Pantheon

Stourhead has a way of feeling like a painting come to life, and nowhere is that more evident than at the Pantheon in autumn. The classical dome stands quietly among the turning trees, surrounded by reflections that seem to shimmer between reality and dream. I visited on a crisp November morning, the air cool and still, the sky an almost impossible blue. The last of the season’s leaves were holding fast—gold, amber, and rust—while the great tree by the lake arched gently over the water, catching the light.

From across the lake, the Pantheon revealed itself through the colour, perfectly balanced and timeless. I composed the shot to let the eye travel through the tree’s copper branches toward the temple beyond, using the reflections to anchor the scene. It’s a photograph about harmony—architecture and nature, form and colour, all existing in a quiet moment of peace.

For me, this image captures the feeling of autumn’s closing act: that fleeting beauty before winter settles in. The Pantheon stands as it has for centuries, but for this brief moment, it felt alive in the firelight of the season.