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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Nine: Composition -- putting it together > Remembering Dmitry, Uglich, Russia, 2003
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25-JUL-2003

Remembering Dmitry, Uglich, Russia, 2003

Uglich on the Volga was the site of one of Russia's most celebrated murders in the 16th Century, when Czar Ivan the Terrible's heir and son Dmitry was killed by Boris Godunuv in an attempt to seize the crown of Russia. On the spot where the murder took place, the city built this beautiful little church. I use still another form of rhythmic repetition to organize this image. The structure features a cluster of bulbous domes. As I approached, I noticed a towering cumulous cloud moving across the sky in the background. I waited until it appeared directly behind the domes of the church and made this image. The Church seems to explode in smoke, almost as if someone was firing a salute to honor the slain son of an ancient Czar.

Canon PowerShot G5
1/1250s f/5.0 at 25.1mm full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis04-Aug-2004 03:49
I often look for clouds first, and then hope to find something that repeats their shape. Sometimes, as you say, it takes a bit of patience. I saw those cumulous clouds moving across the sky and waited for one of them to "explode" behind the domes of that cathedral.
oochappan04-Aug-2004 01:31
I wish that we could order such impressive clouds when we need them ... I like the clearness of this photo and ofcours this unique cloud worthwile to wait for.
Vlada Marinkovic05-Mar-2004 13:18
Excellent image
Congratulations
Best regards
Vlado
Phil Douglis23-Feb-2004 04:16
Once again, Anna, you are correct in assuming that this picture would not have worked nearly as well without that cloud behind it. Clouds can offer another layer of meaning to your images, giving a sense of depth perception, and, as in this case, help organize the image through repeating shapes. I did not have to wait long, either. The clouds were numerous and moving quickly.
Anna Yu22-Feb-2004 19:28
To wait for the cloud to arrive is something that I've never thought of before. Just like in some of your other images when you wait for a good subject to walk by. What a dramatic effect the cloud has, compared to the same shot with just blue sky behind!
Regards/Anna
Phil Douglis04-Sep-2003 22:28
Hi, Fred:

I am not sure what a -1 white balance means. When it comes to white balance, on both the G2 and G5, I generally keep it at sunny or cloudy when outside, depending upon the weather, and at tungsten or florescent when shooting indoors. Now and then I will scroll through the various white balance settings to see what the picture will look like, and from time to time I will switch to auto white balance because it gives me the coloration I think works best for that image. In other words, I keep my options open. I make pictures as I want them to look, not as the camera tells me they should look. As for the G5, I added it because I often find that cropping helps my pictures work better -- and the extra megapixel of the G5 (vs. the G2) allows me more cropping latitude. It also has a longer zoom. I find the picture quality of both cameras quite similar. Some feel the G2 images are smoother, but I have not noticed this difference.
Fred Gordon 04-Sep-2003 21:13
I follow your site after finding you on the worldisround site, I note from your superb photos that you use Canon G2 and G5 cameras and when examining your exif details I note that you set the white balance at -1 and was wondering if there is any signifigance in this setting. I have a G2 and find the results good enough for a amateur shooting mainly landscapes etc. I have considered buying the G5 would you recommend?
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