This is what Art Historian Shelley Esaak wrote about me on About.com: "Not all preservation movements have public funding or corporate underwriting. Neil Ralley is one person who is single-handedly bringing awareness to an often-neglected art form: stained glass. He travels, at his own expense and on his own time, to photograph windows that have historic and artistic value - and then makes these beautiful images available for all to see at his website." You can read the whole of Shelley's article here at About.com
This lens is just an extension of my desire to raise people's consciousness about stained glass art and the need to be proactive in preserving it for future generations.
Links to pictures of Stained Glass
- Stained Glass Photography
- This is my own site. Be tolerant of imperfections, it is a work-in-progess and there is much still to be done. If you have the time browse around but if you just want to go straight to the galleries of images then click here, the folder labelled "Buildings" contains the most images.
- Museum Quality Gifts
- Some fine and unusual gift items with a common theme - Museum Quality. Here you will find some traditional stained glass panels made using the copper foil method developed and refined by Louis Comfort Tiffany and John La Farge a century and a half ago.
- Frameable Art Cards
- Beautiful cards incorporating actual photographic prints in a sumptuous, acid-free, archival Strathmore Art Card with matching envelope. A range of subjects includes Advent and Christmas themes, angels, saints and images of Jesus. They are blank so that you can personalise them with your own greeting.
- Church Giftshops
- A website where you can purchase gift items incorporating pictures of stained glass with part of the proceeds going to the churches which own the windows.
- VerseTile
- Buy your favourite poem, prayer or scripture on a framed tile or tile box as a lasting gift to treasure. Some of these also include pictures of relevant details from stained glass windows.
- Ornaments incorporating stained glass designs
- These are not suncatchers, the designs are on white porcelain. However, they are bright and colorful and have many decorative uses whether it be on Christmas trees, in shadow boxes or even being worn as outsize pendants.
- My CafePress store
- Stained glass designs, sometimes with prayers or scripture, on apparel, posters, cards, ornaments and other items.
- The Vanderpoel Window by William Morris
- This is a page I put together about a very special window. It dates from 1874 and can be found in Trinity Episcopal Church in Saugerties, New York. What makes it special is that it was the first stained glass window commissioned by the William Morris Company in England for an American client. It features design details by Edward Burne-Jones, Ford Madox Brown and William Morris and is a microcosm of the work of the Morris company in the 1860s and 1870's.
- The Stained Glass Museum in England
- A very informative and well illustrated website which has examples of windows going back 1000 years. Most of the images can be found in the catalogue section which is cross-indexed by date, location, designer and subject. If you can get to Ely, in England, the museum itself is worth a visit.
- The Smith Museum at Navy Pier
- It would be remiss of me not to mention the Smith museum. Although I have not yet had the opportunity to pay it a visit and the fact that at time of writing their website is not as rich in images as the UK museum, I am told that it is a splendid collection of windows. It is also important from a study and conservation standpoint.
- A "How to" guide about photographing stained glass windows
- This is just a page which describes my own methods. However, be warned that I am still in the dark ages and using a last-century camera and something called "film". I am fully cogniscent of the fact that technology has marched on and when funds permit I intend to try digital but I'm not there yet.
The technique is probably not going to change a lot with digital. Flash is an absolute no-no and a tripod is still going to be better than hand-held so that the film-speed can be kept low and the exposure times long.
When I do eventually make the switch to digital it will need to be via a Nikon SLR body so that I can continue to use my Nikon lenses but I have seen good results obtained from the digital equivalents of 'point-and-shoot' cameras.
The beauty of digital photography is the scope it affords for trial-and-error in determining the best settings and getting the best shots. Even now, after all the years I have been photographing stained glass windows, I still have anxious moments between the time I take the pictures and the time I have the processed slides in my hand. - Michelli's History of Stained Glass
- This site deserves a special mention. Pippin Michelli is a highly accomlished Professor of Art History who has put together a history of stained glass which elaborates in detail about some of the techniques and styles. This is a valuable resource which has much depth and is rich in good links.
- The Links Section from Stained Glass Photography
- By no means comprehensive and, as with the rest of the site, very much a work-in-progress. Nevertheless if you want some good links to stained glass on the web this is not a bad place to start looking.
- A lens about James of Ulm
- Paul Helm's lens devoted to James of Ulm, a 15thC glassmaker who became the patron saint of glass-painters and other makers of stained glass.
Framed Tiles - The Greatest
Baptism of Jesus Framed Tile
A fine gift for a Baptism, a Confirmation or even an Ordainment. This design is by Edward Burne-Jones and dates back to the 1870's.
Price: 14.99
Serenity prayer and angels Framed Tile
OK, it's not stained glass but it is beautiful and the serenity prayer makes it a perfect gift for anyone in recovery.
