1850 chapel severely damaged by arson fire July 2006







Series at http://www.infraredhouse.com/edenhal...l?show_param=4

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Fred

Thanks, I think, for these stunning photos of a once beautiful place. Your artistry helps heal that pain.

Titus - I took these on Saturday afternoon, Oct 13, 2007 - less than two weeks ago. I was shocked to see yesterday that they had demolished the chapel. The walls looked to be in pretty good condition, considering. There was still a significant degree of class to the place even in its damaged state. A new roof and some cleaning up would have made it quite presentable, IMO. Perhaps there was unseen fundamental structural damage. Another priceless historical object gone forever. Very sad indeed. I will treasure the photos and the opportunity I had to take them.

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Fred

Gone.

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Fred

Awesome Infrared! WOW

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PhillySnaps Photography Forums

That's terribly sad. We're a little short on medieval ruins in this city; Eden Chapel should have been preserved as an example of what can be seen all over Europe.

Question: do you do the infrared in the camera or on the computer? That is to say, I am wondering whether you have plain-old versions of those photos as well. The infrared gives a wonderfully haunting quality to the images, but at some point in the future one might want the info that could be derived from the straight-up record-purpose shots, if such exist.

(One can only hope that a Park Commission or demolition contractor photographer took such shots.)

EDITED TO ADD: My eyes have played a trick on me. I have only now realized that the gothic arch in the photo is not a last remaining bit of chapel, but the arm of the backhoe. Amazing....

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These are from an ir-only digital camera internally modified with an infrared pass filter. No computer trickery involved. No 'true' or visible color data availble. They are really very close to what you would get with B&W except for the effect of infrared light reflected from the foliage.

I have posted quasi 'color' versions of these same shots that do involve some computer manipulation called channel swapping. The red and blue channels are switched rendering the sky a more natural blue and giving the foliage a pinkish tint. This is often considered the more 'traditional' infrared approach. Here is an example. The rest are at http://www.infraredhouse.com/edenhall




BTW: I agree with your statement about the dearth of European medival style ruins in the city or anywhere else in this country. Being inside (which I did not expect to happen at all) instantly reminded me of World War I photo books I used to look at as a child. That feeling and the ghosts of nuns who prayed there was haunting indeed. It seems it could have been kept just as it was - a ruin - and shored up for safety's sake. But we're still the New World and don't have the appreciation of history that Eurpoe does.

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Fred

Beautiful photos. You captured Eden Hall's etherial quality even in its ruin. Thank You, Marnie

Several years ago my friend had her wedding photos taken outside of eden hall. I do not have any of these but I know that they turned out beautiful. SO 2 years ago when I wanted to go have my wedding photos taken there I was dismayed at the amount of vandalism and graffiti that had taken over (This was pre fire)

I was heartbroken to hear of the news of destruction to this once beautiful building and only wish I had joined forced in trying to preserve this piece of history.

I am shocked now to see the crane and rubble. I am near tears.

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Ducky