Ely Cathedral: From Br. West's Chapel into South Choir Aisle c. 1891

Frederick H. Evans captured this platinum print of Ely Cathedral, with its gothic arches and ornate stone carvings, sometime before 1943. Now, photography, though it seems instantaneous, is absolutely a process. Evans was known for his meticulous approach, coaxing a full tonal range from the platinum. But think, too, of the cathedral itself, which took generations to build. We see stone, extracted from the earth, carved with immense skill, and assembled block by block. Consider the sheer labor, the coordinated effort, and the layers of social meaning imbued in the architecture. Evans’ photograph isn't just a record of the cathedral, it's a record of human endeavor, of the sweat and ingenuity that went into creating this monumental space. It collapses time, drawing our attention to the enduring qualities of both the built environment and the photographic image.