Spasa na Krovi, a photo from Saint Petersburg, Northwest

Photographer's Note

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood (Russian: Spasa na Krovi) is one of the main sights of St. Petersburg, Russia. It is also variously called the Church on Spilt Blood and the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ , its official name.
This Church was built on the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated and was dedicated in his memory. It should not to be confused with the Church on Blood in Honour of All Saints Resplendent in the Russian Land, located in the city of Yekaterinburg where the former Emperor Nicholas II (1868–1918) and several members of his family and household were executed following the Bolshevik Revolution.
Architecturally, the Cathedral differs from St. Petersburg's other structures. The city's architecture is predominantly Baroque and Neoclassical, but the Savior on Blood harks back to medieval Russian architecture in the spirit of romantic nationalism. It intentionally resembles the 17th-century Yaroslavl churches and the celebrated St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.

The Church contains over 7500 square metres of mosaics—according to its restorers, more than any other church in the world. This record may be surpassed by the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, which houses 7700 square meters of mosaics. The interior was designed by some of the most celebrated Russian artists of the day—including Viktor Vasnetsov, Mikhail Nesterov and Mikhail Vrubel — but the church's chief architect, Alfred Alexandrovich Parland, was relatively little-known (born in St. Petersburg in 1842 in a Baltic-German Lutheran family). Perhaps not surprisingly, the Church's construction ran well over budget, having been estimated at 3.6 million roubles but ending up costing over 4.6 million. The walls and ceilings inside the Church are completely covered in intricately detailed mosaics — the main pictures being biblical scenes or figures — but with very fine patterned borders setting off each picture.

mayjayne, SnapRJW, tedesse, gervaso, Sonata11, janjan1897, timecapturer, maria-v1981, krzychu30, kasianowak, macjake, bayno has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mayjayne (7204) 2012-10-17 7:30

Dear Grzegorz,

Excellent sharpness and colours - you have managed to capture eveery little detail even from the distance !

TFS,
May

yquem46 (38752) 2012-10-17 7:39

Hi Grzegorz
I've been very impressed by this church, outside as well as inside, that i visited last year
Here you post an image of excellent quality with great clarity and sharpness, very luminous and colorful
The blue sky is splendid, a gorgeous BG for this masterpiece in St Petersburg
Have a nice evening
Patrick

SnapRJW (31631) 2012-10-17 7:48

Hello Gregg - I dream of seeing this colourful church, here you show the domes off beautifully. I love the light glinting on the golden details and the shadows which pattern the FG. Super against such a lovely sky. Warm regards rosemary

tedesse (25147) 2012-10-17 8:01

Witaj!
Doskonaly POV ukazujacy piekno katedry Zmartwychwstania Chrystusa.
Wspaniale kolory, doskonala ostrosc, fantastyczna notka.
Mlego popoludnia
Tadeusz

Bluejeans (64251) 2012-10-17 8:46

Ola Grzegorz ,
Linda foto desta igreja ortodoxa fantásticas as torres com aquelas cores e desenhos , bonita a sua construção , bom ponto de visão com estas sombras de árvores no chão , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

gervaso (28415) 2012-10-17 9:51

Hello, Grzegorz!

Beautiful church, and with a perspective that makes it even more imposing! The colors are also wonderful! Beautiful composition! Very good job!

leo61 (0) 2012-10-17 10:09

Hi Grzegorz !
I loved this view when I have been there but did not manage such a great shot.
Love the shadows in the foreground and the contrast with this wonderful blue sky.and the fact to see no tourists around.
Regards,leo

rychem (72187) 2012-10-17 10:16

Swietna architektura, wydobyłeś z tego wszystkie co najlepsze szczegóły, pięknie
pozdrawiam
Ryszard

boa (8039) 2012-10-17 10:33

Hi Grzegorz,
it is almost impossible not to take photos of this magnificent church, there are so many interesting details and colors. I like your Pov and the vivid blue sky, a good shot!
Regards.
Boa

