Technical Camera & Exposure Details
- Camera: Sony A7R IV
- Lens: Sony FE 24–70mm f/2.8 GM at 24mm
- Aperture: f/2.8
- Shutter Speed: 1/100s
- ISO: 2500
- Mode: Manual
The Headline:
This architectural shot from the interior of Samarkand’s Tilya Kori Madrasa was captured to retain intricate mosaic detail while balancing ambient light. The camera’s high-resolution sensor and wide-angle perspective from the lens at 24mm enabled crisp micro-detail portrayal with controlled noise at ISO 2500.
The Background:
A recent joiner to the Edinburgh Photographic Society (EPS), my primary goals for this syllabus year were to (a) develop my confidence in showcasing some of the pieces I had captured over the past year, particularly from my travels in Central Asia, and (b) to help develop my own understanding of photography.
This was the first entry into the EPS 2025/26 PDI Competition (#1). The image in question is the Tilya Kori Madrasa (an Islamic School), specifically its western most interior dome. The building itself was primarily a Madrasa but was also considered an important mosque for an extended period of time.
The Madrasa is part of a larger complex, Registan Square, which is a stunning historical complex in Samarkand and an absolute must see if traveling to Uzbekistan. At dusk, there is a beautiful light and sound show that I recommend people take the time to see; it is public and free of charge.
To capture this particular image, I lay flat on my back right under the central circle of the Dome; no tripod was to hand on this trip, something that I won’t neglect to bring in future travels. I wanted to capture the fine detail and craftsmanship of the dome, so opted for the higher ISO to make sure as much information was captured as possible in the dimmer lit environment of the Dome area.
This image earned a score of 16/20 and was titled “Oz’bekiston Mosque Mosaic” – hindsight, the beautiful thing that it is, makes me realise that this may not have been correct. Regardless of the naming of the piece, I was very happy with this score, given this was my first ever photographic competition entry.