The Slaughter House Chapel.

[Wayland]

I've been visiting Cwm Orthin for about thirty years now and I've seen the buildings falling steadily into disrepair as nature takes them back over.

The quarry had a poor safety record which led to it being known as "the Slaughter House" and this small chapel was built for it's workers. I guess it must have seen some tragic times.

I have old negatives I took showing it in much better repair but when the back wall fell in a few years ago, so did most of the roof and these last timbers just point up to the sky like bony fingers now.

The sheep skull and the dead, rotting pine seem to complete the somber mood for me somehow.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured, very dramatic with all the elements.

[Mike Buckley]

The drama is terrific!

[Rebel]

This is awesome, really nice shot and love the skull in there.

[Wavelength]

Superbbbbbb..... Really.... and terrific too

[Mutley]

I like that very much indeed

[bnnrcn]

It looks great Wayland

[Wayland]

Thank you all.

[FootLoose]

I like this composition, Wayland, but as the building is the subject of the shot, I wonder if it should be a bit brighter and the foreground a touch darker?

I hope you took some close-up shots of the sheep's skull, too.

[NorthernFocus]

That's an awesome image, Wayland. Given your description of the locale it really fits. Nicely done.

[ied]

What a great composition... made complete with the dramatic sky.

Irene

[smcrews]

Very nice!

[MrB]

In his critique, Greg (Footloose) has made a good point. However, I think it would be better to leave the building as it is, and give it more prominence by slightly lightening the overly dark clouds. Also I think it is the middle ground that is a bit too bright. The image would probably make a dramatic B & W conversion.

Cheers.
Philip

[ST1]

A great image with very good compositional elements Gary. Others have suggested various changes to different areas of the image. My take is that you should leave it as it is apart from, a slight crop off the bottom so that the rotting branch is coming out of the bottom right corner, rather than just above it. Others may think my suggestion produces a contrived composition.
My first impression was that the cloud in to which the three roof timbers reach was too dark however when viewed large I don't think that is the case.
Well done Gary and thanks for the narrative which added to my experience when viewing your great image.

[Wayland]

I have been looking at a mono version of this.

I'll post it up when I've given it another coat of Lookinat.