One of the first things that caught my eye after entering Sacre Coeur was the candles in front of the statue of Mary. I snapped a picture of the candles in front of the statue without any people, and it looked somewhat lonely. Luckily, the scene changed after a few minutes.

I’ve always been a sucker for people’s faces lit by candlelight or fireworks — the warm glow can make for a comforting scene. I used this opportunity to do some street photography inside the church.

When I visited churches for photography, I had seen these candle setups before but was unsure of the protocol. I assumed it was a way to make an offering to the church in exchange for a wish, similar to the way Buddhist temples have incense. I read online that the offerings are optional. Either way, it makes for a lovely scene.

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