Photographing Tintern Abbey in South Wales always presents a different challenge and opportunity. The first stones were laid in 1131 and the sheer scale of the abbey remnants is breathtaking. 
When taking photographs in November, the main challenge faced by any photographer is the light. The tree-covered mountains either side of the River Wye rise up steeply and shade is cast upon the whole area pretty early in the afternoon. For this particular photoshoot, I didn’t arrive until around 1pm and the sun was already quite low in the sky. One whole side of the building was shielded in shadows cast by the sun sitting in the cloudless sky. With the help of a little bit of post photoshoot processing I was able to use this difficult light to try and produce something slightly different.
Tintern Abbey, managed by Cadw, is one of the best-known monastic sites in the British Isles. Even though many parts of the original building have disappeared, the remaining arches, windows and pillars are exceptionally well preserved.
The Abbey is in the shape of a cross and the main walls on all four ends remain and stretch high up into the sky. The detail is phenomenal and I would have loved to have seen those windows filled with stained glass.
Despite the blue sky, the temperature was really cold and you could only imagine how life would have been for the monks living and worshiping at the Abbey. There is much still unknown. Tintern Abbey was the first Cistercian monastery to be established in Wales, only abandoning the abbey 400 years later in 1536 during their suppression by Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell.
The photographs can be seen on my website and were all taken using my Canon 6D. There was enough light to use F22 and these were all taken handheld. In Lightroom I have made some adjustments to enhance the brickwork and reduce shadow.
Whether you are a photographer or not, I highly recommend visiting Tintern Abbey. It is one of the most amazing historical buildings in the UK and just gives a little insight into our religious past.
Paul Fears is a commercial and industrial photographer based in South Wales. All photographs of Tintern Abbey and other historical sites are available as downloads, prints, posters, canvas or framed. For further information either visit the website or contact Paul on paul@paulfearsphoto.co.uk
Paul Fears Photography 