Wandering Through The Countryside

www.dennismook.com

When "wandering" the countryside, one of my favorite subjects is the small country church.  They are usually white, with clapboard siding.  The buildings are normally small, most share similar architecture, and they are normally located on a 2-lane country road.  However, I have photographed many that defy that convention.

Congregations associated with these churches are presumably small, but I suspect many members of the congregation are fully involved with church activities.  I would think they would have to be, considering their numbers and the intimacy of being small.  There is nothing fancy about the buildings as I suspect that faith plays a bigger role than the structure itself. 

Commentary: When I see the leaders of the television "mega churches" who have a congregation of several thousand and who live in huge mansions, drive luxury cars and are millionaires, I have to wonder if they lost sight of some of the meaning of their faith.  It seems to me that the sustainment of their lifestyle make take precedence over their message.  But that is another discussion.

Back to the small, country churches.  The biggest problem when photographing these churches is that power lines often run to the front of the building.  That tends to ruin the scene for me.  Too often, the power lines run right to the front corner of the church where they attach.  Why do they do that?  Don't they know they are messing up the aesthetics?  Sorry.  That was a self-serving statement.  Unfortunately, I don't often photograph those as I don't really want to modify the image significantly by removing the lines.  So, I enjoy just looking at them, then driving on.  But I always wonder about the people who worship at each of these.

Here are a few other images of churches I have discovered in my travels.  I have many more and may post more another time.

 

 

 

 

 

There is just something about the little country church that attracts me.  I think it is the simplicity of architecture and the intended meaning of the building.  I just enjoy making straightforward images, nothing fancy.

 

Thanks for looking.

 

Enjoy!

Dennis Mook