Case Study
Rochester Cathedral
A photographic and virtual tour case study documenting the transformative new lighting scheme at Rochester Cathedral, blending modern technology with over 1,400 years of architectural history.
Project Type:
Photography of Ecclesiastical Lighting Refurbishment
Client:
CES Lighting and Electrical
Collaborators:
Stoane Lighting
GVA Lighting
My Role:
Architectural Photography
Virtual Tour Creation
Project
Overview
Rochester Cathedral, England’s second-oldest cathedral, recently underwent a major lighting redesign across key areas, with new luminaires installed by CES Lighting and Electrical Specialists. The goal was to illuminate the cathedral’s intricate architectural features using a modern, modular lighting solution from Stoane Lighting and RGBW fixtures from GVA Lighting, all while respecting the historic Grade I-listed space.
My commission was to visually document the result in both still photography and an immersive virtual tour, helping showcase how the bespoke lighting transformed the atmosphere and experience of the space.
Client
Vision
The client and lighting designers wanted images that captured both the technical sophistication of the lighting install and the emotional, atmospheric qualities it brought to the cathedral’s historic spaces. It was important to demonstrate how the new scheme highlighted architectural details subtly and reverently, supporting conservation goals while enhancing visual impact.
The virtual tour would provide an engaging way to explore the spaces interactively, with the added ability to switch between lighting presets at two key locations, just as a visitor might experience during a real visit for concerts, choral events, shows, drama activities or service.
Photographic
Approach
To maintain full control over the ambient light, all photography was conducted across two evenings after sunset. The shoot focused on two major viewpoints within the cathedral. At each of these, I photographed two lighting states:
- A general illumination setup showing the overall lighting concept
- A dramatic, dimmed lighting configuration designed to bring out finer architectural features and shadow play
Slide the middle bar to compare "Dimmed" & "General Illumination" of this beautiful Quire
For the virtual tour, I created six panoramas (standard resolution: 16k x 8k). These included matched pairs from the same tripod position, captured one after the other under different lighting states. Achieving perfect stitching alignment between each pair was essential for the lighting preset toggle to work seamlessly. This required careful registration and post-processing to ensure the tweening effect felt natural and smooth, without any shift or visual disturbance.
Experience the interactive virtual tour showing different illumination levels
To further demonstrate the flexibility of the installed RGBW lighting, I created two animations using perfectly aligned stills captured under different colour settings. These illustrate the pulpit steps and architectural arches being transformed through programmable colour washes.
How Images
Were Used
- CES Lighting used the stills and virtual tour for website portfolio and awards
- Featured on the Stoane Lighting website
- Licensed by CES, Stoane Lighting & GVA Lighting for marketing and internal documentation
- Shortlisted for the [d]arc awards 2022 in the Places: High Budget category
- Featured in an advertorial by GVA Lighting in Arc Magazine, a specialist publication in lighting for architecture, showcasing the RGBW lighting design and installation for the pulpit steps
- A BBC News article reported on the IALD Award of Excellence for the Cathedral’s new lighting scheme. One of the project images was published to illustrate the transformation.
Outcome
The finished photographs and virtual tour were received very positively by the client and collaborators. The lighting toggle feature provided a memorable and effective way to demonstrate the range and subtlety of the installation, while the still imagery conveyed the design’s integration within a complex historic fabric.
The project has become a reference point for future lighting installations in sensitive heritage environments and continues to support marketing, award entries, and product visibility for everyone involved.
Let's Talk About Your Project
If you're looking for stunning architectural photography, a bespoke professional 360° virtual tour or a Google Maps Streetview tour to support your marketing or portfolio, I'd love to hear from you. Get in touch to discuss your vision and how I can bring it to life.
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