During my road trip through Florida last month, I made sure to stop by the Ave Maria Catholic Church in Ave Maria...about 30 minutes from Naples. I visited this church back in 2012 while taking a similar trip. Back then, I had photographed very few places of worship, so I was content to capture just a few images...and I wasn't overly pleased with them. Since then, I've photographed more than 200 churches. I wanted to take the experience that I gained into the Ave Maria Catholic Church to improve upon the photographs from that past visit.

When I arrived, a mass was underway. After sitting through that mass (and I've sat through countless services in the quest to photograph churches), I thought the interior would soon clear. But, about 40 people remained in the church and conducted some kind of ongoing service with prayer and song. After another 30 minutes, the church interior finally cleared.

I quickly started shooting--because often times the lights go out shortly after a service ends. One individual from the congregation was telling other people that I was there to "film" the interior. I'm not sure why she was saying that, but everyone assumed I was there in some official capacity after that, so I had a well lit church all to myself for more than an hour!

This panoramic was captured during my last visit in 2012. Back then, I was shooting with a D700. But, the resolution was high as this is an 11 frame stitch.

The crucifix is suspended from the rear wall of the sanctuary and weighs 4,200 pounds. It measures 23 feet in height. The two shadows on either side of the cross represent the two criminals crucified with Christ or the three persons of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Ave Maria Catholic ChurchAve Maria Catholic Church at 5068 Annunciation Cir #101 in Ave Maria, Florida on December 12, 2018. The crucifix is suspended from the rear wall of the sanctuary and weighs 4,200 pounds. It measures 23 feet in height. The two shadows on either side of the cross represent the two criminals crucified with Christ or the three persons of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

This statue of the Infant of Prague was brought to Prague in 1628. It was found in the ruins of a church. The infant is the Patron Saint of vocations, family life and travelers.

Ave Maria Catholic ChurchStatue of the Infant of Prague outside the Ave Maria Catholic Church at 5068 Annunciation Cir #101 in Ave Maria, Florida on December 12, 2018. This statue was brought to Prague in 1628. It was found in the ruins of a church. The infant is the Patron Saint of vocations, family life and travelers.

Vertical view of the nave

Ave Maria Catholic ChurchAve Maria Catholic Church at 5068 Annunciation Cir #101 in Ave Maria, Florida on December 12, 2018. The crucifix is suspended from the rear wall of the sanctuary and weighs 4,200 pounds. It measures 23 feet in height. The two shadows on either side of the cross represent the two criminals crucified with Christ or the three persons of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

The front of the church displays sculptor Marton Varo's 30-foot-tall sculpture of the Annunciation, depicting the Archangel Gabriel greeting the Virgin Mary. It's carved in marble from Cave Michelangelo in Carrara, Italy. The 12 apostles are 18 inches tall and are fashioned from gilded-bronze colored gold.

Ave Maria Catholic ChurchFacade of the Ave Maria Catholic Church at 5068 Annunciation Cir #101 in Ave Maria, Florida on December 12, 2018. The front of the church displays sculptor Marton Varo's 30-foot-tall sculpture of the Annunciation, depicting the Archangel Gabriel greeting the Virgin Mary. It's carved in marble from Cave Michelangelo in Carrara, Italy. The 12 apostles are 18 inches tall and are fashioned from gilded-bronze colored gold.

Another perspective of the nave and sanctuary...

Ave Maria Catholic ChurchAve Maria Catholic Church at 5068 Annunciation Cir #101 in Ave Maria, Florida on December 12, 2018
The 12 apostles are made of wood and range from 218-289 pounds and average 6 feet in height. They are surrounded by statues of Joseph and Mary.

Ave Maria Catholic ChurchAve Maria Catholic Church at 5068 Annunciation Cir #101 in Ave Maria, Florida on December 12, 2018. The 12 apostles are made of wood and range from 218-289 pounds and average 6 feet in height. They are surrounded by statues of Joseph and Mary.

Statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Ave Maria Catholic ChurchStatue of Our Lady of Guadalupe outside the Ave Maria Catholic Church at 5068 Annunciation Cir #101 in Ave Maria, Florida on December 12, 2018.

The baptismal weighs 3,500 pounds and was carved from a single block of white marble.

Ave Maria Catholic ChurchThe baptismal font inside Ave Maria Catholic Church at 5068 Annunciation Cir #101 in Ave Maria, Florida on December 12, 2018. The baptismal weighs 3,500 pounds and was carved from a single block of white marble.

Fisheye perspective of interior

Ave Maria Catholic ChurchAve Maria Catholic Church at 5068 Annunciation Cir #101 in Ave Maria, Florida on December 12, 2018. The crucifix is suspended from the rear wall of the sanctuary and weighs 4,200 pounds. It measures 23 feet in height. The two shadows on either side of the cross represent the two criminals crucified with Christ or the three persons of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Choir loft and pipe organ speakers at the rear of the church

Ave Maria Catholic ChurchThe choir loft and organ speakers and the rear of the Ave Maria Catholic Church at 5068 Annunciation Cir #101 in Ave Maria, Florida on December 12, 2018