Laurie Bergner
June 2026 - Guatemalan Church
About the Image(s)
Old church in small town Guatemala. I liked the poverty that this church suggested, and the dogs roaming around.
What do you think?
ISO 200, 18 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec
15 comments posted
Contrary to pictures of Guatemalan churches I have taken, your image does not have the people in their colorful costumes that come to church on Sundays. To me, the image conjures up a hot, sunny afternoon when the people stay home and only the dogs are dumb enough to be in the streets. I like the composition. Posted: 06/18/2026 14:24:27
Thanks! I like the dusty isolated look as well. I do have one question - there are so many wires. Do you think that's a problem? I don't think I could get rid of all of them. Posted: 06/18/2026 16:51:17
Laurie - #1, in Photo Travel you are not allowed tor remove them, #2, they add to the story of the picture. If it were some famous, beautiful cathedral, it would be different, but these wires add to the feel of a small, forgotten town in a place that the world has forgotten. Posted: 06/19/2026 15:19:19
Thanks for that feedback! And yes, this was taken in some tiny forgotten town in Atitlan area. Good guess! Posted: 06/19/2026 15:49:38
It does look very abandoned right now but there are ladders that suggest some work being done. And a mishmash of wires! I've been to a small town in Guatemala and remember all the stray dogs wandering around. Which town was this? If you remember... Posted: 06/18/2026 15:38:17
There ar a few such towns around Lake Atitlan. The most visited is Chichicastenango of which I have fond memories. This could be the church I remember, but I saw it on a Sunday when all the women in their colorful huipiles (handwoven or embroidered blouses) were selling their produce on the steps of the church. Posted: 06/19/2026 15:23:30
I spent a month in San Lucas Toliman on Lake Atitlan back in 1973. I wish I could find those slides! Beautiful area. Was visiting a Catholic mission that we had raised money for doing walks for hunger. Posted: 06/19/2026 19:55:50
Great realisitc travel photo. I really appreciate this. Not the touristy cocktail photos. For me, the dogs make the image. Three stray dogs lounging and wandering in front of a centuries-old church is a perfect slice of everyday Latin American life.
Excellent work. Posted: 06/18/2026 16:18:47
Excellent work. Posted: 06/18/2026 16:18:47
Thanks - I agree that those three dogs really make the picture. It certainly does have an atmosphere. Posted: 06/18/2026 16:52:14
I like the vantage point in front of the stairs leading up to the church. I agree that it conveys the atmosphere in small-town Guatemala. Very nice. Posted: 06/18/2026 18:09:09
Thanks! Posted: 06/19/2026 15:49:55
This is a really nice church. I know we are not allowed to remove things in PT. For my interest this image has too many distractions, the wires, the dogs and all the construction apparatus. Posted: 06/21/2026 13:12:34
I don't like the wires either, but we're not allowed to take them off and besides, I think it would be really difficult to get rid of them. So I guess it's that or nothing. Posted: 06/21/2026 15:19:21
I don't like the wires either, but we're not allowed to take them off and besides, I think it would be really difficult to get rid of them. So I guess it's that or nothing. Posted: 06/21/2026 16:09:40
A beautiful architectural photo travel; the three dogs in front of the church add a charming touch to the scene. To me the image would be even stronger if the second dog weren't cropped so closely to the edge of the frame. Posted: 06/22/2026 13:07:46