Culture

Kaleidoscopic Photos of Holy Places

By Matthew Reitman

May 24, 2016 5:00 am EDT

Photographer Ernst Christen—who shoots the interiors of churches, chapels, mosques, and temples—created this series of 360-degree standalone images by splicing together 26 separate shots. From Solothurn, Switzerland, Christen became interested in shooting places of worship after moving back to the West after living in a Buddhist monastery in Thailand.

PIC BY ERNST CHRISTEN / CATERS - (Pictured: Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Le Thillot, France) - These kaleidoscopic panoramas showcase the vibrant beauty of religious places of worship. Snappy by photographer Ernst Christen, the images offer a 360-degree view of churches, chapels, mosques and temples, popping out from teh frame thanks to Ernsts unique technique. In order to create his segmented panoramas, Ernst, 52, captures 26 images - three rows of eight, plus one up and one down - before stitching them together. The photographer, from Solothurn, Switzerland, became interested in this subject matter after moving from a Buddhist forest monastery, in the jungle of Thailand, back to the hyperactive Western world. - SEE CATERS COPY

Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Le Thillot, France (Ernst Christen/Caters)

PIC BY ERNST CHRISTEN / CATERS - (Pictured: Maria Himmelfahrt, Baden, Switzerland) - These kaleidoscopic panoramas showcase the vibrant beauty of religious places of worship. Snappy by photographer Ernst Christen, the images offer a 360-degree view of churches, chapels, mosques and temples, popping out from teh frame thanks to Ernsts unique technique. In order to create his segmented panoramas, Ernst, 52, captures 26 images - three rows of eight, plus one up and one down - before stitching them together. The photographer, from Solothurn, Switzerland, became interested in this subject matter after moving from a Buddhist forest monastery, in the jungle of Thailand, back to the hyperactive Western world. - SEE CATERS COPY

Maria Himmelfahrt, Baden, Switzerland (Ernst Christen/Caters)

Caters News Agency

PIC BY ERNST CHRISTEN / CATERS - (Pictured: Norte Damme de lAssomption, Saignelegier, Switzerland) - These kaleidoscopic panoramas showcase the vibrant beauty of religious places of worship. Snappy by photographer Ernst Christen, the images offer a 360-degree view of churches, chapels, mosques and temples, popping out from teh frame thanks to Ernsts unique technique. In order to create his segmented panoramas, Ernst, 52, captures 26 images - three rows of eight, plus one up and one down - before stitching them together. The photographer, from Solothurn, Switzerland, became interested in this subject matter after moving from a Buddhist forest monastery, in the jungle of Thailand, back to the hyperactive Western world. - SEE CATERS COPY

Norte Damme de l’Assomption, Saignelegier, Switzerland (Ernst Christen/Caters)

Caters News Agency

PIC BY ERNST CHRISTEN / CATERS - (Pictured: St. Marien, Solothurn, Switzerland) - These kaleidoscopic panoramas showcase the vibrant beauty of religious places of worship. Snappy by photographer Ernst Christen, the images offer a 360-degree view of churches, chapels, mosques and temples, popping out from teh frame thanks to Ernsts unique technique. In order to create his segmented panoramas, Ernst, 52, captures 26 images - three rows of eight, plus one up and one down - before stitching them together. The photographer, from Solothurn, Switzerland, became interested in this subject matter after moving from a Buddhist forest monastery, in the jungle of Thailand, back to the hyperactive Western world. - SEE CATERS COPY

St. Marien, Solothurn, Switzerland (Ernst Christen/Caters)

Caters News Agency

PIC BY ERNST CHRISTEN / CATERS - (Pictured: Notre-Dame-de-lAssmption, in Neuenberg, Switzerland) - These kaleidoscopic panoramas showcase the vibrant beauty of religious places of worship. Snappy by photographer Ernst Christen, the images offer a 360-degree view of churches, chapels, mosques and temples, popping out from teh frame thanks to Ernsts unique technique. In order to create his segmented panoramas, Ernst, 52, captures 26 images - three rows of eight, plus one up and one down - before stitching them together. The photographer, from Solothurn, Switzerland, became interested in this subject matter after moving from a Buddhist forest monastery, in the jungle of Thailand, back to the hyperactive Western world. - SEE CATERS COPY

Notre-Dame-de-lAssmption, in Neuenberg, Switzerland (Ernst Christen/Caters)

Caters News Agency

PIC BY ERNST CHRISTEN / CATERS - (Pictured: St. Ursus, Solothurn, Switzerland) - These kaleidoscopic panoramas showcase the vibrant beauty of religious places of worship. Snappy by photographer Ernst Christen, the images offer a 360-degree view of churches, chapels, mosques and temples, popping out from teh frame thanks to Ernsts unique technique. In order to create his segmented panoramas, Ernst, 52, captures 26 images - three rows of eight, plus one up and one down - before stitching them together. The photographer, from Solothurn, Switzerland, became interested in this subject matter after moving from a Buddhist forest monastery, in the jungle of Thailand, back to the hyperactive Western world. - SEE CATERS COPY

