Diocese of Cochin

[The amateur]

As soon as I entered the nave of the Diocese of Kochi, I immediately felt an atmosphere of calm and seclusion.
The high decorated ceiling and the soft light streaming through the windows and doors create a serene ambiance, where every architectural detail seems to tell its own story.
The worn walls and ornate columns bear witness to the passage of time, while the altar in the background exudes an imposing presence, inviting silence and contemplation.

I observed two people near the altar, exchanging low voices and perhaps even taking photos with their mobile phones, all while respecting the sacredness of the place. Devotion and history intertwine.

The diocese was established in 1557 following the dominance of Portuguese-speaking missionaries.

[escape]

I've cropped this image to focus more on the altar and the two people in the frame, as I feel it creates a more balanced composition by removing some of the visual clutter. By narrowing the focus, the quiet reverence of the scene stands out, allowing the viewer to reflect more on the sacred space and its rich history. The architectural details and the individuals' gentle presence add depth without overwhelming the moment of contemplation. It’s a subtle way of capturing the essence of this timeless place—just my perspective.

[Cantab]

I like the crop that you dod. For my money it works well -- for the reasons you stated. But I'm glad I also saw the original version as it has many interesting details in it.

[Manfred M]

It looks quite different now. When we visited 9 years ago, major restoration work was being done and many of the areas were closed to visitors.

[billtils]

This is one of those difficult shots where there is tension between "too busy" and "full of interest". I was uncertain, but your crop setteled it for me - it's much better.

[The amateur]

Thank you, Daniel, for putting things into a different and much more interesting perspective.
Yes, I really like your framing.
When I was working on the original image, one thing I wasn’t fond of was the particularly pronounced distortion on the right-hand side. But I thought, “Ah, of course… it’s due to the wide-angle lens.”
With the crop you made, however, that distortion isn’t as noticeable and practically disappears.

The only aspect of your work I like less is the way the light falls – in my version, I tried to focus it on the main area of the worship space, but it either disappeared or is less accentuated.
Perhaps darkening it a bit would have yielded a better result…
-
And now that I’m here, I’d like to take the opportunity to comment on the image quality, which is related to the photographic equipment used these days. I’m sure that it is clearly superior in terms of detail, micro contrast, and so on.

Cheers !

[The amateur]

I like the crop that you dod. For my money it works well -- for the reasons you stated. But I'm glad I also saw the original version as it has many interesting details in it.

Thank you Bruce for your comment !

[The amateur]

My photograph was taken on 18 January 2019.
When Manfred visited, the church was being repaired I wonder what were those cloths hanging from the beams?
They were there so that the works could proceed I am sure.

Thank you Manfred, for the note that adds something extra to my photo.

[The amateur]

This is one of those difficult shots where there is tension between "too busy" and "full of interest". I was uncertain, but your crop setteled it for me - it's much better.

Thank you for your comment Bill !
Cheers !

[AntonioCorreia]

Subscribing to the thread isn't enough to make the indicator turn green.

I need to post !