New light on old stone: recording and reinventing visual culture

In this paper the author reflects on his experience of photographing artworks in churches, mainly as part of his role as photographer on the Imaging the Bible in Wales Project (2005–8). The ability to subjectively create new photographic images from original objects is considered and different approaches to photographic recording are evaluated for a variety of effects. An additional perspective on the creation of new images by photographic means is given by the way that medieval visual culture was retained and reused as churches were restored in the second half of the 19th century. This applies not only to ‘old stone’ but also stained glass, woodcarving and wall painting from the medieval period, which was sometimes crafted into new composite works. In conclusion the author briefly considers the potential for artists to make their own visual interpretations of historical visual culture.