Fairmount is located in the heart of Indiana and has more to offer than you suspect at first glance. The small streets, the open field and a few surprising historical corners make the city a quiet playground for photographers. I like Fairmount because it is not overrun and you can experiment there almost undisturbedly. Here are some tips on how to get the best picture from this region.
The day begins with Civil Twilight, when the first city lights glow gently – ideal for silhouettes of the old brick buildings. For the warm, soft light is the Golden Hour your keyword; Search for “golden hour fairmount” in your lighting design app. The Sunset throws long shadows over the fields and lets the few high-rises glow in the distance. Shortly after that follows Blue Hourperfect for long-term exposures of illuminated roadways. On the side of poi‐travel.de Find a map tool that calculates the position of the sun and indicates the direction by line – azimuth and horizontal angles help you find the perfect angle.
The M3 Stuart is the highlight in Fairmount and has been in front of the Fairmount Historical Museum since 2023. The green tank acts particularly dramatically in counterlight because the metal plates reflect the light. Opening hours: Museum Tuesday-Saturday 10-16, free admission. Best photo time: early morning when the light comes from the east and throws long shadows. Insider tip: Use the nearby parking area for low angles – a wide angle lens captures the entire tank and the background.
The museum itself is a small brick building from the 1900s, which is photographically attractive with its red façade and the original wooden windows. Inside there are old tools and photos that almost seem mystical in light. Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday 10-17, Saturday 10-14, admission 3 USD. Ideal for shooting during the Blue Hour when the building is illuminated from the outside. Insider tip: The top floor roof window lets sun rays fall – a good motive for counterlight portraits.
Just a few kilometres south of Fairmount, the Jonesboro Community Park is located with a small lake, a wooden bridge and many trees. The lake reflects the evening red, which is particularly spectacular at the Golden Hour. Free entrance, park is open 24 hours a day. In the morning there are hardly any visitors, the water is still. Insider tip: Position on the west side of the lake to get the light from behind on the bridge – this creates silhouettes and reflections.
The historic cottage of Obadiah Jones, built in 1852, stands on the edge of Fairmount and is a rare example of early wood construction in the Middle West. The rough wood and the weathered roof provide texture for detailing. Opening hours: all year round, key can be picked up at the local visitor center, entrance 2 USD. The best time is the late afternoon light that falls through the surrounding trees. Insider tip: Use a macro lens to capture the grains in the wood – this gives the image depth.
The park in the neighboring town of Gas City is known for its wide meadows and the old railway bridge. The bridge forms a strong frame for landscape shooting, especially at sunset. Opening hours: daily 6-22, free admission. Fotografie‐Tip: The bridge is best to photograph from the south side when the sun falls behind it and the light falls through the arcs. Insider tip: Bring a tripod to make long-term exposures of flowing water under the bridge.
The bronze statue of the firefighter Garfield is located in the centre of Fairmount and is a popular meeting place. The metal shines with direct sunlight, while the surrounding benches donate shade. Opening hours: always accessible, no entrance. For a strong picture, the Blue Hour is recommended when the street lights gently illuminate the statue. Insider tip: Position slightly obliquely to the statue to highlight the contours of the face and leave the background slightly blurred.
The small petting zoo in Gas City offers animal motifs – goats, rabbits and a few ponies. The animals react well to noise, which allows spontaneous recordings. Opening hours: May-October, Tuesday-Sunday 10-17, admission 5 USD. The soft light in the late morning reduces hard shadows. Insider tip: Use a light telephoto lens to photograph the animals from the distance without disturbing them – this creates natural poses.
The monument on the edge of Fairmount honors the veterans of the region and consists of granite and a bronze inscription. The monument is particularly impressive when the light falls from the right and illuminates the inscription. Opening hours: 24 hours, free admission. The best time is the golden hour in the late afternoon when the light is warm and deep. Insider tip: Use a wide angle lens to capture the monument together with the wide sky – that conveys size and tranquility.
Fairmount is a quiet place where you can make high-quality recordings with little distraction. The mix of historical architecture, rural nature and a few surprising works of art offers the right motif for every light phase. Pack your camera, use the map tool for the position of the sun and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere – the result is pictures that tell more than just a place.
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 Fairmount, 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 Fairmount |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light, long shade, ideal for landscapes and silhouettes. | Jonesboro Community Park, American Legion Veteran’s Memorial |
| Sunset | Intensive red light, long shadow, dramatic sky. | City Park |
| Civil Twilight | Twilight before sunrise, gentle city lights, good silhouettes. | Fairmount Historical Museum |
| Blue Hour | Cool blue tones, artificial lighting, long-term exposures. | Fairmount Historical Museum, Firefighter Garfield Statue |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| M3 Stuart – Outdoor Tanks | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/125 s | Low angle with wide angle lens, early morning light for dramatic shadows. |
| Fairmount Historical Museum | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/60 s | Use the roof window for counterlight portraits, tripod for blue-hour recordings. |
| Jonesboro Community Park | ISO 100 / f/11 / 1/250 s | Position west of the lake to get the light from behind on the bridge. |
| Obadiah Jones Cabin | ISO 200 / f/4 / 1/200 s | Macro lens for wood massages, late afternoon light through trees. |
| City Park | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/30 s | Tripod for long-term exposure of flowing water under the bridge at sunset. |
| Firefighter Garfield Statue | ISO 800 / f/2.8 / 1/30 s | Blue stone, street lights, slightly oblique to the statue for contour concrete. |
| Gas City Petting Zoo | ISO 400 / f/5 / 1/250 s | Light telephoto lens, late morning lighting for soft shadows. |
| American Legion Veteran’s Memorial | ISO 200 / f/11 / 1/125 s | Wide angle, golden hour, light from right for inscription. |
Bloomington is not far away and looks like a Uni-Campus mosaic at first glance. The old brick buildings cast interesting shadows, especially in morning light. The nearby Lake Monroe offers quiet water surfaces that capture reflections of trees and sky – perfect for long-term exposures.
However, Indianapolis is a completely different beat. The glass and steel skyline is almost too modern for the rural Indiana, but this makes the contrast exciting. The Canal Walk is a narrow strip where you can photograph graffiti art and old brick structures next to each other.
Nashville, Indiana, is small, but not overlooked. The main road has a few old shops whose windows reflect the light of the 70s. The Ohio River in the background gives the whole a little distance, and at sunset there are often dramatic colors.
Colonial charm meets modern lines in Columbus. There are several Eames-inspired buildings that almost look like sculptures. The streets are clean, but sometimes a bit too tidy – you can take advantage of this to create clear, geometric compositions.
Madison is located on the southern shore of Ohio and has a historical neighborhood that looks almost like a set of films. The old brick houses with their sloping roofs give each picture a bit of nostalgia. The view from the Riverfront Park down to the city is a good motive when catching a little fog.
French Lick is a relic from the time of great resorts. The rusty neon lights at the old casino are almost romantically devastated today. If you use the light of the twilight, there are easily spooked recordings that do not see every tourist.
A short trip to New Albany, right across from Louisville, is worthwhile for street photography. The bridge over the Ohio offers not only a good panorama, but also interesting silhouettes of cars and people who rush across the street.
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