Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel

Set on a wooded hilltop above Lake Norwood, the Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel is one of the most photogenic buildings in Arkansas. Uniquely the whole chapel is a series of tall, repeated arches made of steel and glass and designed to look open to the air it is actually fully glazed. The chapel is tucked right into the trees, so the surrounding woods seem to become part of it. The signature frame is straight down the central aisle, where the arches pull away from you in clean symmetry that pulls your eye deep into the frame. On a bright day the light filters down through the web of steel and glass to create leaf like patterns across the stone floor. These patterns are fun to experiment with as they shift throughout the day. Don't jump right in to photographing the interior and skip the exterior. The chapel is nestled peacefully within the woods surrounded by rich greens in the summer plus incredible reds and oranges in the fall. There are also trails down toward the lake if you want wider surroundings. The chapel is free to access and open to the public on most days, but it is a popular wedding venue so a weekday visit gives you the best chance of finding it empty. The parking entrance is a little hidden behind a nearby shopping centre, and then it is a short walk through the woods to the chapel. (Bella Vista, Arkansas, USA)