Built by the orders of Emperor Justinian in 537 AD, for 900 years Hagia Sophia had been the center of Orthodox Christianity until 1453 when the city was concurred by Ottoman Empire (Fatih Sultan Mehmet). 500 years following the conquest of Muslims, it became a jewel for the Muslim world and as the grand mosque of the sultans. In 1935, Hagia Sophia had been converted into a museum of Turkish Republic by the orders of Ataturk, and became one of the most significant monuments not only in Turkey but on earth with its architecture and its historical richness. Hagia Sophia was choosen a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1985.
<font color="red">Story of the Photo:</font><br>Capturing Hagia Sophia without any guests in the picture proved to be a challenging task. To achieve this, I patiently waited until everyone had left, ensuring that I was the last person inside. The captivating reflections on the ground caught my attention, and I was determined to preserve them in the photograph to the greatest extent possible. However, strict regulations prohibited the use of a tripod, and the lighting conditions were relatively low. In order to adapt to these constraints, I made adjustments to my camera settings. To compensate for the low light, I increased the ISO to 800 and opted for a wide aperture of f/2.8. Employing the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS lens, I was able to capture remarkably sharp images even at the widest aperture, while the image stabilization (IS) feature prevented any potential blurring. It was a delicate balancing act, attempting to maintain the desired reflections and ensure the technical aspects of the photograph were appropriately addressed. Nevertheless, with careful consideration and creative problem-solving, I managed to achieve the desired outcome—an image that showcased Hagia Sophia devoid of any visitors, with its magnificent reflections preserved, despite the limitations I encountered during the process.