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Donkees

(33,714 posts) Fri Feb 20, 2026, 06:37 AM Feb 20

Striking Photos by Peter Li Capture the Soaring Majesty of Sacred Spaces

“Rivendell,” Sainte-Chapelle, Paris.

“Viserion,” Ely Cathedral, U.K.

London-based photographer Peter Li considers the cathedrals, basilicas, and historic spaces he captures to be “living vessels of light, symmetry, and time.”

Many of his panoromas span 180 degrees and offer a symmetric, reflective view of the space through a meticulous stitching process. This perspective accentuates the dramatic, all-consuming effect of standing beneath ascendant rib vaults and majestic columns.

“Phoenix,” York Minster, U.K.

“Yggdrasil,” Catedral de Segovia, Spain

“Amphisbaena,” The Vatican Museum, Vatican City

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/02/peter-li-architectural-church-cathedral-photos/

9 replies

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Highlight:

Striking Photos by Peter Li Capture the Soaring Majesty of Sacred Spaces (Original Post) Donkees Feb 20 OP

Like views from a kaleidoscope....stunning! democrank Feb 20 #1

These are fabulous! I couldn't figure out what sort of lens would capture this perspective. TheRickles Feb 20 #2

''A vertorama is simply a panorama, but shot vertically.'' Donkees Feb 20 #4

Fascinating - thanks! TheRickles Feb 20 #5

Oh, that's really gonna sway atheists. eppur_se_muova Feb 20 #3

Wow! Amazing, TY! electric_blue68 Feb 21 #6

Like being enveloped within a masterpiece, immersed in colors Donkees Feb 21 #7

I like that description electric_blue68 Feb 21 #8

Overwhelmingly beautiful. Incredible photography. Borogove Feb 21 #9

democrank

(12,604 posts)

1. Like views from a kaleidoscope....stunning!

Reply to Donkees (Original post)

Fri Feb 20, 2026, 07:14 AM

Feb 20

Thank you for posting these, Donkees.

TheRickles

(3,389 posts)

2. These are fabulous! I couldn't figure out what sort of lens would capture this perspective.

Reply to Donkees (Original post)

Fri Feb 20, 2026, 09:07 AM

Feb 20

Fortunately the article made mention of a "meticulous stitching process", which must've been a lot of work - but worth the effort.

Donkees

(33,714 posts)

4. ''A vertorama is simply a panorama, but shot vertically.''

Reply to TheRickles (Reply #2)

Fri Feb 20, 2026, 09:42 AM

Feb 20

Working Title ‘Rivendell’
📷 180° HDR Vertorama

I wasn’t sure if it’s possible to capture all 15 stainglass bays in this Vertorama attempt at @sainte_chapelle , not even sure if I can get this place empty at the time, but I managed with a bit of luck, years of experience shooting vertoramas handheld and after many days of editing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C4foUOKM8mN/

TheRickles

(3,389 posts)

5. Fascinating - thanks!

Reply to Donkees (Reply #4)

Fri Feb 20, 2026, 10:13 AM

Feb 20

eppur_se_muova

(41,954 posts)

3. Oh, that's really gonna sway atheists.

Reply to Donkees (Original post)

Fri Feb 20, 2026, 09:30 AM

Feb 20

All those resources -- especially human labor -- expended ... for what ?

electric_blue68

(26,873 posts)

6. Wow! Amazing, TY!

Reply to Donkees (Original post)

Sat Feb 21, 2026, 06:24 AM

Feb 21

On a 4 day mini-vacay in Paris with my aunt who I was visiting with; along with my uncle within my 3 weeks vacation at their house/her art studio in Western Switzerland...

We visited Sainte-Chapelle.
I'd never heard of it, but it was sure beautiful! I loved that with half of the windows in sunlight - patches of colors were splashed on the stone inlaid floors.