Autumn in Somino.

Nothing special, otherwise I should have come here in morning or evening, the series was a by-product of our coming there to close an exhibition.

Just a village view with the St. Peter and Paul church in the center.

 St. Peter and Paul church, standard lens, CPL filter.

St. Peter and Paul church, AIS Nikkor 28 mm lens, CPL filter.

By the way, that traditional WC in the right corner my be a composition element.

A couple or rural views taken with the standard lens and CPL filter.

The last three images were taken from another side of the river, here I forgot what filters were used in the first case: either CPL or grad.grey. Cannot identify, though typically they are recognizable. 

Nikkor 28 mm + CPL: 

Nikkor 28 mm + skylight L1A, hence is that blue sky:

Spring in Tervenichi.

 Not so much spring, may be said summer, since that was on May, 30rd. That wasn’t scheduled, even considered, just an accidental drive-in due to circumstances on my way back. I was the only visitor at the nunnery that morning, except for very few locals going to liturgy.

What’s wrong here? Clear sky is typically ruled out by me while making preparations for landscape photography, but here, since my trip route was changed suddenly, I had to use whatever turned up. The results are here below. As we see, strong contrasts were inevitable outcome of a deep blue sky, noise level is high and nothing can be done to remedy that without considerable quality deterioration. 

Firstly, a group of panoramic (actually just one is a stitch) images, not too successful due to white balance errors:

A general view of the nunnery from a field, f14, 1/100s, CPL-filter:

 

Contrasts, f14, 1/80s, CPL filter:

A couple of shots taken with different lenses. The first taken with a standard zoom 24-85 mm + CPL filter:

  

Nikkor AIS 28 mm, f16, 1/50s, CPL filter:

Chapels, Nikkor AIS 28 mm, f16, 1/50s, CPL filter:

A panoramic view with a lake and chapels, the same settings:

An autamnal day in Tervenichi.

That was an accidental, totally unplanned trip. Everything went on exactly as the previous time : having felt that I lost all strength to keep on driving along the main road I took a turn to Alekhovshchina to avoid anything worse. Of course, dropped in Tervenichi on my way back. The weather should be said seemed the most inclement for the landscape photography and that is technically true as drizzling hampered to change lenses and covered them with droplets, but the result proved the opposite of what I expected. 

A downstairs view with the Life-giving Spring chapel, standard lens, f11, 1/15s, CPL filter:

The same view, f11, 1/20s, a bit different polarization:

The Intercession of The Holy Theotocos church (center) and partly the Assumption Refectory church (right), standard lens, f11, 1/15s, CPL filter:

The same view with a bit different focal distance and polarization:

The Assumption Refectory church, upstairs view, f11, 1/20s, CPL filter:

Chapels view, f11, 1/15s, CPL filter:

Upstairs view, f11, 1/10s, CPL filter:

The same shot, but something shifted:

The Life-giving Spring chapel, standard lens, f11, 1/15s, CPL filter:

A view from a field, f11, 1/10s, CPL filter:

Chapels (actually the second one isn't a chapel, that is for ablutions), f11, 1/10s, CPL filter:

The same view, f11, 1/15s:

A general view from the chapels, f11, 1/15s, CPL filter:

The same view with an AIS Nikkor 28 mm, f11, 1/15s, CPL filter:

Upstairs view with The Assumption church in the center, AIS Nikkor 28 mm, f11, 1/15s, CPL filter:

The Assumption church, AIS Nikkor 28 mm, f11, 1/15s, CPL filter:

Downstairs view, AIS Nikkor 28 mm, f11, 1/20s, CPL filter:

The Intercession of The Holy Theotocos church, AIS Nikkor 28 mm, f11, 1/20s, CPL filter:

The Assumption church from behind an altar, AIS Nikkor 28 mm, f11, 1/10s, CPL filter:

A closer view, f11, 1/15s:

The Assumption church and nunnery shop as seen from the central road, AIS Nikkor 28 mm, f11, 1/20s, CPL filter:

The Intercession of The Holy Theotocos church main entrance, AIS Nikkor 28 mm, f11, 1/15s, CPL filter:

The Intercession of The Holy Theotocos church southern view, AIS Nikkor 28 mm, f11, 1/15s, CPL filter:

Morning in Belozersk.

 "Neither glowing window nor hut heated by a chimneyless stove" – a line by A. Pushkin came to my mind while approaching to Belozersk. Night, no villages, just turns, as all villages are situated aside of the modern road. Of course, I totally forgot the way, since my first and only visit there took place some 9 or 10 years ago. The town's sodium lamps appeared in darkness all of sudden.

Now about the subject-matter. In autumn the sunrise point direction is right east of the town what creates an opportunity to avoid getting into counterlight. I summer of course the situation is different, as the sunrise point shifts north-eastwards. That must be kept in mind. Landscape and architectural photography sessions in evening are not advisable, since the landscape in itself you will beyond doubt take, but an architecture will not work its best as altar parts of orthodox temples are east-oriented. So one has to choose between two options: morning with its fog, mist and difficult lighting conditions (up to counterlight) or nothing. Yes, if your purpose is taking the lake views, including those taken from a beach or strand that would be preferable taking them in evening.  

As for shooting points on the rampart, its western semicircle is of no avail, unless your task is taking the town views (remember, in morning only). The only observation spot featuring panoramic vistas of the lake and town, including architectural monuments, is situated on the north-eastern quarter.

Old narrow streets cause a problem with fisheye and/or vertical perspective while shooting temples. My guess is that a 16-mm lense can provide a solution.

While mapping out your program time consumtion should be taken into account: as you will have to run a lot, there is a risk of failing to carry all scheduled tasks out. For one morning you can take only the rampart with panoramas, inner views of the Kremlin, Our Graious Savior church and possibly something else nearabouts whereas there are some more ancient churches, including those in a half-ruined cobndition, but time is just that. In morning you will have 20-40 minutes before sunrise and the same later, may be an hour at best, if you are lucky enought to meet light clouds. That would suffise just for those points.

Not night, actually 20 minutes before sunrise. The image is just underexposed and heavily shopped.

Minutes before sunrise. The Most Gracious Saviour church and the lake:

Panorama of Belozersk on the lake at the moment of sunrise:

The same from another position:

First sunrays touching upon The Most Gracious Saviour church:

Panoramic view from another point:

The day has set in:

An old moat, in former times it was flooded: 

An ancient bridge:

Belozersk Kremlin entrance:

Transfiguration of Our Savior Cathedral (presently museum):

Belozersk Kremlin view from the rampart:

The Most Gracious Saviour church:

I hope, what wasn't completed this time, will be done next year.