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The Magic of Light in Hexham Abbey

In his project Abbey Time Shift architectural photographer Andy Marshall sought to capture the elusive nature of time by documenting the subtle shifts of light across the hand-laid masonry of Hexham Abbey in Hexham, Northumberland, in the northeast of England. Using the camera's ability to isolate changes in light that might be imperceptible to the human eye, Marshall set up "the gentlest of traps" to create videos and still-image collages of particular views and vantages of the Abbey as the sun emphasized the relics and architectural details within. Spending several days in the Abbey in 2013, Marshall watched light gather and fade in real time, but he has repackaged his own experience into a short video and collages for all to enjoy. In a project that counterpoints the speed and precision that characterizes most of our lives, Abbey Time Shift asks us to to slow down and admire the delicacy and beauty of the nearly indiscernible.