Bruges City Hall
Standing on the Burg Square, Bruges City Hall is one of the oldest and most ornate Gothic civic buildings in the Low Countries, dating to 1376, with a facade of carved stone niches, pointed arches, and elaborate statuary that rewards close attention. Shoot from across the square to capture the full facade, or move in tight with a longer lens to isolate the intricate sculptural details and the decorative tracery around the windows. The building faces roughly south, so overcast days work particularly well, giving you even, diffused light without harsh shadows cutting across the relief work. Early morning on a clear day offers warmer tones and far fewer crowds in the square. A wide angle lens in the 16 to 24mm range lets you fit the full facade from close range, while a 70 to 200mm pulls out the stonework details beautifully. The square itself is compact, so use the cobblestones as a foreground element. (Bruges, West Flanders, Belgium)
