When I first discovered light, it was in black and white. I trained my mind to subtract color and concentrate on shades of gray to translate to monochrome film. Today we record in color.

When I photographed this scene, it was a palette of the golds of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis’ mosaics and marble. When the front doors of the cathedral opened, the light elevated the scene as the incense rose. The gold and the light are beautiful, but by removing the color, we isolate the sacredness and beauty of our Catholic tradition.