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**IMPOSING**

© Debbie E. Payne

**IMPOSING**

Uploaded: April 22, 2012 22:33:15

Description

Exif: F Number: 5, ExposureTime: 1/60 seconds, ISO: 200, FocalLength: 24.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Comments

Debbie E. Payne April 22, 2012

Phellos -- This is the Washington National Cathedral. I just loved this place, even despite the majority of the windows being covered. Here is a sampling of what there is to take pictures of there. #1458214

Kristin Duff April 23, 2012

These are beautiful Debbie, and you have done a wonderful job of setting up the feeling of space and serenity. I am not yet capable of commenting on the technical side because to me they look perfect! #10105389

Jeff E Jensen April 23, 2012

These are fantastic, Debbie. I did not get the chance to visit this place when I was there last year. Looking forward to it this year. #10105445

Stephen Shoff April 23, 2012

4 days won't be enough #10105640

Aimee C. Eisaman April 23, 2012

O wow...this is beautiful esp. your raidant color one...the detail is fantastic in all of them. How on earth did you get such a vacant shot without people in your way? On your first post I'm struck by the light and the way it leads my eye. I do get stuck following the moulding beside the door. When it reaches the archway the light seems to make a dramatic exit or change and I start going back down. A mild highlighting along the moulding on that side of the arch would bring my eye up into the upper portions of the image more. :~) #10105901

Debbie E. Payne April 23, 2012

Aimee -- I spent a good amount of time on Cathedral images today, so...first of all I addressed the molding issue and added a bit more highlight around the arch itself. Is this what you had in mind???

There were so many different colors emanating from the stained glass windows. I did want everyone to see what it is that has been placed over the stained glass windows. All the joints are weak and they don't want stray pieces of glass falling down on anyone's heads. They haven't even begun fixing them. Imagine the expense... Here is one of the windows with the wires underneath. Actually the light plays quite nicely as it bounces on and off the wire mesh. I can only imagine the shafts of light that would come down to the floor if they weren't there....
And I don't expect anyone to comment on all these pictures. I just wanted to share some of the diversity with all the different colors. Here is what I did today. #10106326

Dale Hardin April 23, 2012

Debbie, this is an exceptional series. You not only have taken some wonderfully composted shots with interesting POV, but your processing beautifully accents the texture and colors. Especially like how the wood came out. #10106366

Debbie E. Payne April 23, 2012

Thank you for the wonderful comments. This was, by far, my favorite place on this last trip. I would not hesitate to do it again...soon. It was a fairly long Metro ride to I think, Friendship Heights and then we had to take a Metro bus to get to the Cathedral but it was worth the effort. I promise not to add any more images. Anyhow, I have to get some dinner on the table before too long. #10106374

Rita K. Connell level-classic April 23, 2012

wow double wow theses are awesome debbie, your capture, your edit, your POV is really very nicel. as for I like your original post better than the edited one. great title for it. #10106596

Debbra Bailey April 24, 2012

These are beautiful Debbie! You have a GREAT eye for composition! #10107267

Anthony L. Mancuso April 24, 2012

Very nice Deb! Can't wait to get there and take some shots for myself... #10107365

Carla Capra Anderson April 24, 2012

These are fantastic! I'm especially drawn to the Stain Glass and the prism of colors displayed. The mesh doesn't even affect it brillance. #10107469

Beth Spencer April 24, 2012

Beautiful, Beautiful and more Beautiful!! These are just awesome, love the angles, space and colors. I hope I get to go there while we are in DC!! You have a great eye and did a wonderful job! #10108247

Aimee C. Eisaman April 24, 2012

The fix made that first one really work for me! :~) And wow...even more beautiful images! I would say you hit the jackpot even with all the things that you said are covered from the quake. Those stained glass windows are gorgeous. #10108315

Debbie E. Payne April 24, 2012

You know, Aimee...I didn't even see that the golden door around the door and the moulding did just stop. I'll bet that it was recently painted and someone missed that side of the door as it is that way in my original RAW. I might process some of those windows with the covering over them anyhow.

And thank you, B9th. I think we should go here on a weekday because the hours open to the public are cut way down on Sundays and in the summer I will bet that Saturdays are busy all day with weddings. Just a thought. #10108366

Teresa H. Hunt April 25, 2012

WOW! Debbie these are fantastic images!! I really hope we get to go there while we're in DC #10108751

Ellen H. Robertson level-classic April 25, 2012

These are truly amazing. This place is beautiful, but how you captured it makes it even more beautiful. My facorite is peek-a-boo. #10109390

Debbie E. Payne April 25, 2012

You know, Ellen, I think that one is my favorite as well. I love the colored light ones but this one has something about it that I really like. #10109421

Debbra Bailey April 26, 2012

OK Tony and Bean, sounds like we need to put this into our DC plan!!! Sounds good to me :) #10109840

Chris Budny level-deluxe April 27, 2012

I really enjoyed looking at this series, Ellen--I love seeing this cathedral through the eyes of other photographers; you've got some beauties here, and some compositions I really like!

