Shelter, in its most basic form, is about physical protection from nature and the elements. Yet throughout history, man has built structures that offer solace for the spirit as well. Within the built environment of the modern city, the various architectures of churches and temples tell different stories: Some point upward to the sky, while some direct all traffic in through the front door. Some attract second looks with their ornamentation, while some warn the uninitiated to walk on by. And some, quite frankly, tell us that this was the most affordable space available.
In the following pages, the photographer Will Etling takes us on a tour of the literal foundations of Angeleno faith by viewing the walls we built in order to worship.
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Image artifacts (diffraction spikes and vertical streaks) appearing in a CCD image of a major solar flare due to the excess incident radiation

Ladder leads out of darkness.Photo credit
Woman's reflection in shadow.Photo credit
Young woman frazzled.Photo credit 
A woman looks out on the waterCanva
A couple sits in uncomfortable silenceCanva
Gif of woman saying "I won't be bound to any man." via
Woman working late at nightCanva
Gif of woman saying "Happy. Independent. Feminine." via 
Yonaguni Monument, as seen from the south of the formation. 
