Kokomo is located in the heart of Indiana and surprises with a mixture of industrial history and green oases. There are enough contrasts for hobby photographers: old factory facades, modern sculptures and wide park landscapes. I like the city because it doesn't look over and you can easily immerse yourself in the rhythm of daylights. If you are looking for an image that transports both character and mood, you are right here.
I plan the shooting around the four golden light phases. The Civil Twilight the first city lights capture the image, which is ideal for silhouettes of the skyline. The Golden Hour provides warm, soft light – just look for “Kokomo golden hour” in the calendar to find the exact time. The Sunset over the few high houses gives dramatic colors, especially when clouds break the light. In Blue Hour long-term exposures of illuminated bridges or the riverfront can be easily implemented. On the side of poi‐travel.de is embedded a map tool that calculates the position of the sun and indicates the direction (azimut) as a line – a real helper if you are looking for the perfect angle.
The monument is in the heart of downtown and honors the contributions of women from Indiana. The bronze sculpture in front of a mirroring water basin is particularly impressive when the light of the Blue Hour the surface to glitter. Opening hours: 24 hours, free admission. The best way to take pictures after sunset when the water reflects the colors of the sky. Insider tip: A short walk along the adjacent Main Street provides additional perspectives with historic buildings in the background.
A modern building with a glass facade, the light of Golden Hour breaks. The reflective panels create interesting patterns, especially when you work with a wide angle lens. Admission: 8 USD for adults, 5 USD for children; Opening hours 10–17, Tuesday to Sunday. Early in the morning the center is still empty, ideal for clear recordings without people. Insider tip: The roof offers a small viewpoint from which you can catch the Kokomo skyline across the park.
A narrow alley full of murals, graffiti and small galleries. The color is a dream during the Civil Twilightwhen the street lights illuminate the work of art. Free admission, accessible at any time. The best hours are shortly after sunset when the artificial light intensifies the colors, but still enough ambient light remains for details. Insider tip: Searching for the hidden mosaic bench behind the café “Bean & Brush” – a perfect foreground for portraits.
The historic square with the imposing court building and cobblestone streets offers classic architecture photography. During the Golden Hour the sunlight casts long shadows that emphasize the headstone plaster. Free admission, opening hours around the clock. The place is less frequented in the late afternoon, so you can get quiet recordings. Insider tip: The small fountain on the right of the town hall reflects the light particularly beautiful when you use a tripod.
A large city park with lake, hiking trails and an old railway bridge. The bridge is a popular spot for long term exposures during the Blue Hour. Free entrance, park is open daily from 6 am to 2 pm. The lake reflects the evening red when you photograph from the west side. Insider tip: The small wooden pavilion at the north end of the lake offers a quiet setting for portraits in counterlight.
A huge, colourful whale sculpture on the banks of the river, which is especially Sunset- Phase works. The contrast between the metal and the orange-red sky creates a strong image. Free admission, accessible 24 hours a day. The best way to take pictures is to take 20 minutes before sunset when the light emphasizes the contours. Insider tip: If you use a wide angle lens, you can include the river in the background and thus generate depth.
A simple monument with a bronze statue and a revolving plaque. The Light Civil Twilight makes the bronze slightly shimmer while the environment is still dark. Free admission, open at any time. The place is usually quiet, especially after 7 p.m. Insider tip: Use the nearby benches arrangement for an image with people in the foreground that underlines the message of the monument.
An artificial sandy beach on the edge of the city, which is frequented by families in the summer. During the Golden Hour the sunlight throws long shadow over the sand, ideal for silhouettes. Free admission, opening hours from 8 am to sunset. Early in the morning it is almost empty, perfect for quiet beach shooting. Insider tip: The small beach café right from the entrance has colorful umbrellas that serve as a colored accent in the picture.
A historic mansion from the founding period, surrounded by well-maintained gardens. The facade shines in the soft light of the Blue Hour** if the interior lighting appears through the windows. Admission: 5 USD for adults, 3 USD for children; Guided tours daily at 11 am and 2 pm. The garden is particularly photogenic in spring, but also in autumn the leaves offer beautiful colors. Insider tip: The small rose garden behind the house is a secret tip for close-ups of flowers in counterlight.
