Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
17 worksFirst upload: Aug 2017Peak: 2025Last 12 months: 4
📝 Description
The images depict the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Photographers are drawn to the structure for its vivid color palette and intricate mosaic details that contrast sharply with the sky. The shots vary from low-angle perspectives emphasizing vertical height to wider views capturing the complex arrangement of onion domes. This location is a prominent example of Russian Revival architecture and serves as a major cultural landmark in the city. All images focus on the ornate exterior features and religious iconography of this specific monument.
The church was constructed between 1883 and 1907 on the site where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated. Its design draws inspiration from medieval Russian cathedrals, particularly Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. The building is covered in over seven thousand square meters of mosaic artwork, making it a significant subject for architectural photography.
How to shoot it
📍 Where to shoot
The shoot takes place outdoors in the city, directly near the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood (Spas na Krovi) in Saint Petersburg.
🕐 Time of day
Most shot between 11:00 and 14:00 (36% of frames)
Based on 14 frames with camera data. Camera clock time; the time zone is unknown.
Most shots are taken during the day (11:00–13:00) and in the evening (18:00), allowing the building to be captured in daylight and twilight.
🎫 Access and rules
Exterior shooting is free from public areas around the church. Entry inside, where the mosaics are located, requires a ticket; tripod usage rules inside may be restricted.
🎒 Gear
Use a wide-angle lens (median 18mm), as 85% of shots were taken at focal lengths up to 24mm. A tripod is not essential due to short shutter speeds.
Cameras and lenses the authors used (10)
Canon EOS 70D 2Nikon D610 2Nikon D3100 1Vivo V2058 1Samsung SM-S906B 1Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM 2AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G 1AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED VR 1Samsung Galaxy S22+ Rear Wide Camera 1AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6G 1
⚙️ Settings
Shutter 1/160 (1/400 – 1/50)Aperture f/4 (f/1.8 – f/8)ISO 250 (50 – 4791)Focal length 18 mm (5 – 28)
Based on 13 frames with camera data. Median and 10-90% range across the idea frames.
The key parameter is aperture: median f/4 (range f/1.8–f/8) for controlling depth of field against the sky. Shutter speeds are short (median 0.0063s), ISO is low (median 250).
📈 How the idea developed
works uploadedshare of all site uploads, per 100k
The date is when the file was uploaded to the site. The chart counts works assigned to the idea.
✅ How to repeat it
- Shoot during twilight (around 18:00) to create contrast between the golden domes and the darkening sky.
- Look for angles where the domes are not obscured by trees or other buildings.
✨ Interesting facts
- 🏆 How the best frame was shot: Samsung SM-S906B, Samsung Galaxy S22+ Rear Wide Camera, 1/4000, f/1.8, ISO 50, 5 mm
- 📐 94% of frames are portrait orientation
- 🥇 1 works reached the finals. Best contest: Black and white city 2026
- 👤 Most frequent authors: Виталий Черепенькин 2Екатерина Антонова 2
- 🌍 Authors by country: 🇷🇺 RU 14🇫🇮 FI 1🇺🇿 UZ 1🇧🇾 BY 1
Some tips are prepared by AI from the idea description, photos and their EXIF. Check the rules and access to places before you travel.
Works
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