Another church; really? Yeah, I often have that response when somebody tells me that I simply have to see the one in their town. Churches are not always a mandatory stop for me. So why see Basilica of the Annunciation? There is historical significance here, but I enjoyed it for the main reason that most churches draw my attention - the architecture. Some of the most beautiful and expensive structures in the world are churches. So if you're not in the habit of photographing them when you travel or you think they just all look the same after a while...this is not where I'm going to give you an architecture or history lesson. I'm just noting that I started paying attention to them again when I travel as sometimes I'll find some that are special and worth paying a visit to. The front and side entrance to the Basilica of the Annunciation have ornate doors depicting significant events in Jesus' life and was erected over the supposed childhood home site of the Virgin Mary.
This next photo I took before I had a proper wide angle lens and before I knew anything about photographing architecture. Notice how the roofline isn't straight and the building is smaller at the base than at the top? I took several vertical photos and put them together as a pano. I did a poor job of it here, but that can work okay if you know what you're doing. I'll have to do a separate write-up about how to take proper architecture photos. Sometimes the wacky lines can work to give a cool perspective. Here, I just think it looks wrong.
When I did the same thing with the interior it actually looks pretty cool as it gives a sense of dimension and vastness to that awesome dome. I would love to attend a concert in here. I'll bet the acoustics are just amazing.