St. Ursus, Solothurn, Switzerland (Ernst Christen/Caters)

Caters News Agency

PIC BY ERNST CHRISTEN / CATERS - (Pictured: Church of Tramelan, Switzerland) - These kaleidoscopic panoramas showcase the vibrant beauty of religious places of worship. Snappy by photographer Ernst Christen, the images offer a 360-degree view of churches, chapels, mosques and temples, popping out from teh frame thanks to Ernsts unique technique. In order to create his segmented panoramas, Ernst, 52, captures 26 images - three rows of eight, plus one up and one down - before stitching them together. The photographer, from Solothurn, Switzerland, became interested in this subject matter after moving from a Buddhist forest monastery, in the jungle of Thailand, back to the hyperactive Western world. - SEE CATERS COPY

Church of Tramelan, Switzerland (Ernst Christen/Caters)

Caters News Agency

PIC BY ERNST CHRISTEN / CATERS - (Pictured: Church of Biel/Bienne, Switzerland) - These kaleidoscopic panoramas showcase the vibrant beauty of religious places of worship. Snappy by photographer Ernst Christen, the images offer a 360-degree view of churches, chapels, mosques and temples, popping out from teh frame thanks to Ernsts unique technique. In order to create his segmented panoramas, Ernst, 52, captures 26 images - three rows of eight, plus one up and one down - before stitching them together. The photographer, from Solothurn, Switzerland, became interested in this subject matter after moving from a Buddhist forest monastery, in the jungle of Thailand, back to the hyperactive Western world. - SEE CATERS COPY

Church of Biel/Bienne, Switzerland (Ernst Christen/Caters)

Caters News Agency

PIC BY ERNST CHRISTEN / CATERS - (Pictured: Notre-Dame de IAsomption, in Saignelgier, Switzerland) - These kaleidoscopic panoramas showcase the vibrant beauty of religious places of worship. Snappy by photographer Ernst Christen, the images offer a 360-degree view of churches, chapels, mosques and temples, popping out from teh frame thanks to Ernsts unique technique. In order to create his segmented panoramas, Ernst, 52, captures 26 images - three rows of eight, plus one up and one down - before stitching them together. The photographer, from Solothurn, Switzerland, became interested in this subject matter after moving from a Buddhist forest monastery, in the jungle of Thailand, back to the hyperactive Western world. - SEE CATERS COPY

Notre-Dame de I’Asomption, in Saignelgier, Switzerland (Ernst Christen/Caters)

Caters News Agency

PIC BY ERNST CHRISTEN / CATERS - (Pictured: Maria Himmelfahrt, Baden, Switzerland) - These kaleidoscopic panoramas showcase the vibrant beauty of religious places of worship. Snappy by photographer Ernst Christen, the images offer a 360-degree view of churches, chapels, mosques and temples, popping out from teh frame thanks to Ernsts unique technique. In order to create his segmented panoramas, Ernst, 52, captures 26 images - three rows of eight, plus one up and one down - before stitching them together. The photographer, from Solothurn, Switzerland, became interested in this subject matter after moving from a Buddhist forest monastery, in the jungle of Thailand, back to the hyperactive Western world. - SEE CATERS COPY

Maria Himmelfahrt, Baden, Switzerland (Ernst Christen/Caters)

Caters News Agency

PIC BY ERNST CHRISTEN / CATERS - (Pictured: Saint-Benigne, Pontarlier, France) - These kaleidoscopic panoramas showcase the vibrant beauty of religious places of worship. Snappy by photographer Ernst Christen, the images offer a 360-degree view of churches, chapels, mosques and temples, popping out from teh frame thanks to Ernsts unique technique. In order to create his segmented panoramas, Ernst, 52, captures 26 images - three rows of eight, plus one up and one down - before stitching them together. The photographer, from Solothurn, Switzerland, became interested in this subject matter after moving from a Buddhist forest monastery, in the jungle of Thailand, back to the hyperactive Western world. - SEE CATERS COPY

Saint-Benigne, Pontarlier, France (Ernst Christen/Caters)

Caters News Agency

PIC BY ERNST CHRISTEN / CATERS - (Pictured: Notre Dame IAssomption, Altkirch, France) - These kaleidoscopic panoramas showcase the vibrant beauty of religious places of worship. Snappy by photographer Ernst Christen, the images offer a 360-degree view of churches, chapels, mosques and temples, popping out from teh frame thanks to Ernsts unique technique. In order to create his segmented panoramas, Ernst, 52, captures 26 images - three rows of eight, plus one up and one down - before stitching them together. The photographer, from Solothurn, Switzerland, became interested in this subject matter after moving from a Buddhist forest monastery, in the jungle of Thailand, back to the hyperactive Western world. - SEE CATERS COPY

Notre Dame I’Assomption, Altkirch, France (Ernst Christen/Caters)

Caters News Agency

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