This photo was taken during the annual “Noche de las Velitas” — Night of the Little Candles, a tradition celebrated on December 7 by the Colombian community in Massachusetts. The scene brings together architecture, community, and light. The goal was to capture the monument at night while showing how people interact with the space.

What makes this type of image possible

• Low camera angle gives scale to the monument and the visitors.
• The line of candles creates a visual path to the center.
• The monument stays dominant while the visitors provide context and movement.
• Warm light from the candles balances the cooler tones of the building.
• The atmosphere shows a shared moment rather than a static structure.
• The presence of a videograher gave extra ilumination to the participants

Technical considerations

• Manual exposure to control mixed light sources.
• Tripod to maintain clarity in low light.
• Aperture around f/4 - f/6.3 for detail and light balance.
• ISO adjusted to protect shadows without losing quality.

This type of photography documents traditions in real time. The monument becomes a symbol, and the visitors add life and meaning to the scene. When we photograph cultural events at night, the objective is not only to show a structure but to tell a story.

Call to action
If you want to explore how professional photography supports cultural storytelling and visual strategy for events and organizations, visit my website:
www.borrerophotography.com