Votive Candles in Red Glass at Wenzhou Abbey

Honey-colored light from high windows floods the nave of a Wenzhou abbey, illuminating rows of votive candles nestled in deep red glass holders. The monsoon season brings a soft, diffused quality to the golden hour glow, highlighting the polished stone surfaces that catch small, sharp highlights. Flame tips flicker gently, casting dancing shadows against the dark wooden pews and the cool, grey stone walls. Dust motes float in the shafts of light, settling on the rough texture of the altar rail. The red glass glows with an internal fire, against the muted tones of the surrounding architecture. One reflection of a flame shimmers on the wet floor near the foreground.