Sims is located in the heart of Indiana and surprises with a mix of historical architecture and modern leisure areas. The city is small enough to explore it on foot, but big enough to discover new photo motifs again and again. Especially the light moods in the sky give each image the certain something. I like Sims because people are friendly here and the environment is almost untouched – perfect for relaxed shooting sessions.
I plan the shooting around the four most important light phases. The Civil Twilight slowly awakens the city, the first lights flicker and the soft blue leaves buildings almost float. The Golden Hour provides warm, diffuse light – a must-search term for lighting planning, if you want to capture the warm lights over the historic façades. The Sunset over the few high-rise buildings creates dramatic silhouettes that are well suited for panoramic recordings. In Blue Hour you can turn the city lights into flowing strips with long-term exposures. The map tool by poi‐travel.de, embedded under this text, shows you exactly the position of the sun, the direction (azimuth) and the time windows – a real game-changer for your image composition.
The Clear Water Park is the highlight for water and action photography. With its bright blue basins, the sparkling fountains and the modern slide complex, it offers colour-intensive contrasts, especially with backlight during the late afternoon sun. The surrounding green areas and the small café on the lake provide quiet backgrounds if you want to hold the water in a quiet reflection. The park is well maintained, the staff is helpful and there are several viewing points that are ideal for drone recordings.
The Greentown Historical Society preserves the heritage of Sims in a restored Victorian building. Inside there are original furniture, old photographs and handwritten documents that provide great details for macro and documentary photography. On the outside, the brick façade impresses with artistic ornaments, which act almost like sculptures in counterlight. Especially in the autumn, when the foliage shines in gold and red, there is an atmospheric picture that combines history and nature.
The Riverwalk stretches along the Sims River and combines urban elements with a natural environment. The wooden bridges, which lead over calm water surfaces, create beautiful line guides that are well suited for minimal compositions. In the case of rain, a mirror-like river is created that doubles the cityscape – a dream for long-term exposures. In spring the trees sprinkled on the shore, which gives the image additional shades.
The Clock Tower in the centre of Sims is a striking landmark that has shaped the skyline for over a century. The silver metal structure reflects the sunlight and produces a warm glow at sunset. The surrounding cobbled streets and the small cafés give the picture a charming context. At night, when the watch shines, a atmospheric motif for night photography is created.
The Riverside Bridge is a modern steel construction spanning the Sims River. The slender arches and the open grating create interesting shadow patterns, which emerge particularly strongly with lateral sun. For long-term exposures, the flowing water can be caught under the bridge while the city lights glow over it. The bridge is a popular spot for silhouette recordings of people or bicycles.
The Sims Art Museum houses a changing collection of contemporary art while offering an architecturally interesting building. The glass facade reflects the surrounding cityscape and makes the museum look almost like a part of the surroundings. Inside there are large open halls with high ceilings that are well suited for architectural photography. At night, the facade is illuminated, which creates a strong contrast between light and shadow.
Sims combines historical atmosphere with modern leisure activities and offers a wide range of photo motifs. Whether you are looking for atmospheric city lights, quiet natural reflections or architectural details – the city provides. With the poi‐travel.de map tool, you plan your light phases exactly and use every minute for the perfect picture. Pack your camera, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and let yourself be surprised by the changing moods of light.
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 Sims, 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 Sims |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, diffuse light – ideal for warm shades and detail. | Greentown Historical Society, Downtown Sims Clock Tower, Sims Art Museum |
| Sunset | Dramatic silhouettes, long shadows, intense colors. | Clear Water Park, Downtown Sims Clock Tower, Riverside Bridge |
| Civil Twilight | Soft blue light after sunset – city lights begin to shine. | Sims Riverwalk, Riverside Bridge, Clear Water Park (Laest afternoon sun) |
| Blue Hour | Clear blue, ideal for long-term exposures and light tracks. | Sims Riverwalk, Riverside Bridge, Downtown Sims Clock Tower, Clear Water Park (Steg) |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Water Park | ISO 200 – 400 / f/5.6 – f/8 / 1/250 s | Use the counterlight at the Nordsteig for silhouettes; a pole filter reduces reflections in the water. |
| Greentown Historical Society | ISO 100 – 200 / f/4 / 1/125 s | Photographers the brick facade in the backlight of the Golden Hour; a light Tilt-Shift ensures architectural clarity. |
| Sims Riverwalk | ISO 400 – 800 / f/2.8 – f/4 / 10‐30 s (Stativ) | Use an ND filter to soften the flowing water; select the viewpoint at the old mill for panoramic shots. |
| Downtown Sims Clock Tower | ISO 200 – 400 / f/5.6 / 1/200 s | Compose the clock in the foreground with the empty space behind it; at Blue Hour a light bokeh creates a atmospheric picture. |
| Riverside Bridge | ISO 800 – 1600 / f/2.8 / 15‐25 s (Stativ) | Use the lateral sun for strong shadow patterns; a long-term expoure captures the traces of light above the river. |
| Sims Art Museum | ISO 100 – 200 / f/8 – f/11 / 1/160 s | photographer the glass facade during the Golden Hour for reflections; the roof terrace café provides detailed photos at sunset. |
Mississinewa Lake is just a short drive away. The water reflects the sky, especially in early morning light. I have made some quiet pictures of fog over the surface there – the result is almost meditative, but without much hustle and bustle.
However, the town of Marion has a few surprising corners. The old court building with its red brick façade is sturdy, while the surrounding stone pavement roads give a light vintage feeling. Perfect for recordings that let a bit of history breathe.
Kokomo surprises with a mixture of industry and art. On the sides of the main street hang large murals that put colored contrasts to the gray factory buildings. I found the interplay of rough metal structures and vivid colors quite exciting for a picture.
In short, Muncie has more to offer than just the university. The old brick buildings on campus cast interesting shadows, especially when the sun is deep. A few shots from the weathered windows give the whole a slightly melancholic touch.
Peru is located on the banks of the Wabash River. The old bridge there is a popular motif because it is reflected in the water when the level is low. I have made an image in which the light breaks through the steel beams – almost looks like a pattern of light and shadow.
Sweetser is small, but the old train station there has character. The wooden cladding is worn, the roof slightly sloping, and the whole looks like it's telling stories. For someone who likes to photograph abandoned places, this is a good goal.
Anderson has a bit of both: a few Art-Deco buildings in the city centre and a river running through the city. I made a picture of the curved facades that almost looks like a film set when the light falls right.
Gas City is not big, but the old gas station signs along the main road give a nostalgic flair. A short stop there, play a bit with the angle, and you have an image that reminds of the 50s without having to look too cheesy.
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