![653 megapixels! A very high resolution, large-format VAST photo print of the US Capitol Building at sunset; fine art photograph created by Tim Lo Monaco in Washington, D.C.](/files/uploads/photos/11796/us-capitol-building-large-print-l.jpg?v=20240628121909)
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For this photo, I intended to recreate a previous wide angle shot I took in the late afternoon one day while waiting for the sunset at the U.S. Capitol Building. While I took the original photo to experiment during “down time”, it turned out to be as stimulating and enjoyable to create as was my pre-visualized sunset image. Maybe since I have struggled with a poor sense of direction my entire life, I was quite taken by the Compass for both its design as well as the practical purpose to help navigate the immediate area. While I am quite happy the original shot, I felt the traditional photograph didn’t allow for the intended impact I wanted to have when printing on a large scale.
Part of the VAST technique is to not only create an image where a viewer is brought into it via the ability to see the minute details, but to give justice to a beautiful scene by the feeling it evokes. The VAST technique is a labor of love. I could go on for days about the process of making this image, but with the efforts to keep your attention I will sum up the highlights. After sweeping the Compass for 15 minutes to remove every last pebble and debris, I began taking pictures. Soon after, the Capitol Police drove by to tell me I couldn't use a tripod. Nooooo!!!! After some pleading, they yielded, and noted that I had cleaned up the compass, which was something positive. Who would have known my small dustpan and brush would have saved the day? In fact, this image wouldn't have been possible but for the gracious officers that allowed me to keep my setup for long after my promised finish time.
I originally intended to replicate my original wide angle shot in the late afternoon golden hour. I soon realized after having to take the extra time to expose 16-18 images in each position to achieve the full range of focus for what would turn out to be the foreground of the end image, that my “end image” would provoke a different mood altogether as the light changed so dramatically. The image you see is a blend of 45 input images (5 rows of 9 images) taken over the span of an hour and a half, from the golden hour through sunset and the blue hour. The input images were both exposure blends as well as focus-stacked results which yield a final image that maintains focus from the Compass to the U.S. Capitol Building.
For those like myself who appreciate compositional disruption by having two subjects; the often-overlooked Compass and the U.S. Capitol Building itself, this image will speak loudly. (Those with an established sense of direction who want the wide scope of the magnificent building can refer to the cropped panorama of the U.S. Capitol Building alone)
Date & Time | July 20, 2018: 7:29pm - 8:45pm |
Location | United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. |
Coordinates | 38.889804, -77.007457 |
Focal Length | 60mm |
Aperture | f/11 |
Shutter | 1/25 sec - 1/3 sec |
ISO | 125 |
Num of Exposures | 45 |
Its resolution is 3,010% greater than a typical photo. Click on the boxes below to zoom in.
This photo is also available in these alternate versions:
Our ready-to-hang canvas prints are created using a specialty printer that carefully lays pigment inks down onto archival-quality fine art canvas material. The canvas is then stretched around a 1.5-inch-deep wood support structure to provide depth and elegance. Our canvas material has a delightfully matte finish that looks spectacular in any lighting conditions while retaining maximum vibrancy and contrast. Click here to learn more.
A VAST Print™ represents the pinnacle of the photographic medium. Each print is a true photograph created specifically for you using light-sensitive paper exposed in a darkroom with the industry's highest precision exposure technique. Your print is then sealed with a shine-enhancing protective glossy coating*, adhered to a sturdy aluminum composite backing, and finished in one of two ready-to-hang formats:
*Note: a non-glossy, satin matte coating is alternatively available on request.
Due to their record-setting resolutions, VAST photos are the most versatile images ever created, with the quality necessary to look great at any size and in any project. Purchasing one of our standard royalty-free licenses provides you with the digital file at your choice of resolution and a permit to use it for most types of projects. Click here to learn more.
For a premium license that gives exclusivity, glass-related use in North America, or use in merchandise for sale, contact us.
Total Pixels | 652,938,748 px |
Width | 33,803 px |
Height | 19,316 px |
Aspect Ratio | 1.75 : 1 |
Date & Time | July 20, 2018: 7:29pm - 8:45pm |
Location | United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. |
Coordinates | 38.889804, -77.007457 |
Focal Length | 60mm |
Aperture | f/11 |
Shutter | 1/25 sec - 1/3 sec |
ISO | 125 |
Num of Exposures | 45 |
Here are some rough guidelines for this specific photo: