Mirror Ball
Sitting on Blackpool's South Shore promenade, this giant reflective sphere becomes a genuinely striking subject after dark when its built-in colour-changing lights cycle through vivid hues and cast patterns across the surrounding pavement. Get in close with a wide angle lens to exaggerate the curve of the mirror tiles and include the reflections of the promenade lights and passing crowds stretching across its surface. Long exposures work well here, letting the shifting colours blend and the streaks of pedestrian traffic add movement to the frame. Try shooting low from the ground to use the wet promenade as a foreground reflection on rainy evenings, which doubles the impact considerably. The ball is right on the seafront and easy to access at any time, though peak evening hours bring more ambient light and atmosphere from the surrounding illuminations. (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)
