Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 11, 2009 at 4:08 PM
In the spirit of Todd's OT request....but, there is a nature photography connection.
There are about a dozen churches in central Texas that have amazing painted interiors. The early Czech & German settlers couldn't duplicate the opulent cathedrals in their homeland, but I think they did rather well with their application of paint on wood.
For any of you visiting the Texas Hill Country for Spring wildflowers, I highly recommend a visit to one or two of these while you are in the area. Let me know if you need locations.
Any comments and critque appreciated.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 11, 2009 at 4:09 PM
2 - Nativity of Mary Church, High Hill
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 11, 2009 at 4:09 PM
3
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 11, 2009 at 4:10 PM
4 - Praha
Posted by Jeremy Week on February 11, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Very cool Bill! What a treasure! They are all wonderful, though I especially like the comps on #2 and #4. Great colors as well.
Posted by bill meikle on February 11, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Wow, reminds me of Indonesia! Beautiful, I will get to the Texas hill country sometime Bill, what month do you recommend for flowers and stuff?
Posted by Jody Grigg on February 11, 2009 at 6:54 PM
Great stuff Bill, I think I would be tempted to erase some of those wires hanging down.
Posted by John Mumaw on February 11, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Beautiful architecture!
I was aware of the German influence in that area, but had no idea that it extended to buildings 'til now. Thanks for sharing these!
Posted by Todd Caudle on February 11, 2009 at 8:54 PM
Whoa! Extraordinary photos of extraordinary places!
Posted by Don George on February 11, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Thanks for the education. I didn't realize these existed until now. Great framing! Can you give us more information on shooting the hill country including some images?
Posted by Brett Deacon on February 11, 2009 at 11:21 PM
Bill, great subjects but also great photos! I love the comp on #4. With these great colors I bet prints would look beautiful!
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 12, 2009 at 4:25 AM
Thanks for the positive feedback, guys. I found these interior compositions rather challenging, and still don't feel that I have done them justice.
Jody, I definitely plan to clone out the obnoxious lighting wires before printing.
It was just impossible to find a wide composition that didn't include at least one.
Bill, for Hill Country wildflowers, April is a good bet, for Fall colors, November.
Google will get you lots of online sites that report wildflower and fall foliage status and locations for Texas.
For example: http://www.texaswildflowerpictures.com/update.htm
The quality will vary widely with rainfall. 2008 was not a very good year.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 12, 2009 at 5:01 AM
Don,
Robert Hitchman's Photograph America has a Hill Country wildflower guide in issue #46. It comes with a very useful map of the best routes. He hasn't published a Fall foliage tour, as far as I can determine. That should be a great topic for a future issue.
Spring and Fall are definitely the best times to explore the Hill Country. There are many state parks throughout the area. The small towns have a lot of character, numerous B&Bs, and great food. However, we are spoiled with a lot of open public land in the Rockies. That is the exception in central Texas. It's really tempting to jump a fence to get a better composition, but Texans take those no trespassing signs seriously.
Fall colors, especailly along the rivers, provide great photo ops.
For example, here's the Frio River in Garner Sate Park: http://www.pbase.com/jkohn/image/52064812
If you have anymore questions, drop me an email and I'll try to help.
Sorry, I don't have any of my central Texas images online, yet.
Posted by Paul Wegemann on February 12, 2009 at 7:57 AM
Beautiful images, Bill. I just learned some history and geography too. Thanks!
Posted by Nick Moore on February 12, 2009 at 9:28 AM
These are amazing interiors, never would of known that German settlers in Texas created some amazing works of Art like this. Thanks for the history and showing us these images Bill.
Posted by Ken Einig on February 12, 2009 at 8:19 PM
Bill, I do not want to steal this thread because the pictures of those Texas painted church ceilings are absolutely stunning. Having said that, and looking at your photos, I was reminded of an incredible opportunity I had in in 2005 when I went on an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sponsored assist visit to a nuclear generating power plant in Lithuania. Long story short, I had a few hours on a Sunday morning in Vilnius to walk around and take a few pictures. Their history is thousands of years documented. The churches there are VERY old. I sneaked this shot of a Sunday morning Mass through the front door with a point and shoot. It reminded me that our known USA history is but a pebble on a beach of Lithuanian history. That is why I decided to post this shot. Hope you all like it as much as I do. The only connect is that a RMNP photog took it.
Posted by Don George on February 12, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Bill, Thanks for taking the time to provide the information. I'll check out Hitchmans Newsletter.
I'll probably be in Arizona in March but have no plans as yet for April. Looks like a great opportunity to photograph a different area.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 12, 2009 at 11:52 PM
Thanks for sharing your image, Ken. Yes, the richness of European history is impressive, even more so when you can visit the sites.
Don, if you are thinking of spending April in Texas, I would chose Big Bend National Park instead of the Hill Country. Or, do both, if you have the time. You should have plenty of wildflowers at Big Bend also. I prefer the landscape opportunities in Big Bend over central Texas. You'll find a lot fewer people, great desert scenery, and open country, instead of private property. I've got a few photo books, that you are welcome to borrow, for planning a trip. Hitchman also has a Big Bend guide - issue #40.
Discussion
17 repliesThere are about a dozen churches in central Texas that have amazing painted interiors. The early Czech & German settlers couldn't duplicate the opulent cathedrals in their homeland, but I think they did rather well with their application of paint on wood.
For any of you visiting the Texas Hill Country for Spring wildflowers, I highly recommend a visit to one or two of these while you are in the area. Let me know if you need locations.
Any comments and critque appreciated.
I was aware of the German influence in that area, but had no idea that it extended to buildings 'til now. Thanks for sharing these!
Jody, I definitely plan to clone out the obnoxious lighting wires before printing.
It was just impossible to find a wide composition that didn't include at least one.
Bill, for Hill Country wildflowers, April is a good bet, for Fall colors, November.
Google will get you lots of online sites that report wildflower and fall foliage status and locations for Texas.
For example: http://www.texaswildflowerpictures.com/update.htm
The quality will vary widely with rainfall. 2008 was not a very good year.
Robert Hitchman's Photograph America has a Hill Country wildflower guide in issue #46. It comes with a very useful map of the best routes. He hasn't published a Fall foliage tour, as far as I can determine. That should be a great topic for a future issue.
Spring and Fall are definitely the best times to explore the Hill Country. There are many state parks throughout the area. The small towns have a lot of character, numerous B&Bs, and great food. However, we are spoiled with a lot of open public land in the Rockies. That is the exception in central Texas. It's really tempting to jump a fence to get a better composition, but Texans take those no trespassing signs seriously.
Fall colors, especailly along the rivers, provide great photo ops.
For example, here's the Frio River in Garner Sate Park:
http://www.pbase.com/jkohn/image/52064812
Jeff Kohn also has his 2004-2008 wildflower galleries here:
http://www.pbase.com/jkohn/wildflowers
If you have anymore questions, drop me an email and I'll try to help.
Sorry, I don't have any of my central Texas images online, yet.
I'll probably be in Arizona in March but have no plans as yet for April. Looks like a great opportunity to photograph a different area.
Don, if you are thinking of spending April in Texas, I would chose Big Bend National Park instead of the Hill Country. Or, do both, if you have the time. You should have plenty of wildflowers at Big Bend also. I prefer the landscape opportunities in Big Bend over central Texas. You'll find a lot fewer people, great desert scenery, and open country, instead of private property. I've got a few photo books, that you are welcome to borrow, for planning a trip. Hitchman also has a Big Bend guide - issue #40.