Winchester is a beautiful city, full of photographic opportunities. I was delivering a lecture in the city, but I made sure to leave time to wander and explore the streets, the cathedral, and the early morning quietness.
The Streets of Winchester
Arriving at my hotel early, I checked in and then took my Fujifilm X100VI onto the streets of Winchester. The low-lying sun created pockets of light across the streets. The cathedral acts as a magnet for sun worshippers. Lying on the grass in front of it, there was a continental feel, with many people sitting on the green or beneath the trees, enjoying the day’s events.
I moved on and walked up the High Street, capturing the activity unfolding around me. Moments must be taken carefully, as people can be suspicious of cameras and spontaneity is easily lost. Shop windows were being prepared, and people were enjoying the sunshine.
A Winchester Sunrise
The following morning, I rose early and made my way to St Catherine’s Hill to capture the sunrise. The streets in this part of Winchester were unfamiliar to me, and by the end of the walk I was running to ensure I reached the top in time.
The climb was demanding, but I was rewarded with a beautiful sunrise. Only then did I relax and absorb the moment. The sun moved across the landscape, casting rays along the paths that circle the hill.
With more time on my side, I descended and soon found the entrance to Winchester College playing fields. Walking along the Pilgrims’ Trail, which follows the Itchen Navigation, was a delight. The early morning light illuminated the trees, while wildlife along the riverbank made its presence known.
As the streets slowly awakened, I found myself among the ruins of Wolvesey Castle (the Old Bishop’s Palace), located behind the Bishop of Winchester’s official residence. The ruins echoed with a sense of former grandeur, and it felt a privilege to wander through them in the quiet of the morning. On my return, there were further opportunities to photograph the walkways around the cathedral.
Winchester Cathedral
How do you photograph a cathedral that has been captured so many times before? The answer is simple: do it your own way.
I visited the crypt to see the public artwork by Antony Gormley that is housed there. I have long admired his work and was keen to photograph Sound II. The sculpture did not disappoint, and I spent time exploring different compositions.
Sound II is designed to stand in a flooded crypt, creating striking reflections in the water. On this occasion, there was no flood, so I adjusted the colour balance to introduce an unreal blueness to the scene, enhancing the cool atmosphere of the crypt.
The cathedral has so much history and I enjoyed the exhibition held in the tower. There were several old texts on display and photographs were not permitted. The first floor had people working on the curation and care of the books held by the cathedral. The second floor housed more exhibitions on the history of the cathedral. I particularly enjoyed seeing some of Richard Nieve’s work whom I remember teaching me at Manchester. He had reconstructed a face from the past using skeletons that were found during the excavations of the Cathedral. I also enjoyed the afternoon light streaming into the tower and the view into other parts of the cathedral.
This was a fleeting visit linked to a lecture that I gave to the Wessex British Dental Association. The lecture venue was a semi permanent marque on the grounds of the Cathedral. The glorious weather added to the success of the visit.
I have done may cathedrals in my “Photographing…” series on my blog. This was taken of a much smaller cathedral which is in the centre of Birmingham. Here is my account of St Philip’s cathedral.
