Mulberry is located in the middle of the rural Indiana and surprises with a mixture of woody campsites, small lakes and historic buildings. The city is relaxed, but the light here is anything but boring. I like Mulberry because you find an interesting motive almost everywhere, without long journeys. For photographers there are enough open areas for long-term exposures and enough details for close-ups. In short, who likes to play with light feels at home right away.
I plan the picture around Civil Twilight, when the first city lights are glowing. The Golden Hour I use for warm, soft light – a good search term if you set your camera app to “golden hour”. The Sunset over the few but striking buildings of the city center provides dramatic silhouettes. In Blue Hour I like to experiment with long-term exposures to reflect the colors of the sky in the water surfaces. The map tool of poi‐travel.de, which is embedded under this text, shows you the position of the sun, the azimuth and the exact times – practical to exactly plan the light phases.
The oldest active Scout camp in the region, surrounded by dense pines and a small lake. The wooden building with its rustic veranda offers great frames for sunrise and evening recordings. Opening hours: all year round, access free, but the camp area is open only for registered groups – visitors can enter the outdoor area without registration. Best time: Spring when the foliage is still light green, and at the blue hour when the water reflects the colors. Insider tip: The old wooden ridge at the north end of the lake is less frequented and provides clear reflections.
A popular campsite on the edge of the Mulberry Lake, known for its oversized metal fish sculpture. The sculpture has a particularly exciting effect in counterlight because the metal plates break the light. Entrance: free of charge, pitches cost between 10 € and 20 € per night depending on the season. Photo tip: photograph against the evening sun when the water glistens and the sculpture appears as a silhouette. Insider proof: The small wooden pavilion behind the sculpture is a quiet place for long-term exposures because there are hardly visitors.
A natural field with old tree trunks that serve as natural frames. Particularly in the autumn, when the foliage lights red-orange, dramatic contrasts arise. The area is open to the public, no entrance fee. Best lighting conditions: Golden hour in the late afternoon when the light falls through the treetops. Insider tip: The old shed in the south-west has a weathered roof that produces a beautiful light play in counterlight.
A restored neo-Gothic town house that dominates the cityscape of Mulberry. The high windows and the stonework offer interesting lines for architectural photography. Opening hours: Monday–Friday 9-17, free admission. The blue hour is recommended for outdoor shots because the illuminated building radiates in warm tones. Insider proof: The small porch with the old oaks is a hidden spot for detailed images of stone metaphors.
A converted classroom, which today serves as an art and photo workshop space. The original panels and high ceilings give the room an authentic flair. Visitors can visit the building free of charge during the public opening days (Saturday 10-14). The light through the large windows is ideal for indoor shooting during the golden hour. Insider tip: The back of the building has an old masonry, which comes particularly well at moonlight.
A small gallery that exhibits works by local artists, including many landscape and city recordings by Mulberry. The glass front lets daylight penetrate deep into the interior, which is useful for portrait and still-life photography. Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday 11-18am, free admission. The blue hour is recommended for outdoor shots because the illuminated shop window creates a warm light. Insider proof: In the backyard there is an old metal staircase that creates an interesting light and shadow play at night with a single flashlight.
A small hill with a rustic wooden deck that offers a wide view over the Mulberry Valley. The name comes from the many birds that nest here. The spot is freely accessible, no opening hours. The best moment is the blue hour when the valley is dipped in deep blue and the lights of the city look like points in the dark. Insider tip: The way to the deck leads through a small beech forest piece, which in autumn provides a colourful curtain motif.
Mulberry combines calm nature, historical buildings and surprising light moods that delight every photographer. Whether you are looking for the golden hour, planning long-term exposures in the blue hour or just want to make relaxed walks with camera in your hand – the city provides the right motives. Pack your equipment, use the poi‐travel.de card tool and enjoy a few days more than just photography, but also recreation.
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 Mulberry, 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 Mulberry |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light shortly after sunrise or before sunset | Camp George Cullom, Exploration Acres, Schoolhouse Project #1 |
| Sunset | Dramatic silhouettes, intense red to orange light | Big Fish‐N‐Campground, Castle Hall |
| Civil Twilight | First city lights, gentle blue twilight after sunset | Eagle's Nest, Castle Hall, Brandon C. Bass Art |
| Blue Hour | Deep blue light, ideal for long-term exposures and reflections | Camp George Cullom, Big Fish‐N‐Campground, Castle Hall, Brandon C. Bass Art, Eagle's Nest |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Camp George Cullom | 200 ISO / f/5.6 / 1/125 s (Golden Hour) – 800 ISO / f/4 / 30 s (Blue Hour) | Use the wooden bridge at the north end for clear water seals; a tripod is indispensable for long-term exposure. |
| Big Fish-N-Campground | 400 ISO / f/8 / 1/250 s (sunset) – 1600 ISO / f/2.8 / 20 s (Blue Hour) | photograph the metal sculpture against the evening sun; the wooden pavilion behind the sculpture offers quiet long-term exposures. |
| Exploration Acres | 100 ISO / f/4 / 1/200 s (Golden Hour) | Position yourself at the old shed in the southwest to use the counterlight for a dramatic light play. |
| Castle Hall | 200 ISO / f/5.6 / 1/100 s (Civil Twilight) – 800 ISO / f/4 / 15 s (Blue Hour) | The pre garden with the oaks provides interesting details; use a light ND filter for even exposure in the blue hour. |
| Schoolhouse Project #1 | 200 ISO / f/4 / 1/80 s (Golden Hour) | Photographers through the large windows to direct the warm light onto the original panels. |
| Brandon C. Bass Art | 400 ISO / f/5 / 1/60 s (Civil Twilight) – 1600 ISO / f/2.8 / 10 s (Blue Hour) | Use the glass front for reflective portraits; the old metal staircase in the backyard creates exciting shadows at night. |
| Eagle's Nest – viewpoint | 200 ISO / f/6.3 / 1/125 s (Civil Twilight) – 800 ISO / f/4 / 20 s (Blue Hour) | Choose the wooden deck for wide panoramas; a wide-angle lens captures the valley and the city lights optimally. |
Bloomington is just a short drive away and attracts with a mixture of campus architecture and wild nature. The campus itself is a bit too smooth for hard contrasts, but the adjacent hills and the nearby Lake Monroe offer reflective surfaces and dramatic sky, especially at sunset.
However, the true highlight for picture collectors is the Hoosier National Forest. There are old bees, weathered bridges and narrow paths that are almost always covered by fog. It's a little bit stubborn, but that gives the recordings character.
Bedford, the “Steinstadt”, has an industrial flair that you rarely find in Indiana. The old quarries and the rough cityscape create interesting textures. You can do both wide panoramic recordings and narrow details shots there.
A short trip to French Lick brings a little retro atmosphere. The old casinos and the abandoned hotel sometimes exaggerate, but the light falling through the broken windows almost creates a film feeling.
If you want rural idyll, go to Corydon. The small streets lined by old barns are quite relaxed. Especially in autumn, when the foliage dips the fields in gold, atmospheric compositions are created.
Brown County State Park is a bit touristy, but the forests there have a dense canopy that filters the light. The paths are sometimes full, yet you can find remote lights that almost look like hidden paintings.
In short, The surrounding area of Mulberry offers enough variety to fill the photo case – from urban charm to wild forest landscape, all within reach.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
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