Sonata11 (34119) 2012-10-17 11:44

Witaj Grzegorz,
piekna budowla i cudna jego architektura. Wspaniale kolory, doskonala ostrosc, punkt widzenia. Piekne zdjecie. Bardzo mi sie podoba takze pod wzgledem jakosci. SUPER!!!!!
Serdecznie pozdrawiam,
Barbara

npecanhuk (79329) 2012-10-17 11:49

Hi Gregg!
Magnificent Church!
Very beautiful picture!
What a sky!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, chosen pov, grey & white borders, vertical format and composition are all excellent!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

carlo62 (81265) 2012-10-17 13:09

Ciao Grzegorz
la chiesa è molto bella e conosciuta, l'inquadratura è ottima, mi piace il gioco di ombre in basso, il cielo è uno spettacolo e la chiesa contrasta molto bene.
Una bella foto ben presentata.
Saluti
Carlo

janjan1897 (2301) 2012-10-17 13:44

Hello Gregg,
This one is a jewel of architecture. You have captured this church to perfection, with excellent light and great focus. The well chosen POV composes the photo superbly. The church stands out beautifully against that peerless blue sky. The balance and details are really incredible to see and the notes of history are very interesting. Great work.
Jean

dta (98848) 2012-10-17 13:49

Hello Gregg ,
Fantastic capture of this outstanding church , with an effective POV , a great lighting and splendid contrasted colors.
Regards

timecapturer (49288) 2012-10-18 6:12

Hi Grzegorz
would not normally like a huge frame like this, but this works so attractively. The shot is perfectly executed and full of such wonderful detailing and colours, but it is the light and your management of it that makes this so stunning and beautiful. Amazing!

Warm wishes - Brian.

maria-v1981 (10966) 2012-10-18 6:31

Hello Grzegorz,
You have a good angle and perspective and so a nice approach and composition to this nice colored church. Fine orthodox architecture and main facade that you captured well. Good management of light and a fine result.
Have a nice evening,
Regards,
Maria

krzychu30 (15512) 2012-10-19 4:16

Witaj Grzegorz,
architektura tej swiatyni jest naprawde piekna.Dzieki super ostrosci mamy okazje podziwiac wiele detali jej imponujacej fasady.Do tego chyba wspolna cecha wszystkich twoich zdjec-znakomity balans pomiedzy swiatlem,nasyceniem kolorow a kontrastem.Rezultat jak zwykle bardzo malowniczy.
Pozdrawiam serdecznie
Krzysiek

dkmurphys (79209) 2012-10-19 6:43

Hi Grzegorz,
Splendid presentation of this impressive cathedral. I love the shadows from the pavement, lovely early spring day.
Have a nice weekend.

Daniel

SWEETFREEDOM (24623) 2012-10-19 11:30

Hi Grzegorz
beautiful p.o.v.an dframe. great colors.
regards
Alessandro

emka (158784) 2012-10-19 23:34

Cześć, Podoba mi się ten tytuł :). Fantastyczna ta cerkiew, tyle tu różnych szczegółów. Najbardziej podobają mi się kopułki, każda inna. No i co za kolor nieba! Niby nie jest tak daleko do Petersburga, a ciągle nie mogę się wybrać.
Przyjemnego weekendu

Małgorzata

kasianowak (17676) 2012-10-24 4:00

Czesc Grzesiu
Piekne kolory, szczegolnie podoba mi sie to niebieskie niebo. Dzieki za ciekawy opis.
Pozdrawiam
Kasia

claudeD (47754) 2012-10-25 9:13

Hello,

very fine architecture shot showing this interesting church with all its details and wonderful colors. I like the shot very much.Very good contribution to TE.TFS.

With regards from Luxembourg

JC

macjake (98544) 2012-10-25 18:55

Hi Greg
Beautiful architecture, like you said - perhaps not the baroque style that's predominant, but this medevial russian style is even better in my opinion!
beautiful!
the saturated blues and grey frame gives a sweet contrast to the brown/rusted reds of the Church, making it really stand out.
very effective compo too.
cheers
craig

bayno (18348) 2012-10-25 22:48

Ciao Gregg,
an architectural style unique, excellent management of the different levels of light, the colors are wonderful, especially the one in heaven, outstanding quality...
greetings from Rome,
Valter

Bandit (2360) 2012-10-26 1:08

Très belle image avec un ciel magnifique ! La lumière est très belle et le jeu d'ombre au sol guide nos yeux !
Bravo !!

serp2000 (47063) 2012-10-27 9:37

Hi, Grzegorz,
Thanks a lot for your warm words.
Excellent postcard from St. Petersburg. This church reminds me St. Basil Cathedral in Moscow. Outstanding colours, good management, clever point of view! TFS!
Best wishes,
Serghei

francio64 (39888) 2012-10-29 9:20

Hi Grzegorz,
bellissima e affascinante questa chiesa perfettamente inquadrata e ben inserita nella tua cornice, come fosse un quadro.

Eccellente gestione della luce che con il suo gioco di ombre, rende tutto più bello.

Compliments and TFS!
Francesco

jadesgran (5433) 2012-11-20 13:22

Hello Grzegorz
The architecture of this church is amazing.
Brilliant colours, great clarity and sharpness.
Wonderful!
Best Wishes
Gladys.