When I came across this striking church in rural Illinois (est. 1876) I was tempted to grab some overalls and a pitchfork and rock an American Gothic pose. Maybe next time. Have a great weekend everyone!
Pssst… just between you and me I removed two ‘contemporary’ basement windows and elongated the whole building a bit, etc. Don’t tell anybody, okay?
About this image: digital photograph, moderately modified
Refrigerator Magnate 
Ooo lovely! I’ve always liked this church. It sort of transports you back in time.
I think so too, Annabelle, thank you!
It was kind of strange how close it was/is to the campground though, isn’t it?!
🙂
Yeah! It was a bit odd to have the church and cemetery right by the campground.
Can you believe no one offered us a Smore?!
🙂
I like this composition, Robert, how the black at top and bottom frames the intricacies between. (If you remove the windows too you might even be able to sell it for a few million dollars. 😉 )
Thank you very much, S.E.!
I played around with the border quite a bit (hoping to get the ‘massing’ balanced)…
hahaha… In that case I’d better go get my tools!
😉
I particular;y like that beautiful roof
Thank you, N.M.! Me, too! It has such great textures, doesn’t it?!
🙂
Have a great holiday, too. It’s a nice window.Gothic is basic of architecture design.
Thank you so much, sir!
I wish you and your family the happiest of holidays as well!
Gothic structures have such striking elements, don’t they?!
🙂
Another masterful piece of art! Love the church. I did a photo series on rural churches in eastern KY years ago. We have moved so many times since then and now I have no idea where to lay my hands on them. Hope I still have them. Great subject matter and you do a great job with it.
Oh, no! I’m very sorry to hear that, Ms. F (been there – not fun)! I hope that you come across them some day – I would love to see that series! Thank you so much, Ms. F!
🙂
I won’t tell anyone about the changes. If you hadn’t said anything I’d never have guessed!
Next year please compose this in gingerbread. It’d be perfect!!
*whew* Thanks, Dishy!
Hahaha… my gingerbread construction company went under (I kept consuming the walls before we could ever get a roof on)!
🙂
I just saw your gingerbread piece, Dishy! Now THAT is perfect!
🙂
Excellent. SIG, do you frame many of your pictures? Do you sell any of your pictures? I hope these shots get seen by more than just those living in the blogosphere.
Not… really.
I’d have some ‘figuring’ to do to go large, and would have to find a good printer to work with, etc.
BUT I really hope to make a book… some day. Many, many, days from now.
I was in a show once or twice, (but those were collegiate things… so, you know. They needed somebody).
Thank you so much, Ms. D!
🙂
I love a tin roof. The rain just goes rat-a-tat-tat and makes me so sleepy.
We have a few of those types of churches around here.
Nice shot!
Deb xx
And they can have such great textures, too, can’t they?
Pretty cool, I think!
Thank you very much, Ms. A!
🙂
I was half expecting one of Annabelle’s high heeled wearing feet to be hanging out one of those windows.
Hahaha…
for some reason they locked me out, Loon.
I know. I was shocked, too!
🙂
I’m telling on you! 😉
Hahaha…
No! It’s not fair! It’s not fair!
😉
I love the textures on this one.
Thank you very much, Laura!
🙂
Were they still holding services there are is it an old abandoned church? Nice photo 🙂
You know… I’m not sure about that, Mel.
Hmmm… now I’m all curious!
🙂
I’m pretty sure it is abandoned… however they do have someone come and upkeep the lawn and nearby cemetery… so who knows?
A. You own overalls?
B. You own a pitchfork?
A. It’s almost Christmas… so… fingers crossed.
B. Angry mobs chase me around with them all the time.
🙂
illinois????
i knew i could sense you roaming around my stomping grounds….
wait, are you from around here or just wandering through?? if you are then how come i didn’t know this/ remember this??
We live in St. Louis, MO 🙂
Wait…
where am I right now?!
🙂
Yeah… we don’t leave STL that often, but every now and then we head over to S.W. Illinois (especially between Alton and Pere Marquette).
🙂
As usual, very nice! I like the effect of the black on the top and the bottom, and the peeling paint. Color would ruin this shot.
Thank you so much, sir!
I played with the border for quite some time hoping to get the balance right… it seemed to help a bit to me.
This textures in this building were just too interesting to pass up!
