Crawfordsville is located in the heart of Indiana and has a surprisingly lively cultural scene. The small streets, historic buildings and the surrounding nature offer plenty of photo motifs. I like the city because it has a relaxed atmosphere and yet offers enough interesting details to discover. For hobby photographers, it is an underestimated gem – here it is easy to find an image that says more than a thousand words.
I plan to snap the best picture of the city by taking advantage of the different light phases. Civil Twilight provides the first shimmer of city lights, ideal for silhouettes. Golden Hour – the warm, soft light shortly after sunrise or before sunset – is my keyword for lighting planning. The Sunset over the few buildings creates dramatic colors that fit well into the sky. Blue Hour offers the perfect mood for long-term exposures of illuminated facades. On the page is embedded a map tool by poi‐travel.de, which calculates the position of the sun and indicates the direction by line; Azimut values help to determine the exact horizontal angle.
The central city park is a popular meeting place and offers a mix of old trees, a small lake and historical monuments. Especially photogenic is the old bridge over the brook, which almost seems mystical in the morning fog. Opening hours: daily from 6 am to midnight, free admission. Best time for recordings: spring when the cherry blossoms blossom, or in autumn when the foliage shines red and gold. Insider tip: On the northern edge there is a hidden viewpoint from which you can catch the entire park area at a wide angle.
The house of the famous author of “Ben-Hur” is a well-preserved example of Victorian architecture with a well maintained garden. The combination of brick facade and high trees in the foreground creates a classic image motif. Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10–17; Closed Monday and Sunday, admission 8 USD. Ideal for recordings during the Golden hour when the light illuminates the facades warm. Insider tip: The small shed behind the house has an original wooden sign, which comes particularly well in case of backlight.
A large city park with wide meadows, a playground and a modern swimming pool. The open sky makes it perfect for sky-to-earth compositions, especially at sunset. Opening hours: 7 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., free admission. The best photos are created in summer when the water in the basin reflects the light, or in winter when the frozen water provides a reflective surface. Insider tip: On the west side there is an old tree trunk log that serves as a natural frame for portraits.
This historic mansion from the pre-war period impresses with its imposing veranda and the well maintained garden area. The architecture delivers strong lines that have a particularly dramatic effect on counterlight. Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 11–16; Admission 5 USD. For the best light a visit is recommended shortly after sunrise when the house is in soft, golden light. Insider tip: Behind the house there is a small orchard whose flourishing apple trees offer a great colour play in spring.
A nature reserve with hiking trails along the Sugar Creek, which offers a red, orange and yellow colour play especially in autumn. The river stream produces beautiful reflections, ideal for long-term exposures during the Blue Hour. Free entrance, opening hours: daily from sunrise to sunset. Early in the morning, when the fog is above the water, there are almost fairytale recordings. Insider tip: The small wooden ridge on the eastern shore is a popular spot for silhouettes of people against the sky.
An unusual prison with a rotatable cell block – a real photo motif for fans of unusual architecture. The interior is well illuminated so that you can catch the spiral well. Opening hours: Friday and Saturday, 10–14; Admission 6 USD. The best time for recordings is the late afternoon sun that falls through the high windows and throws interesting shadows. Insider tip: On the roof there is a small sign with the founding year, which gives a beautiful silhouette image in counterlight.
The former Carnegie library building now houses a museum on the history of the region. The classic façade with columns and the large stairwell offer elegant image compositions. Opening hours: Wednesday to Friday, 9–17; Saturday, 10–16; Free admission. For an atmospheric picture, the golden hour is recommended when the light falls through the high windows. Insider tip: In the cellar there is an old typewriter that delivers a great retro motif with weak light.
Crawfordsville combines historical architecture, green parks and a relaxed little town feeling that gives photographers a lot of creative possibilities. Whether you're looking for the perfect sunset over the creek or for interesting city lights in the Blue Hour – here you'll find both. Pack your camera, use the map tool for the solar position and enjoy the friendly atmosphere that radiates the city.
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 Crawfordsville, 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 Crawfordsville |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light shortly after sunrise or before sunset – ideal for warm shades and long shades. | Fisher Park, General Lew Wallace Study and Museum, The Lane Place Antebellum Mansion, Carnegie Museum – Montgomery County History Center |
| Sunset | Dramatic colors in the sky, intense red/orange light over the buildings. | Milligan Park |
| Civil Twilight | First shimmer of city lights, good silhouettes. | Rotary Jail Museum, Sugar Creek Nature Park |
| Blue Hour | Cool blue tones, ideal for long-term exposures of illuminated facades. | Sugar Creek Nature Park |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Fisher Park – old bridge | ISO 200 / f/5.6 / 1/125 s | Use a tripod at dawn and set the focus manually on the bridge to capture mystical light. |
| General Lew Wallace Study and Museum | ISO 100 / f/8 / 1/60 s | Photographer the wooden sign behind the house in counterlight for dramatic silhouettes. |
| Milligan Park – West Side Log | ISO 400 / f/4 / 1/250 s | Set the log as a natural frame and use the golden hour for warm colors. |
| The Lane Place Antebellum Mansion | ISO 200 / f/5.6 / 1/80 s | Position in front of the veranda to highlight the lines in counterlight; early morning light gives soft shadows. |
| Sugar Creek Nature Park – wooden bridge | ISO 800 / f/2.8 / 10 s (Stativ) | Use the Blue Hour for long-term exposure; the web delivers silhouettes in front of the colored sky. |
| Rotary Jail Museum – umbrella | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/30 s | Photographer the sign in the backlight of the late afternoon sun for a strong silhouette motif. |
| Carnegie Museum – Montgomery County History Center | ISO 100 / f/11 / 1/50 s | Use the Golden hour to direct the light through the high windows into the staircase. |
However, Indianapolis is not only the capital, but also a collection of glass facades and brick buildings that give an interesting colour play at sunset. The Canal Walk offers calm water reflections, while the skyline is almost abstract in counterlight. A short stop at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument also provides a good motive for silhouettes.
West Lafayette looks like a college town at first glance, but the combination of the modern Purdue campus and the old industrial army on the Wabash River is surprisingly photogenic. The bridge over the river casts long shadows, and the old warehouses on the shore give a rough, almost industrial feeling.
Bloomington is a bit further, but the hilly landscape around the Monroe Lake is a real profit for landscape photographers. The lake reflects the changing light, and the surrounding forests provide dense, mossy textures. The campus of Indiana University has a few old brick buildings that work almost like a different time in the fog.
Turkey Run State Park is a place where nature is almost too loud. Close canyons framed by carnous trees create dramatic light and shadow games. The Sandstone rock above the Sugar Creek is a popular motif, especially when the water glistens.
Columbus is a bit like an open architecture museum. Modern buildings made of concrete and glass stand alongside classic government buildings. The clear lines of the buildings can easily be contrasted with the surrounding trees – a bit of minimalism in the image composition.
Frankfort, the capital of the state, has a rather quiet charm. The old courthouse with its dome is almost nostalgic, and the surrounding horse farms give a rural flair that is well suited for portraits or detail.
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