How to Shoot Buildings at Night

As an evening stroll through any town or city centre will prove, brightly coloured floodlights can transform even lackluster buildings into inspiring photographic subjects. At this time of year, nocturnal shoots can also take place at a more civilised hour because the sun is setting earlier in the evening rather than later.

Probably the trickiest aspect of shooting buildings at night is determining the correct exposure. Bright floodlights often fool in camera light meters into underexposure, so be ready to dial in up to two stops of positive exposure compensation to rectify the situation. Be careful though – dial in too much compensation and you’ll burn out the highlights. If overall scene metering proves problematic, switch to Partial or Spot metering and meter off a mid-tone area within your subject.

Noise is another potential hazard with exposures often running into seconds or even minutes if you’re incorporating light trails. To minimise the risk, shoot in RAW and choose a low ISO setting, such as 100 or 200. In camera noise reduction is another good option if your camera offers it, but beware that this doubles image-processing time.

And finally, don’t forget to stay vigilant. When you’re concentrating on a shoot it’s easy to become unaware of your surroundings. If possible go with someone else and never take unnecessary risks – no photograph is worth risking your personal safety.

Creative Composition

Don’t limit yourself to a standard wide-angle that include entire building. Instead, seek out one or two more unusual or creative compositions such as the shot that uses an illuminated arch to frame the abbey in the distance.

Also consider putting your building into context by incorporating other interesting buildings in the area into your composition. Don’t worry if you end up with a few blurred outlines of people, as they can add to the atmosphere. When the sky turns black, switch to a telephoto lens and use it to pick out details such as gargoyles, architectural patterns and windows.