*click to enlarge
focal length: 14 mm
shutter speed: 1/25
aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 800
flash: none
At our photographic exhibition last week, this image was the one that garnered the most comments among my images on display. I realized that I neglected to share this one with you since capturing it back in September. It is indeed the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal. The neo-gothic architecture is absolutely stunning; even more so in person of course.
It was extremely dark inside so I shot wide open at a high ISO. ISO 800 wasn’t exactly enough to prevent camera shake but this shot turned out pretty nicely despite the long exposure. Printed as an 8×10, it looks pretty sharp. Even the 100% crop of the center of the image looks decent. This is wide open too!
*click to enlarge
Ideally, I should have used a tripod and a smaller aperture but I didn’t have that luxury. Next time. Next time.
Laura is a Vancouver wedding and portrait photographer. Visit laurahana.com.
[n.] a resource for beginners who wish to take sweeter pics.
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Gayle
Dec 8, 2008 at 8:30 am
Wow, what a shot!
Christina
Dec 8, 2008 at 9:37 am
That’s wide open at 800? Wow, you’re GOOD! What a lovely shot of a beautiful place.
melissa
Dec 8, 2008 at 9:44 am
this is amazing! it makes one wish they could have been there in person to witness the beauty.
I’m curious what your typical sharpening habits are. I use LR and have yet to figure an easy workflow approach to the whole sharpening thing…should I sharpen pre-export as well as in the export box?
I am always amazed at how much detail is lost once I export my beautiful raw image to a jpg. It is usually somewhat disheartening for me
You do not have to address my question now, but I would love to hear some advice in a future post (maybe
from someone who has more experience in LR.
laura
Dec 8, 2008 at 2:11 pm
@melissa: Thanks for your question. I actually don’t do any added sharpening on my images in general. This also was not sharpened at all. Is sharpening more for posting on the web rather than for print?
I’d rather do the sharpening pre-export so I know exactly what I’m getting. When you export, do you resize for the web? Is that what you’re talking about when you say that a lot of detail is lost during compression?
melissa
Dec 8, 2008 at 3:43 pm
hmmm, no. I do resize for the web when posting pics. What I am seeing is that my raw images in LR on my 24 inch monitor will often look so sharp and crystal clear and then after exporting the image into a jpg at 100 quality, no resizing the image is less sharp and clear and the color is a bit altered.
I’ve been trying to find out if this is normal or if I have a setting that needs changed or adjusted.
I have been told sharpening helps with this, but it seems hard to know exactly what amount is best until I try adding some and then export to see if it helped.
My limited understanding leads me to think that RAW images are just better, and once converted to JPG you lose some sharpness.
I’m a perfectionist…this also may be my problem
Laura
Dec 8, 2008 at 3:46 pm
WOW!
laura
Dec 8, 2008 at 3:59 pm
@melissa: How do you view your JPG? I believe it depends which program you are viewing it with. Are you exporting as sRGB? Are you familiar with proofing (view > proof setup) in Photoshop? Just changing the proof setup changes how your image looks with regard to colour. Perhaps that might also have something to do with it?
melissa
Dec 8, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Thanks for your replies to my question
I do not have photoshop (yet) so once I export a set of photos, I view them on my mac in my pictures folder before I burn my disc for the client.
This is where I see the difference.
I imagine the color change has much to do with the changing to srgb and it being a jpg, verses a raw image. When I export to Adobe RGB the color remains the same.
There are many opinions or suggestions regarding sharpening, but from what I’ve seen it is a necessary step due to the unsharpening most digital SLR cameras do verses film and it is especially needed when shooting in RAW.
I thought I would ask you since I knew you used LR and I wanted to know if I was alone in seeing the difference upon export.
I appreciate your input and will continue on my quest to sort this out…some days I dislike technology (so much to figure out!)
leaca
Dec 8, 2008 at 10:12 pm
gorgeous stuff.
Katherine
Dec 9, 2008 at 1:25 am
A truly gorgeous photo!
Krista
Dec 10, 2008 at 9:19 pm
I came to get you to pick up a can for me… and fell in love with these Montreal images! I was in Quebec City this past weekend and fell in love with the province all over again…. sigh.
Brooke - in Oregon
Dec 12, 2008 at 11:01 am
WOW what a beautiful place! I can only imagine how breathtaking it must be IRL. TFS
Jonni
Dec 15, 2008 at 11:34 pm
WOW, Laura, you are blowing me away with these shots! Great job!
hugs,
Jonni
Notre Dame Montreal | Dolce Pics - Digital Photography Tips
Oct 6, 2010 at 4:59 am
[...] a couple years ago at the Notre Dame in Montreal. I was facing the entrance. Quite a different look from this image of the other end of the [...]