Price: 14.99
Stained Glass on Amazon
Amazon has a lot more than just books and CDs!
More Great Stuff on Amazon
Hand-Painted Decorative Glass by Winged Heart in England
Angel Praying By William Morris in Stained Glass - smaller panel
Amazon Price: $32.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Nativity By Edward Burne-jones in Stained Glass
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Madonna and Child By Christpher Whall in Stained Glass
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Charles Rennie Mackintosh Rose and Leaves Stained Glass Square
Amazon Price: $32.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Charles Rennie Mackintosh Tulip and Lattice Design in Yellow in Stained Glass on Larger Panel
Amazon Price: $49.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Even More Great Stuff on Amazon
The Cathedral Stained Glass Collection
St Hugh's Swan From Lincoln Cathedral in Stained Glass
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Pilgrims to Canterbury in Stained Glass
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Detail From Durham Rose Window in Stained Glass
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Noah's Ark Detail From Ely Cathedral in Stained Glass
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Noah's Ark Detail From Lincoln Cathedral in Stained Glass
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Even MORE Great Stuff on Amazon
Some Celtic Designs
Celtic Taran Cross in Stained Glass
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Celtic Trinity Symbol in Stained Glass
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Green Celtic Cross in Stained Glass
Amazon Price: $32.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Celtic Eternal Knot in Stained Glass
Amazon Price: $32.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Kells Celtic Cross in Stained Glass
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Harry Clarke stained glass
Harry Clarke is believed by many to have been one of the greatest Irish stained glass designers of all time. A book illustrator and stained glass designer he died tragically young, at the age of just 41, but not before leaving a legacy of designs and completed windows.I recently had the opportunity to see and photograph his first stained glass commission in America in the church of St Vincent de Paul in Bayonne, New Jersey. Most of the windows in this church were made after his untimely death but to sketches and an overall plan which he put together during the last years of his life.
Clarke windows are unmistakeable. They positively glisten in the light. Here is an example though the photograph does not do it justice.
Another beautiful example of Harry Clarke's work
In addition to the bright vibrant and rich colours these windows are faceted, an acid-etch process the chemicals from which may have hastened poor Harry's early demise, which gives them their glistening appearance. Windows by Clarke Studios, whether made before or after Harry's death, are very special and worth seeking out. Stained Glass Designs on T-shirts and Gift Items
Jesus the Good Shepherd Large Framed Print
A beautiful version of Jesus the Good Shepherd in stained glass.
Price: 44.99
Musical angels Tote Bag
Another fine image of an angel in stained glass, this one is playing a mandolin.
Price: 16.99
St Francis of Assisi Large Poster
St Francis is one of the most popular saints. Here we have a beautiful depiction of him in stained glass combined with the St Francis Peace Prayer.
Price: 24.99
St Francis Rectangle Magnet
Another item combining the St Francis image with the St Francis Peace Prayer.
Price: 4.99
What New at Stained Glass Photography
FWIW, my site blog
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byItems with Designs Featuring Mary Magdalene, Angels and a William Morris Calendar
Mary Magdalene and Jesus by B Jr. Spaghetti Tank
A Pre-Raphaelite design by Edward Burne-Jones depicting Mary Magdalene and the Risen Christ at the Resurrection.
Price: 21.99
Mary Magdalene and Jesus Keepsake Box
A detail depicting Jesus talking to Mary Magdalene.
Price: 28.99
Stained Glass Angels Wall Calendar
A different angel for every month with designs by Tiffany Studios, William Morris, Henry Holiday and others.
Price: 19.99
William Morris Stained Glass Wall Calendar
A reissue of our 2006 calendar which covers the Vandepoel Memorial Window by William Morris and his associates in breathtaking detail.
Price: 19.99
St Catherine of Alexandria
The Patron Saint of Teachers
StCatherine Ornament (Oval)
A lovely porcelane ornament which makes a great gift for a teacher. Looks great on a Christmas tree but is also perfect as a year-round decoration and can even be worn as an over-size pendant.
Price: 9.99
THIRD PLACE RUNNER-UP in LENS OF THE YEAR CONTEST
Thankyou for your votes
The two lenses which were awarded first and second places, John Fenzel's
13 Days in October and Starlings in the Family, are truly outstanding and we consider ourselves privileged to be judged in their company.
All of the lenses in the contest were excellent - they had to be in order to have been Picks of the Day in the first place - but a special mention has to be made of the two others which came close to winning -
Margaret Schaut's Michaelangelo's David and Matthew Smith's
Save Lives In Africa.
Reader Feedback
|
car3less
Your lens is very very interesting... I'm an architecture student so I'm interested in everything that connects with it.. Posted August 09, 2006 |
|
shawnblog
I have some nice ones here (taken with a camera phone) from The National Cathedral. http://www.shawnblog.com/u/7 Posted August 08, 2006 |
