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Wayside Shrine – A Microchallenge

·3 mins

Transferring the idea of a micro-adventure to photography:
Jimmy West, whom I introduced to you here, created a generator for personal photographic challenges.
In his YouTube video, he suggests that the more intensely you engage with a subject, the more consciously you notice it.
Psychologists call this the frequency illusion – the internet often refers to it as the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon.

The Starting Point #

Back to the project: it made me really curious.
So I fired up the challenge generator – and it gave me:

Document architectural oddities (extensions, sheds, barns)

At first, I had no real idea, but then it slowly took shape: wayside shrines.
Okay, I cheated a little – instead of going out completely unplanned, I sent my subconscious to work.
Surprisingly, I found several of these small structures during my dog walks.
At first, I only had one in mind, but suddenly they started appearing everywhere.

According to its inscription, this wayside shrine was built in 1786.

Seeing the Familiar Anew #

As with The Spaces in Between, you usually pass by these structures without paying attention.
I’m not a particularly religious person, and I’m especially not a big fan of crucifixes – yet these silent companions by the roadside have something fascinating about them.

This wayside shrine on the Malefikantenweg was built as early as 1542, according to the information plaque.

What surprised me most was how old many of these shrines are.

Weathered wood and faded paint – traces of time on an unnamed wayside shrine.
“Protect us, O Lord, from lightning, hail & storms” – a plea for protection from natural disasters.

Almost every one I found had a bench nearby – a place to pause.
Whether you take a break from daily life, enjoy a snack during a bike ride, stretch your legs, or (as is increasingly common lately) celebrate a small 4/20 ritual – these places invite you to stop for a moment.

A weathered shrine with a bench by the roadside – a silent witness to times gone by.

Dark Chapters #

Some shrines, however, tell darker stories:
The shrine on the Malefikantenweg, for instance, was the last place for condemned prisoners to pray – right before reaching the gallows.
You only learn such details if you stop and read the information plaques.

Wayside shrine on the Malefikantenweg, built in 1542. Once the last prayer stop for those condemned to death.

Conclusion #

An exciting experience: tackling a seemingly small theme through a microchallenge and discovering familiar things in a whole new way.

Weathered crucifix under a simple metal roof – a quiet roadside reminder.
An old roadside cross with a bench – a place to rest and reflect.