Mother Church night shots

As best as I can tell this is the The Mother Church of the Church of Christ, Scientist. (Pardon if I've messed up this title. I've have no knowledge of the Church - I just love this grand architecture.) I do know it's in Boston.

I shot this about 5:15 in the morning. Actually I shot 5 frames at 2/3 stops apart and ran them through PS CS2's HDR Merge. The images were shot with the 17-40 L @ 17mm, so there were some perspective issues which I cleaned up using CS2's Len Correction filter. I then ran some Shadow & Highlights, added some saturation, resized and sharpened.

In you're interested you can see some more info & comparisons on HDR software in this thread, which also includes the original "unprocessed" image. More info and comparisons about perspective correction can be found in this thread.

Great shots. The first would probably make a stunning black and white too.

These are great, Scott! I've never seen this church in my travels through Boston. Where is it? I've got to get that upgrade to CS2, if only for the HDR Merge feature! Just lovely! I'll bet the church would love to buy a copy of these!

Scott these shots are fabulous. Your use of HDR renders such detail and subtle tones to the pictures. Really great work.

Scottes wrote:
As best as I can tell this is the The Mother Church of the Church of Christ, Scientist. (Pardon if I've messed up this title. I've have no knowledge of the Church - I just love this grand architecture.) I do know it's in Boston.

I shot this about 5:15 in the morning. Actually I shot 5 frames at 2/3 stops apart and ran them through PS CS2's HDR Merge. The images were shot with the 17-40 L @ 17mm, so there were some perspective issues which I cleaned up using CS2's Len Correction filter. I then ran some Shadow & Highlights, added some saturation, resized and sharpened.

In you're interested you can see some more info & comparisons on HDR software in this thread, which also includes the original "unprocessed" image. More info and comparisons about perspective correction can be found in this thread.

This was shortly at 6:45 AM shortly before sunrise. (I had a grand old time in this plaza.) 6 shots run through HDR Merge, but shot at 32mm so no real need for perspective correction. Very little processing afterwards, but resized and sharpened.

As best as I can tell this is one of the best nightlight shot i`ve seen.

Great stuff yet again Scott. This me going off to read the links you provided.

very nice.
is that water in the reflection

I just absolutely love the second photo. Quite an amazing looking building and the reflections just make the photos even better.

Awesome photos and great information also, Scott!

I love the detail of the building and the reflexions!!!

Great shot Scottes, but I too am wondering about the reflection...........J​oe

Thanks for the comments folks!


Becca, this is about a block "behind" the Pru, at the corner of the Avenue Of The Arts (Rt 9) and Mass Ave. It's worth a visit - I spent 2 hours there before the sun even rose. I'm itching to do it again and do some panos, and maybe some days shots even.

Dimitri, thank you very much.


As to the reflections, the plaza has a large reflecting pool - I guess you'd call it that. It's 686 feet long and 98 feet wide and maybe 2 feet deep. At one end is an 80-foot diameter fountain which sprays as high as 40 feet into the air. The fountain was off when I was there, and I'm suspecting that it may be off for the winter. But the pool was full, so I might get lucky if I go back on a Saturday night or something like that. Fountain night shots can be very cool.

Scottes, the final versions look great. You really captured the massiveness (is that a word?) of the architecture. All these discussions have me on the hunt for the right scene for this method.

I know that feeling well! As I was googling for info on the pool I stumbled across a night shot of a hotel with a huge glass building behind it. Very cool shot. I drove *right* *past* this scene on the way to the church. They're only 2 blocks apart. Needless to say I'll be back in that neighborhood.


I think I need to buy a convertible - the roof of my car blocks too many views as I drive around, and I miss a lot of potential shots.

Great, what a way to add $20,000 to my photography hobby.

This was one of those moments that took my breath away - terrific shots Scottes!

Some of the best shots I've seen yet. I bet the non-compressed versions are awesome. Great work.