Dedicated in 1913, the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle, which honors the patron saint of civil servants, plays a significant and important role in the Catholic life of the nation's capital. It serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Washington. Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at this cathedral in 1979, and President John F. Kennedy's funeral Mass was celebrated here on November 25, 1963, making it a site of great historical and spiritual importance.
Designed by renowned New York architect C. Grant La Farge, the cathedral has been cited as having one of the most beautiful church interiors of modern times. Its walls are laden with shimmering mosaics that are suggestive of those found in the renowned churches of Ravenna, Italy, creating an atmosphere of reverence and beauty.
With special permission from the cathedral staff, we are delighted to offer an exclusive and unprecedented photo safari that takes you inside the spectacular St. Matthew's Cathedral, even when it is closed to the general public. You will learn professional techniques for photographing church interiors without using flash, capturing the architectural beauty of this cathedral, laid out in the form of a 155-foot by 136-foot Latin cross, with the interior soaring to a height of 190 feet. You will also learn how to photograph its magnificent stained glass windows to showcase their color and detail.
This safari is taught by renowned architectural photographer E. David Luria, who will make his professional 28mm F3.5 shift lens and his 10mm fisheye lens available to Nikon camera users for the duration of the workshop.
A sturdy and stable tripod is essential for this photography safari as we will be shooting indoors in lower light conditions, requiring longer exposures.
Focus Skills: architecture, composition, exposure, F-stops and shutter speeds, lighting, long exposure
What to Bring:
- Your camera with all the lenses you wish to use
- Extra memory cards for your camera
- Extra charged battery or batteries
- A sturdy tripod
- Photography accessories such as filters, remote release, or other tools
- Weather-appropriate clothing for the indoor cathedral environment
