A method is executed at a camera for controlling a camera mode. The camera is operated in a night mode in which an IR filter is not interposed between a lens assembly and a sensor array of the camera. While operating in the night mode, the camera receives at the sensor array ambient light that is not filtered by the IR filter, and determines whether the received ambient light is due to a light source other than an IR light source. The camera continues operation of the camera in the night mode when it is determined that the received ambient light is due to an IR light source. In some implementations, the camera switches the operation of the camera from the night mode to a day mode when it is determined the received ambient light is due to a light source other than an IR light source.