FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (23mm, f/8, 1/125 sec, ISO320)
Second post related to our trip to Mariazell, the small pilgrimage town in the mountains. First we went for lunch, then we visited the basilica. Seems that the stomach comes first.
Because of Covid19 there were hardly any tourists, skiers or pilgrims in town. For a long time the place belonged to the locals again, almost. We come here every year in winter for a day trip but last winter we didn’t because there was a lock down and all restaurants were closed. Even though there were hardly any visitors two of the sales booths were open. It was still very quiet and we enjoyed that. I think it suits the place.
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (23mm, f/8, 1/125 sec, ISO250)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (23mm, f/9, 1/210 sec, ISO160)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (14mm, f/4, 1/125 sec, ISO640)
It’s not allowed to take any pictures inside the basilica but since there were no prayers and almost no visitors I took the liberty to take a couple or images.
I think the main reason why photography is not allowed inside is because they want to keep it quiet for the prayers. Those should not be distracted by slapping camera mirrors or loud shutters or flashlights. The X-Pro3 shutter is not as quiet as the X-H1 but it is still rather quiet and usually there is no need to switch to the electronic shutter. I still wished Fuji would have integrated the shutter mechanism of the X-H1 but I guess it that is a too costly option. The shutter of the X-H1 and IBIS would have made the X-Pro3 the perfect camera. Well, maybe next time.
The basilica looks beautiful inside even though it is not that big at all. On the outside I never liked it because the three towers always looked strange to me. The middle one is gothic and the outer two were added centuries later when the church went through a baroqueization.
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (14mm, f/4, 1/125 sec, ISO2000)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (14mm, f/4, 1/125 sec, ISO640)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (14mm, f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO640)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (14mm, f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO800)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (14mm, f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO800)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (14mm, f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO1250)
Inside I shot with the XF14/2.8R but also with the XF23/2WR but preferred the wider shots. I hate falling lines and prefer to avoid them when shooting but with such a wide lens and such a high building that is really tough. I think to shoot in portrait orientation in a church most of the time is obvious but that sometimes is not enough to avoid the need to tilt the camera upwards. So even though I hate falling lines to a certain extend I have to live with it.
There is a small place outside the basilica. It is a grotto where you can lit a candle for someone. The grotto was built because the smoke of the candles caused damage to the art work in the basilica. This is where we went next.
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (14mm, f/5.6, 1/340 sec, ISO160)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (14mm, f/2.8, 1/20 sec, ISO6400)
FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (14mm, f/2.8, 1/25 sec, ISO6400)
The grotto is very small and dark and even though the outside temperature was below zero degrees Celsius it was warm inside the grotto because of all the burning candles.
You lit a candle and make a wish for someone. Nine years ago I prayed that the suffering of my mother would soon come to an end and it did. She finally passed away a couple of days later. This time I wished that this nightmare in which we are all stuck since March 2020 will soon come to an end and that life will get back to normal. I hope that god or a higher force or whatever will help one more time.
FUJIFILM X-H1 (124.3mm, f/8, 1/680 sec, ISO200)