St. Louis Basilica I

[John Storjohann]

I had been to the Basilica before, but never with a camera in my hands...I wanted to travel light, so I only brought the 24-105 and the 70-200...70-200 never made it out of the bag (next time!) and I was wishing I had brought the 17-40 the entire time I was there. Shooting was a challenge in some regards...tour groups moving in and out, they were setting up and testing a new sound system so several areas were roped off that are normally accessible...and I never realized just how dark the interior of the Basilica was until I started shooting (amazing how you eyes will adjust). HDR blends, this particular one was 7 shots, with exposures ranging from 2 to 8 seconds, f/11@24mm. Merged and tonemapped in Photomatix Pro, tweaked used NIK's ColorEfex and Viveza. It is so easy to get overwhelmed by the stunning beauty of the place...I need to go back and re-shoot some areas with a better eye towards composition. Looking forward to comments and suggestions...a highly recommended visit if you're ever in St. Louis!

[nzmacro]

Breath taking and I would feel very, very small in there John. Just the atmosphere would do that. Very well handled and 7 shots, nice work to pull it all out like this. Lesson leaned, always take a wider angle lens (says the guy with nothing wider than a 300mm lens).

All the best John, stunning details and lighting.

Danny.

[Cheryl Slechta]

John, the details and lighting on this one are so beautiful. The crop emphasizes the height of the Basilica but I think you could also have a more square image with a crop from the bottom to just below the cross on the left. I love this one just the way it is but I was suggesting the other crop for an alternative view.

[John Storjohann]

Thank you for the comments! Cheryl, I agree...this image might lend itself to more than one crop...thank you for the suggestion. Danny, you are right...you feel small...humbled...when inside the Basilica. There is a serene quiet throughout, even when a tour group is going through; you instinctively begin to speak in a whisper, you move with a deliberation that is more in tune with the environment...I even found myself VERY aware of the sound of the shutter, the metallic ring of adjusting the tripod legs...quite a shooting experience.

[Paul Lagasi]

In all my travels, I've photographed the inside of churches, whenever possible. There are so many beautiful angles, stained glass, colors and stains. An image in the making whereever you look.
Good comments given...
I like the details that this HDR image has brought out. Nice work.

[Bob Miller]

John...I especially like the sense of light you have captured with this image....beautiful work!. You might consider bringing in a bit more detail into that cross if possible

[denise ippolito]

Very beautiful John, I like the view and the way you processed it. I would try to eliminate the URC prob with clone tool or marquee tool if it were mine. Nice job!

[Nancy Bell]

I love the complexity of curves and lines and details all threaded together with the gold tones. The blue and red domes keep the entire scene from being overwhelming. Bob has a good suggestion of a bit more emphasis on the cross. To my eye that makes a nice composition that balances with the blue and red domes.

[nzmacro]

Danny, you are right...you feel small...humbled...when inside the Basilica. There is a serene quiet throughout, even when a tour group is going through; you instinctively begin to speak in a whisper, you move with a deliberation that is more in tune with the environment...I even found myself VERY aware of the sound of the shutter, the metallic ring of adjusting the tripod legs...quite a shooting experience.

Oh I can imagine John. Just looking at this work of yours, you can sense that for sure mate. I'm in awe of how these shots make you feel. That there tells you, that you are doing it right and justice

Danny.

[John Storjohann]

Thank you for the comments and suggestions...much appreciated. Bill, I brought out a bit more detail in the cross....Denise, I wasn't sure exactly what you referred to...continuing the ring of the dome in the URC perhaps? I spent some time working on that...couldn't get all of the details to line up where there wasn't some distortion...may try again later!