Architecture and Angle

We were given a lovely tour of St. Paul's Cathedral today by a gentleman named John Wilson. Designed by the architect Christopher Wren, the "People's Cathedral" was about balance, symmetry and beauty. There was some initial controversy over whether it should have a dome or a spire (believed to carry prayers to heaven), but Wren's design of an inner and outer dome prevailed.

The previous St. Paul's Cathedral, with a spire, was demolished in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Wren built St. Paul's in thirty-five years, and also designed and rebuilt fifty-one other churches that were destroyed in the fire.

John pointed out that the cathedral had gone through a complete cleaning and restoration between 2001-2004. A portion of the unrestored interior wall has kept been so that you can see the dramatic contrast.

We were also shown the entrance doors, now just used for special royal occasions, made out of solid English oak and weighing two tons each.

Wren preferred to have clear glass in the windows to let the light shine in.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to take pictures in the cathedral so all my photos are from outside. Our focus was to think about composing our picture differently, a change in angle, off center, lighting. I was not too successful with this one I'm afraid, but here are a couple of attempts at being (slightly) different.

Feed the Birds

You are actually not allowed to feed the birds, and no one is selling breadcrumbs for tuppence a bag, so it takes a stretch of the imagination to conjure up Mary Poppins.

An Angel