This early and oversized image of the interior of the Hagia Sophia was a difficult challenge for the photographer. As he probably did not have an extreme wide angle lens at his disposal, he skillfully took six individual images with an identical exposure in order to combine them as a coherent large single mammoth print. The early wet plate collodion process required preparation of the glass plates and their immediate development in the church gallery. The enormous effort required the presence of several assistants, as was customary at that time. In its original mat and heavy oak frame this piece is rare and unique.
