In March 2021, I had the opportunity to shoot the early Romanesque basilica of Aime in the French Alps. Because of COVID, the church was closed to the public (it is not used for religious purposes anymore, only as a space for exhibitions), and that made things easier for photography. Located on the Roman road between Milan and Vienne via the Great Saint Bernard Pass, the church was built as part of a priory during the so–called “first Romanesque age”, around Year 1000, over an earlier and much smaller church built during the 5th or 6th century. The crypt below this great nave dates back from that period and can still be seen. It is the most emotional part of this church.
This basilica is an amazing and gorgeous piece, not only because it is very old, but also because it has been kept over the centuries in a very authentic and realistic condition, with no plastering over the stones, so you can still “read” them. This is a panoramic view of the southern wall, a simple composite shot made of three exposures taken with the tilt–shift lens shifted horizontally, then stitched together with PTGui software or Photoshop, I don’t exactly recall.
Nikon Z7, Nikkor 19mm, ƒ/4 PC-E tilt-shift lens, manual focus. Gitzo tripod, Leofoto VH–30R panoramic head.
