Corpus Christi College & Worcester College chapels
A very early start proved beneficial today with the forecast accurately predicting light cloud cover first thing. Photography within the chapel of Corpus Christi College presented some problems: the chapel is very small with a high East Window, making it difficult to photograph from sufficient a distance as to eliminate converging verticals. There is the potential to conduct photography from an elevated position at the West End, but unusually, this is located in the Library (to which access is currently unavailable) and it is separated from the chapel by dusty glass.
Dominic Price (2019) Corpus Christi College Chapel
With work complete at Corpus Christi and the weather still being favourable, it seemed sensible to chance the possibility of moving forward a planned visit to Worcester College. The two colleges are a frustratingly long way apart and though still early, temperatures were increasing and my heavy camera bag and tripod seemed ever heavier by the time I arrived. The Head Porter was quick to grant me access to the chapel.
Owing to a shortage of funds its construction was lengthy (1720–1791). Dr George Clarke, Henry Keene and James Wyatt were responsible for different stages of its construction. Between 1863 and 1864 the chapel was redecorated by William Burges, who retained the structure but added three windows to the north side and had the building glazed throughout with stained glass designed by Henry Holiday.
The windows depict moments in the life of Christ (the Annunciation; Epiphany; teaching in the Temple; Baptism; Crucifixion; the empty tomb; and the Ascension). The chapel is highly decorative beyond the obvious gold and pink: the pews are decorated with carved animals, including kangaroos and whales, and the walls include frescoes of dodos and peacocks.
Dominic Price (2019) Worcester College Chapel
UPDATED: 16 August, 2019
With the tie bars forming a integral part of each of the windows, it seemed inappropriate to attempt the lengthy process of removing them all. The resulting image comes from 26 photographs exposure blended by hand. EXIF data:
- Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
- Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM
- 227mm | ISO-50 | f/8.0
- Exposure range: 1/30sec – 10sec
Dominic Price (2019) The Crucifixion [Henry Holiday, 1864 – Worcester College Chapel]