As sunsets happen at an altogether more sociable hour there’s no reason not to have a go – even if you’ve got a compact. Rather than just taking a shot of the sky, include a silhouetted object to add visual interest. To get a deep black silhouette, switch your camera to spot metering and take a meter reading from a medium- bright part of the sky, to make sure you retain the detail in the sky itself.
Capture afloodlit
building Most of us live within a few miles of a floodlit building, so trying some shots is worth the effort. You’ll need to use a tripod and should select spot metering to take a meter reading from a floodlit part of the building. Vary your exposures to ensure you get a number of usable frames. If it’s been raining, look for reflections in rivers or puddles. Try Candle Mode on a compact to get a similar effect, and experiment to get the results you’re looking for.
Have a go at light painting
Light painting is a technique that can be done either with a torch or flashgun – or both! With your PEN on a tripod, you’ll need a remote release to lock the shutter open. Once that’s done, walk around your subject, firing the flash or pointing the torch at the areas of the building that you want illuminating. Pay attention not to stand between the camera and the light or you’ll appear as a silhouette. This technique takes practice and experimentation, but can look stunning – especially when using coloured gels.