Sony captures Sagrada Familia celebrations in HDR
Sony captures Sagrada Familia celebrations in HDR
Sony’s Cinema Line cameras were deployed for a major live HDR broadcast from Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia on 10 June, as the cathedral hosted celebrations marking the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death and the visit of Pope Leo XIV. Produced by Catalan broadcaster 3Cat (TV3), the event also marked the official inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ, which at 172.5m makes the Sagrada Familia the tallest church in the world.
To capture the occasion, the production team deployed 10 Sony VENICE 2 cameras, seven ILME-FR7 remote-operated cameras and three ILME-FX6 cameras. The setup was designed to combine cinematic image quality with the demands of a live international UHD-HDR broadcast.
The basilica’s vast interior, changing natural light and restricted camera positions presented significant production challenges. VENICE 2 cameras were used for the main broadcast shots, particularly during the evening artistic programme where low light performance was critical. The FR7 units provided coverage from difficult to access locations, while the FX6 cameras were used for more mobile and dynamic shots. Sharing the same colour science across all camera systems helped maintain image consistency throughout the production.
The camera deployment was supported by PhotoCine’s OB3 outside broadcast unit, integrated with a Sony XVS production switcher and Sony PVM-X and BVM-HX reference monitors. Technical management was led by broadcast consultant Hector Sole-Bradshaw Beltran alongside 3Cat’s technical team.
Paulí Subirà Claramunt, director of photography at 3Cat, said: “Catalonia’s national television broadcaster has always been at the forefront of audiovisual technology and, as such, on such a special occasion – the completion of a monument as iconic as the Sagrada Familia – we had to rise to the challenge.
“We had previously produced the musical Mar i Cel in the Broadcast Cinematography format, gaining experience with the tools and workflows; the big difference is that, with the Sagrada Familia, the live broadcast adds an extra layer of complexity.”
Hector Sole-Bradshaw Beltran, project manager and production technical manager for 3Cat Cine Live, highlighted the importance of the camera system’s flexibility: “The FR7 and FX6 complete the line-up in roles where compact size is essential, yet image quality and consistency are of the utmost importance.”
Creative director Igor Cortadellas added: “We were looking for a cinematic image, rich and profound, capable of conveying the essence and narrative sensitivity inherent in this story. Ultimately, we found ourselves with a visual poem in which light is much more than a technical resource: it is the soul of the story.”
