Holy Places for the Camera

Holy isn’t always a place we see with our eyes. Often, it is a place within ourselves – a feeling, a reverence, a meditation. Sometimes there are places or people that bring out the best in us, filling us with great joy, gratitude, and love. These are different places for different people – a cathedral, a mosque, a temple, a forest, a river, or a wave in the ocean can be a holy place.

Meanwhile, when it comes to photography, my camera doesn’t really know “holy”, it just knows how to record a moment of light and life. Some structures, and for that matter some people, prove to be subjects that feed my camera’s soul-search for light and life.

For example, St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. It’s a cathedral (and cathedrals are holy places, right?), but more to the point, it’s eye-candy for photographers and cameras. No matter what angle or light, I just can’t take one shot and walk away. I’m drawn in to visually explore the colors, shapes, and textures, ever reaching for one more treat…something more…something…to feed the soul.

So on that note, following are some treats for the eyes and soul – holy places around the world that my camera has explored. Enjoy!

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San Francisco de Asis statue and adobe church in Taos, New Mexico.

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Church of Our Lady before Tyn, Prague, Czech Republic

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The Great Buddha of Kamakura, Kamakura, Japan

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Basilica of Our Lady, Brasilia, Brazil

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St. Mary’s Church, Beddgelert, Wales UK

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Punakha Dzong, Punakha, Bhutan

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Church of Our Lady in Brugges, Belgium

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Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana, Bolivia

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Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca, Morocco

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Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

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Holy Houghly River, Calcutta, India

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Saint Kevin’s Church at Glendalough, Glendalough, Ireland

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Bodnath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal

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Mission San Luis Ray de Francia, Oceanside, California, USA

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Tomb of Salim Christi, Fatehpur Sikri, India

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Cathedral de Sevilla, Seville, Spain

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Santurio de Chimayo, Chimayo, New Mexico, USA

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Swayambhunath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal

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Templo Evangelico, Atitlan, Guatemala

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Santa Maria Church, Obidos, Portugal

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Church of the Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia

And for an in-depth read and photos fn the holiest place I’ve ever been, check out Mystical Varanasi.

This post is shared for #Frifotos on twitter, follow the hashtag to see a different theme of photos every Friday! On Fridays you can also find links to travel photos and blogs at Delicious Baby. Happy Friday!