Photography Atelier

Jack Heller

Sacred Places & Objects

I am moved by the spirituality resident in Churches.  Churches have historically been places of worship for society.   Many churches designed in the shape of a cross, were built by immigrants to provide a place to meet and worship.  Church architecture, stained glass, interior decorations and religious objects are considered artwork.

I started my sacred places project by documenting the interior of two small chapels in Newport, RI.  One was ornate and maintained and the other was in decline and deterioration.  Both maintained their spirituality.  As I created these images I found that I had a passion to document churches and sacred places in their current state understanding that many of these would not survive.  The current environment is characterized by declining participation in organized religion.  These declines will result in an inability to maintain these sacred places, and many of them will not survive in their current form.

My primary interest is in using the interior of Churches to memorializing the  Architecture; Stained Glass & painted artwork; and sacred objects/icons that represent the spirituality of these sacred places.  I am using modern digital cameras and software to photograph church interiors that are generally dark with inconsistent lighting.

Artist Bio

Jack Heller lives and works in Newport, RI.  He is a retired businessman, with degrees in Business Administration and Accounting, currently evolving into a fine art photographer.  His  current goal is to create images that are more artistic and personal in nature.

His photographic interests are in the areas of architecture, landscape and abstract images, in both color and black & white.  Over the last year he has  been developing an extensive project to document and photograph sacred places and objects, including: churches; places of worship; and other sacred religious objects. Sacred objects will include architecture, stained glass, statuary, and paintings.

He is the treasurer of the Newport Photographers Guild located in Newport, RI. Over the last two years his photographs have been accepted into national and  local juried exhibitions with the Wickford Art Association, South County Art Association, Warwick Center for the Arts and Newport Photography Guild.  He continues to enhance his photographic and artistic skills and understanding of fine art photography by attending seminars and workshops with Maine Media Workshops, Griffin Museum and local Art Associations.