The largest park of the city with wide meadows, a small lake and old industrial buildings, which serve as ruins. The ruins provide dramatic silhouettes during the Sunset** phase. Free entrance, park is open daily from 6 am to 2 pm. The lake reflects the evening light especially well when you photograph from the east side. Insider tip: The old gravel road in the north of the park is ideal for long-term exposures of stars if you stay after the blue hour.
Kokomo combines historical architecture, modern art and extensive green spaces, so you can find varied photo motifs all year round. The light phases give each place its own character, and thanks to the free map tool, the optimal recording time can be easily planned. Pack your camera, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and bring some extraordinary pictures home.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
Here's how it works:
Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Kokomo, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
| Phase | Characteristics | Top attractions in Kokomo |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light with long shade – ideal for detail and architectural recordings. | Excelerator – Science Center, Kokomo Courthouse Square Historic District, Kokomo Beach |
| Sunset | Dramatic, colour-intensive light; Sky in red and orange tones. | Willie the Whale, Studebaker Park |
| Civil Twilight | Twilight after sunset, city lights begin to shine – good for silhouettes. | Artist Alley, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial |
| Blue Hour | Cool, deep blue light; ideal for long-term exposures and reflective surfaces. | Indiana Women’s Legacy Memorial, Foster Park, Seiberling Mansion |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Women’s Legacy Memorial | ISO 200 / f/4 / 1/60 s | Use a tripod and a light counterlight to glitter the water. |
| Excelerator – Science Center | ISO 100 / f/5.6 / 1/125 s | Use wide angle lens to capture the reflective glass surfaces. |
| Artist Alley | ISO 400 / f/2.8 / 1/30 s | set the street lights as the main light source; Focus on colored graffitis. |
| Kokomo Courthouse Square Historic District | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/80 s | Use the long shadow image of the building for dramatic compositions. |
| Foster Park (Old Railway Bridge) | ISO 400 / f/2 / 30 s (Stativ) | Long-term exposure with ND filters to soften the water. |
| Willie the Whale | ISO 100 / f/11 / 1/200 s | Photographers about 20 minutes before sunset to lift the metal against the orange-red sky. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial | ISO 800 / f/2.8 / 1/15 s | Use the shimmering bronze with weak ambient light; Tripod for stability. |
| Kokomo Beach | ISO 200 / f/5 / 1/100 s | Choose the golden sunset horizon in the background for silhouettes on the beach. |
| Beberling Mansion | ISO 200 / f/4 / 1/60 s (Stativ) | Concrete the illuminated windows; a light brightening/unshading filter can mitigate the blue line. |
| Studebaker Park (See & Ruins) | ISO 200 / f/9 / 1/250 s | Position yourself in such a way that the mirror image of the evening light in the lake reinforces the motif. |
However, Indianapolis is just a short drive away and offers a surprisingly wide spectrum of images: from the clear lines of the skyline to the weathered brick buildings in the Fountain Square district. The mix of modern architecture and old factory ruins sometimes seems overloaded, but this can create interesting contrasts.
A detour to Muncie is worthwhile if you are looking for abandoned industrial plants. There is an old textile work that is oversaturated by graffiti and the light breaks dramatically through broken windows. The mood is rather rough, but that makes the recordings authentic.
If you prefer to put nature in the foreground, go to Delphi. The small village is located on a river that forms a silvery band in spring. The old wooden bridges seem a bit shaky, but this gives the pictures a touch of transience.
Westfield has a surprisingly good offer of old barns surrounded by field flowers. The colors are not bright, rather covered, and the light in the late afternoon casts long shades that almost paint the picture.
A short stop in Warsaw brings you to an abandoned railway shed. The rusty tracks and the cracking wood tell stories without having to research a lot. It's okay, but not overrun – a plus for quiet recordings.
Noblesville is worth a look for fans of urban graffitis. There is an old warehouse painted by local artists. The colors are sometimes too bright, but you can balance this with counterlight and get an interesting game of light and color.
Peru is located on the Wabash River and offers a mix of historic buildings and modern cafés. The old brick buildings sometimes seem somewhat neglected, but this gives you the chance to use the decay as part of the picture.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
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