars, revolutions and occupations. Sacré Cœur's design was proposed in 1870, construction was completed in 1914 and the church was dedicated in 1919. Built of travertine stone which constantly exudes calcite ensures the exterior of the basilica remains white even with weathering and pollution. Unfortunately that is not true for the 260 foot, 300 step, narrow claustrophobic spiral staircase you climb to reach the top of the dome and the walkway for fantastic 360 degree views of Paris.
CathedralChurchCircular StaircaseFlickrFranceMissionMontmarteParisSacreCoeurSmugMugStaircaseindoorsinsideinterior
Graffiti at Sacre-Coeur, Paris
Sacré-Cœur Basilica has a controversial history marked predominantly by politics, wars, revolutions and occupations. Sacré Cœur's design was proposed in 1870, construction was completed in 1914 and the church was dedicated in 1919. Built of travertine stone which constantly exudes calcite ensures the exterior of the basilica remains white even with weathering and pollution. Unfortunately that is not true for the 260 foot, 300 step, narrow claustrophobic spiral staircase, passing the graffiti that you have to climb to reach the top of the dome for the views of Paris.
BWBlack WhiteBlack WhiteCathedralChurchCircular StaircaseFlickrFranceMissionMonochromeMontmarteParisSacreCoeurSmugMugStaircaseindoorsinsideinterior
Graffiti View, Sacre-Coeur, Paris
Sacré-Cœur Basilica has a controversial history marked predominantly by politics, wars, revolutions and occupations. Sacré Cœur's design was proposed in 1870, construction was completed in 1914 and the church was dedicated in 1919. Built of travertine stone which constantly exudes calcite ensures the exterior of the basilica remains white even with weathering and pollution. Unfortunately that is not true for the 260 foot, 300 step, narrow claustrophobic spiral staircase you climb to reach the top of the dome and the walkway for fantastic 360 degree views of Paris.
CathedralChurchCircular StaircaseFlickrFranceMissionMontmarteParisSacreCoeurSmugMugStaircaseindoorsinsideinterior
Flying Butresses at Notre Dame, Paris
The Flying butresses of Notre Dame
BWBlack WhiteBlack WhiteCathedralChurchFlickrFranceMissionMonochromeNotre DameParisSmugMug
From Paris
Flying Butresses at Notre Dame, Paris
The Flying butresses of Notre Dame
BWBlack WhiteBlack WhiteCathedralChurchFlickrFranceMissionMonochromeNotre DameParisSmugMug
San Juan Bautista Mission, CA
Founded on June 24, 1797 by the Franciscan order, this mission was the fifteenth and largest of the Spanish missions established in California. The mission and its grounds were featured prominently in the 1958 Alfred Hitchcock film Vertigo.
BWBlack WhiteBlack WhiteCathedralChurchFlickrMissionMonochromeSmugMug
Altar in Stanford University Chapel, California
CACaliforniaCathedralChurchCityFlickrHDRHigh Dynamic RangeMissionSan FranciscoSmugMugStanford University
Dome in Stanford University Chapel, California
Stanford Memorial Church, dedicated in 1903, was built by Jane Stanford as a memorial to her husband Leland.
CACaliforniaCathedralChurchCityFlickrHDRHigh Dynamic RangeMissionSan FranciscoSmugMugStanford UniversityUniversity
Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
Early evening, after Afternoon Mass, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
CACaliforniaCathedralChurchCityFlickrHDRHigh Dynamic RangeMissionSan FranciscoSmugMug
Mission Delores Pews, San Francisco
Afternoon light filtered by stained glass and channeled between pews at Mission Dolores Basilica in San Francisco
CACaliforniaCathedralChurchFlickrGetting it Right ArticleHDRHigh Dynamic RangeMissionMission DistrictMission DoloresSan FranciscoSmugMug
From San Francisco, CA
Mission Dolores Basilicia, San Francisco
A learning experience - shot mid-afternoon with bright and dark areas, shadows, natural light coming through stained glass and often hitting reflective surfaces.
CACaliforniaCathedralChurchFlickrHDRHigh Dynamic RangeMissionMission DistrictMission DoloresNight ShootNight shotSan FranciscoSmugMug