Winged Altar at St. Victor´s Cathedral, Xanten

@Porcsin: Right, these altars were meant to make things visible.
I think Hungary is filled up with beautiful churches, so carry on! :-)

@Japanalia: I didn't know of these treasures before visiting Xanten. Don't miss it at your next trip to Germany :-)

@Craig: By the way: that we still have these altars is not a matter of course: many of them were burnt by iconoclasts during Reformation and its tribulations. Incredible that masterpieces like this one went into the fire.

@Jen: Thanks, Jen! It's always joyful to reveal hidden treasures, especially if you couldn't find any images with Google or similar services. I like to share them and I also like to know that there are others who appreciate them, too.

@juant3: Thanks a lot! May I quote from my response to another am3 member with similar concerns: In Germany, and usually in other European countries, churches are public buildings and open for at least some hours per day. If I see people praying I efface myself and resign the shooting, also I never shoot during a mass (I also would mind others shooting me when attending a mass).

In your position, I would look for a big church / cathedral with lots of visitors during the day. If you don't see any prohibition signs, just do it, make some photos and try not to disturb other people. Avoid any funny sounds your camera probably does, look for interesting spots and make your photo. If you don't want to use a tripd, get yourself a string tripod, these are somewhat more decent than the normal ones. Try to visit the place at different days and with different light conditions.

If you have a small collection of good photos, make a printout and carry them with you if you're looking for a new destination. Thus you show that you're serious about church photography and I'm sure that clerks / sacristans will appreciate that! I wouldn't be too shy with this :-) It doesn't hurt to ask and if somebody disses you, well, there are lots of other churches! If people are really nice they will let you see the corners others usually don't have access to, like the gallery, the tower, or the crypt. If you donate some of your photos to the parish newsletter, I'm sure this will open many doors to you.

@Dara: Thank you so much, Dara :)

@Ina: The altar? Definitely! :)

@Brites: Thanks, Brites! I love to share this because it's not so well known to the public.

@drphoto: Definitely! Thanks for dropping by!

@Twelvebit: Rather seldom, only a few of these altars survived Reformation and many wars ever since.

@Michael: *lol* Mein Lieblingserlebnis war im Kölner Dom, als einer der Domschweizer, der eine der Seitenkapellen zuschließen wollte, noch zwei Frauen, die sich dort zum Gebet niedergelassen hatten, mit folgenden Worten vertrieb: "Wenn'se beten wollen, gehen Se zu Andreas!" (Die Andreaskirche liegt dem Dom gegenüber.) Die Qualität des himmlischen Bodenpersonals hat - man kommt nicht umhin, dies festzustellen - gelitten!
Verschlossene Kirchen - blöd! Viele Pfarreien sind zusammengelegt worden und nicht immer ist ein Küster in der Nähe, der einem aufschließen kann. Das ist ein Problem, das sich noch verschärfen wird. Ich würde in einem wohlhabenden Stadtviertel loslegen oder in einer Kirche mit gewisser touristischer Bedeutung: die Chancen, daß dort geöffnet ist, sind meist höher. Häufig haben die einzelnen Gemeinden auch Homepages mit den Öffnungszeiten ihrer Kirchen.