I serve as a volunteer tour guide at the cathedral, and can't resist playing tour guide online:

Re: the netting that hangs in the nave: Installed after the Aug. '11 earthquake, it is there to catch any bits of loosened mortar that may slip out of the joints of the ceiling. The windows themselves were,'t damaged, and have no loose/broken glass. The netting is likely to stay another 1-2 years, until repairs can focus indoors. Current estimates are 8-10 years' work for the total repair, and tens of millions of dollars---which has to be funded solely through private gifts and donations; no federal/tax funds support the cathedral.

Re: the golden glow on the exterior door molding; I think you caught some great reflected light (or if it is an HDR, some nice development of highlights.) But actually, no paint is applied to any of the exterior limestone.

Re: Visiting hours. Sundays are the tightest days to visit, as the cathedral holds 4 - 5 worship services each Sunday. (Versus 3 services per day, Mon-Sat.) Check the website for any Tour Conflicts before making a trek--there are various events, concerts, special services, sudden state funerals, etc., that close/restrict the building's public access--it is first and foremost a working church. Photography is not permitted during services or weddings.

There's also a lower level (the crypt) with 3 chapels and varying architectural styles. (If a no-photography event is upstairs, you can still shoot downstairs.) Additionally, the front 2 towers have an observation level, all glassed-in, with spectacular views over DC. (The top of the central bell tower is the highest constructed point in DC.)

If you are nearby try a visit during late fall/winter... on a clear day, the low-hanging morning sun is simply astonishing through the south stained glass windows. No other time of year produces that particular light show! There are 231 leaded windows in the building; the majority of those are not obscured by the netting, thankfully!

I love meeting other photographers, & especially BP members, at the cathedral; I've been shooting there for 6 years now, & have arranged many private photography tours for my BP friends. Feel free to drop me a note if you're planning a visit! #10111273

Jeff E Jensen April 27, 2012

Hi Christopher -

All of the people that you see comments from are part of a club here in BP. A bunch of us are headed to DC in August for our 2nd annual field trip. We would love to schedule a tour with you, that would be fantastic! Debbra and Anthony are heading up the planning for this trip, I'll let them get with you and work out the details. #10111284

Aimee C. Eisaman April 27, 2012

Wow Christopher...thank you for all of that information! :~) #10111308

Chris Budny level-deluxe April 27, 2012

Oops... I said "Ellen" not "Debbie"---apologies!

Keep me posted about the August trip, definitely! I'm headed to Iceland in August; hopefully our dates won't conflict.

Should anyone wish to see damage-specific images of the cathedral (the damages outside are staggering) I created a photo album just for damage shots I took a week after the quake. You can find it at my other BP Deluxe gallery,

www.chrisbudny.com #10111316

Chris Budny level-deluxe April 27, 2012

...Oh! And one last thing I forgot---the cathedral only hosts about 25 weddings a year. So Saturdays in summer aren't really any more heavily impacted by that than at other times of the year. (Although, of the few weddings we do each year, many are on Saturdays---but usually late in the day, after 3pm, and we don't stop tourists from visiting during a wedding, unless the wedding is after we've officially closed for the day.) Summer Saturdays are basically comparable (or slightly quieter) to any weekday in summer - the school field trips (from schools around the country) have stopped by then, so we're not buried under 50+ tour bus groups (usually half of which are students) each day, as we often are March - June. And best of all, about 8-10 years ago, the cathedral installed air conditioning in the nave!! ;) #10111356

Debbie E. Payne April 27, 2012

Chris - your images of DC are simply amazing and I was hoping to get some pictures on my trip that you basically inspired for me. Looking at your work is what made me decide that we should go to the National Cathedral in the first place. I was amazed by the pinks and purple lights.

It would be wonderful to arrange a tour of this stunning place for us Phellos with you and the talent you possess. Jeff, Tony and Debbra are in charge for this foray. When and if we do Colorado at some point in time, it will probably be me.