🙂
The assassin is on the roof!! @0@ HeeHee (the church and the silence make me think of a video game “Assassin’s Creed” 🙂
Ah, yes!
Good thing It’s not me on the roof (with my luck I’d slip off and break an arm or two)!
🙂
a timeless image – the construction job to remove the windows and elongate the building notwithstanding. so who did you end up throwing in the dark? hope they had a flashlight 🙂
seriously, another one with a great nostalgic feel. thanks for sharing!
Hahaha…
not to worry… I edited in a nice lamp behind all those stones.
Thank you very much, P&K! I’m very happy to hear you liked it!
🙂
Ah, glad you did alter the image. It is just wonderful the way you saw this. I love it. The lines, the shapes, the different textures, the black and white. I really love this image.
That is so kind of you!
Yeah, I didn’t think the windows seemed to ‘fit’ quite right… they almost seemed distracting, in a way.
🙂
Great shot, nicely edited and refined!
Many thanks, Mr. B!
🙂
Lovely! Is this southwest Illinois?
Absolutely! It’s right along the Mississippi (near Grafton, I think). Have you been there, too?
🙂
I don’t think so. I live much farther north in Illinois – ever been to Starved Rock?
Hmm… a quick consultation with Google Maps has confirmed that while I have been as far North as Starved Rock I have been much further east and/or west at those times.
🙂
You’ll need to roadtrip up here to photograph the bluffs and caves in your own, inimitable style.
Caves sound like a lot of fun!
(As long as I can find my way back out again – I get lost pretty easily, you know)!
🙂
Great photo and American Gothic was a great show.
Why thank you, Nigel…
you are very kind, sir!
🙂
You faker! I love that I would’ve never been able to tell, though. Very striking image. Super creepy, too!
Hahaha…
me? Nah.
Why thank you, U.M.!
🙂
next time you should definitely rock the pitch fork!
Hahaha…
there will probably be ‘an incident’…
I’ll likely set it down and step on the wrong end, or something.
🙂
I’m not sure why but I’m reminded of a scrolling background from the old CastleVania video game. Not just the view point but also all of the sharp points. Quite cool.
Why thank you, sir! I’m going to have to look that up, now (my curiosity has gotten the best of me)!
🙂
I will take your secret window removal and elongation, to the tomb… next… to the campground…
I knew I could trust you, Juana!
Those folks in campsite 24 are kinda suspect, though.
🙂
Another masterpiece my friend 🙂
Why thank you, Jake!
I appreciate that very much!
🙂
This looks like a beginning of an old western movie.
It kind of does, doesn’t it?
A tumbleweed should drift by any moment now!
🙂
You know how they say a picture is worth 1000 words? I think I can write a story around this church.
PS – next time the overalls, definitely. 🙂
That is so kind of you to say, Ms. C! Thank you very, very much!
Hahaha… if only they weren’t in the wash…
🙂
That church reminds me of an old railway station that used to be at Strahan on the West Coast of Tasmania. It had windows like that.
They are pretty cool elements, aren’t they, Mr. M? And I love all things train, so that sounds like a pretty fascinating place to me!
🙂
You’re amazing!!
And your kindness is amazing –
thank you!
🙂
I like it! Works perfectly in b&w!
Thank you, M.P…
I was hoping it would push the vintage feel a bit more.
🙂
Great composition !
I thank you, sir!
🙂
Very cool!
That is very kind of you, Eden…
thank you!
🙂
What are you going to do with those two windows now SIG? 🙂
Hmm…
maybe…
eBay?
🙂
I’m a sucker for those windows. Gorgeous shot. Were you able to get inside?
They’re pretty amazing details, aren’t they?!
No – unfortunately we weren’t able to go inside (it sure would’ve been very nice to check it out)!
🙂
Pitchforks are never nearby when you need them. #TrueStory
Hahaha…
I only seem to find them by accident
(guess who could use a tetanus shot?)!
🙂
Your lovely picture evokes memories of a covered bridge and a tiny coal-mining town in Pennsylvania. I spent every August with my grandmother there as a child.
I cherish those memories. Your photo captures an entire era and a peace that I too often forget.
Thank you my friend.
What a kind comment, Ms. B… thank you!
The only thing nicer than hearing an image brings back present memories is actually hearing about those experiences… thank you again!
🙂