Bluff Springs Church and School

Bluff Springs Church and School stands tucked away on a gravel back road as an amazing hidden gem. It was originally built in 1900 as a combined church and schoolhouse, which is why the front has two doors set side by side, one for each use. The building is classic rural architecture with its small weatherboard box on a stone foundation, with a gable roof and a small belfry at the peak. There is no ornament to speak of, so the photograph comes from the shape, the old siding, the feeling of isolation and the setting among the trees. The front faces south, so this spot gets good light through the middle of the day as it shines straight onto the two doors and the belfry above. You can set up square to the front for the symmetry of the paired entrances, then move off to one corner to set the belfry against the sky and show the depth of the building. A longer lens picks out the weathered boards and the bell. It is quite a bit off the beaten path so during your visit you should the building all to yourself with lots of space and time to experiment. While you are in the area, the Roasting Ear Church and School northeast of Onia is a close cousin from the same era. (Onia, Arkansas, United States)