These photos almost never happened, I initially drove past the place before I thought better of it and doubled back. I was born and raised heathen, I half expected the place to burst into flames as soon as I set foot inside. The building in the first photo is the Chapel of the Transfiguration in Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming. Fortunately there was no fire and I got to take the rest of these photos inside the chapel.
The chapel was built in 1925 and was oriented so that the bay window behind the altar frames the Cathedral Group of peaks. When I was there the sun was in the process of setting behind the Tetons, I'd love to go back and get some photos as the morning sun is rising but I was on a tight schedule while I was there.
Setting foot inside almost felt like stepping onto the set of some pioneer or western movie, everything was obviously handmade and built to last. The building predates the park, it was originally built to cater to the guests and employees of the dude ranches that were in the area at the time. Even with the expansion of the park to include it the church remains in operation, owned and ran by a church in (relatively) nearby Jackson.
The pews appeared to be built of aspen, worn smooth in many places by touch and time. While they seemed quite solid and sturdy they didn't appear to be very comfortable (no sleeping during the service here!). What do y'all think, would you want to have to sit still on those for a few hours every Sunday morning?
With just the light leaking from the windows, it was as peaceful in there as it was dusty, with the golden glow of the setting sun lighting up the pews nearest the windows and tiny particles of dust floating in the still air. Eventually I ran out of light and had to stop shooting for the day. For a place I'd not intended to set foot in it turned out rather well I think, nothing caught fire so I consider it a win.
(Obligatory mention of 