Thank you for your comments on my shots (just a few of the 200+ that I haven't culled through yet) and exactly what has happened here and when it is going to be finished. Hope I'm still shooting in ten years!! When I get into a place like this and start looking for potential images, I basically get so wrapped up in what I'm finding that I go on auto-pilot and probably only hear 50% of what is told on the tour. #10111451

Debbie E. Payne April 27, 2012

And by the way, Chris, which domed ceiling is that a picture of in your signature shot? #10111455

Chris Budny level-deluxe April 27, 2012

I'm glad my images could help serve as motivation to prompt a visit the cathedral! I enjoy helping visitors interpret and experience it when I'm there, and if I can create interest online, that's great too! It is my favorite place (thinking of architecture & photography) in DC, followed closely by the Library of Congress.

As for my BP minipic that appears on my postings here - that is actually not a ceiling, but rather the west rose window of the cathedral, seen from inside. (Alas, that rose window is one currently obscured by netting. Though as your picture above shows, the light pools marvelously in the netting on a sunny day---a "perk" that none of us even imagined, back when the building was closed for 80 days after the quake, and we'd heard early rumors of this "canvas net" that would have to be hung above the nave...) It turned out so much better than we feared!

I'll look forward to hearing from Jeff/Tony/Debbra for your group visit! #10111485

Aimee C. Eisaman April 27, 2012

I just took at a look at your images Christopher...stunning work. I also checked out your macro shots...really liked those! I hope we get to meet you on our trip to DC. :~) #10111547

Debbra Bailey April 29, 2012

Chris, I am the Deb helping plan our Phellos DC trip :) CAN we do a private tour? I am thinking that would be awesome! Maybe message me through BP and we can talk about that? THANKS! #10114297

Debbie E. Payne April 29, 2012

Yes, Chris...I would have to agree with you. Next, after the Cathedral was most definitely the Library of Congress. I just got to a few of those as well. #10114378

Debbie E. Payne April 29, 2012

My third and final one didn't show up in the batch. This was my favorite one. #10114382

Debbie E. Payne April 29, 2012

Is anyone noticing that my pictures are once again out of order with the titles? No, I'm not going crazy but why in the world would I be titling a picture taken in the Library of Congress "Stuff of the Stable"? Hope this gets fixed as quickly as it did the last time. It's only 50 pictures this time. #10114398

Chris Budny level-deluxe April 30, 2012

Hey Deb (Bailey)... I sent you a BP Email, fyi! #10115046

Robert Jensen February 25, 2013

Great comp and POV #10584320

Chris Budny level-deluxe February 26, 2013

Congratulations on "Imposing" making Finalist! #10586862

Renee Doyle February 26, 2013

All are brilliant Deb!!! Both are incredible places to shoot and I love each and every capture you have here! Congratulations on this wonderful finalist and hope to see it go on further! #10586928

February 28, 2013

Congrats on this outstanding 2nd place Gold win Debbie. #10590611

Chris Budny level-deluxe March 01, 2013

Always a treat to see the cathedral with gold! Congratulations! #10591233

Beth Spencer March 01, 2013

Congratulations! Way to go #10591299

Stefania Barbier level-classic March 01, 2013

wonderful winner, congratulations!!! #10591503

Dale Hardin March 01, 2013

Super image Debbie. Congratulations. #10591747

Kristin Duff March 01, 2013

Congratulations Debbie on a job obviously very well done! #10592155

Rita K. Connell level-classic March 01, 2013

congratulation Debbie I really enjoyed all of these images #10592235

Carla Capra Anderson March 01, 2013

Congratulations, Debbie.
Stunning winner. #10592304

JO ANN CLEVELAND March 01, 2013


Adorable! So happy to see this was awarded the Gold! Big congratulations
Debbie!

jo ann c. #10592547

Kristin Duff March 02, 2013

Debbie, I was looking at these again last night and I am in awe once more. The more I learn the more I am able to study a photo and recognize what a photographer did, where the light source was etc etc. but when I look at your work I go HolySmokes! How does she do that? So I guess my first question ( and I hope you will answer more) is how do you manage to bring such crispness to your photos and the contrast? Do you combine 3 or more images in an HDR program? Thanks, Kristin #10592939

Debbie E. Payne March 02, 2013

Kristin, I will respond tomorrow. Just got home from one of the most interesting play I have ever been to. It was called Everyman on the Bus, and it was. Morality play and thirty five of us went on a 90 minute bus ride around town and the actors got off and on the bus. But I am tired now so I am going to call it a night. #10594029

Kristin Duff March 02, 2013

No rush Debbie, I am doing a Phoenix turn tomorrow and won't be home till at least 5:30 thank you for keeping me posted...and glad you enjoyed your play! #10594063

Usman M. Bajwa level-classic March 14, 2013

Wonderful images and BIG CONGRATZ on the GOLD, Debbie!

UB. #10609079

Chris Budny level-deluxe March 15, 2016

Scrolling through the new All Time EP's, and saw this -- was fun to re-read the long comment thread ;) #11447429

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