Spring Hills is located on the shore of Lake Monroe and has a surprisingly varied cityscape. The mix of modern high-rise buildings, old industrial facilities and extensive green spaces makes the city a true playground for photographers. I especially like the calm light in the early morning, which the facades almost already dive in pastel. If you like to experiment with light and shadow, you're right here.
I plan to shoot the image that unites all four seasons of the city in one picture. I use the different light phases for this:
On this page a map tool by poi‐travel.de is embedded, which calculates the position of the sun and indicates the direction as a line. The azimuth (horizontal angle) can thus be determined exactly.
The pier projects like a long arm into the lake and offers a clear view of the skyline. Especially at sunset, the water reflects the orange-red light and creates dramatic reflections. Opening hours: all year round, 24 h. Entrance: free. Best time: 30 minutes before sunset for the golden reflection, then for the blue hour. Insider tip: Use the railing as the foreground to create depth, and set yourself slightly oblique to the sun azimuth that the map tool displays.
A huge open-air museum that combines works of art with natural landscape. The great sculptures, especially the “Sky Mirror”, capture the light of the Golden Hour and cast colored reflections on the grass. Opening hours: 9 o’clock–sunset. Entrance: $12 for adults, children free. Best time: shortly after sunrise for soft light, and again for blue hour for bright colors. Insider tip: The path along the small stream offers a natural frame element for portraits.
An oversized bone installation in Central Park, which is illuminated at night. The unusual design creates interesting shadows during the Blue Hour. Opening hours: 6 a.m.–22 a.m. Entrance: free. Best time: 20 minutes after sunset when the LED lighting starts. Insider tip: Position between the “ribs” to capture the light from both sides – the result almost surreal.
A hilly town park with old oaks and a small lake. The view from the highest point over the city is a classic for panoramic recordings. Opening hours: 5 a.m.–23 a.m. Entrance: free. Best time: Civil Twilight for the first lights of the city, later for the silhouette of the high houses. Insider tip: The wooden ridge at the lake acts as a natural foreground, especially if you use a wide angle lens.
Located on the edge of Spring Hills, the museum combines modern architecture with a spacious garden. The glass facade reflects the light of the Golden Hour and creates exciting patterns. Opening hours: 10 a.m.–5 a.m. (last inlet 4 a.m.). Entrance: $15, reduced $10. Best time: 45 minutes before sunset for the warm light, and after 20 minutes for the blue hour when the building is illuminated. Insider tip: The inner courtyard with the fountain is ideal for long-term exposures if you want to keep the water moving.
A wide avenue, lined with historic buildings and trees, which in autumn offers a colourful play. The road leads directly to the river where you can catch reflections of the city. Opening hours: around the clock. Entrance: free. Best time: Golden Hour for warm colors, later for the blue hour when the lanterns start. Insider tip: Use the headstone plaster as a texture in the foreground and set yourself in such a way that the sun is behind you in the azimut angle of the map tool.
A modern sports ground with bright LED lights that becomes an interesting place for night photography at night. The empty stands offer geometric lines that harmonize well with long-term exposures. Opening hours: 6 a.m.– midnight. Entrance: free. Best time: Blue Hour, when the field lights are on. Insider tip: Position yourself on the stands and photograph up to set the light beams against the dark sky.
Spring Hills combines urban modernity with lots of green and a series of art installations that make the light their friend. Whether you're looking for sunsets, blue hour or creative night shots, the city provides numerous photo stands. Pack your tripod, use the map tool for the exact azimuth and enjoy a relaxed photo holiday where something new is available every hour of the day.
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 Spring Hills, 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 Spring Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light shortly after sunrise or before sunset – ideal for colors and reflections. | Stratum Pier, The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, Newfields, West Mall |
| Sunset | Intensive orange-red light, long shadows, dramatic reflections in the water. | Stratum Pier, Newfields, West Mall |
| Civil Twilight | Twilight after sunset, city lights begin to shine – good for silhouettes. | Highwoods Park |
| Blue Hour | Cool blue tones, long exposure times, illuminated architecture and artwork. | Stratum Pier, The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, Funky Bones, Highwoods Park, Newfields, West Mall, Butler Athletic Fields |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Stratum Pier | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/125 s (Golden Hour) – ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 2 s (Blue Hour, Tripod) | Use the railing as a foreground, align the camera to the sun azimuth; for the blue hour a tripod and ND filter for soft water reflections. |
| The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park | ISO 100 / f/11 / 1/250 s (Golden Hour) – ISO 400 / f/4 / 5 s (Blue Hour, Tripod) | Position yourself on the “Sky Mirror” for colored reflections; for the blue hour long exposure for bright colors. |
| Funky Bones | ISO 800 / f/2.8 / 1/60 s (Blue Hour) | place between the “ribs” and use the LED light as the main light source; light brightening in reworking emphasizes the colors. |
| Highwoods Park | ISO 200 / f/9 / 1/200 s (Civil Twilight) – ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 2 s (Blue Hour, Tripod) | Photographers from the wooden ridge with wide angle; shoot for panorama several overlapping shots. |
| Newfields (Indianapolis Museum of Art) | ISO 100 / f/8 / 1/160 s (Golden Hour) – ISO 400 / f/4 / 3 s (Blue Hour, Tripod) | Use the glass facade for patterns; catch the fountain with long-term exposure (ND filter) in the courtyard. |
| West Mall | ISO 200 / f/7.1 / 1/125 s (Golden Hour) – ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 2 s (Blue Hour, Tripod) | Headstone plaster as texture, sun behind you in the azimuth angle; for the blue hour capture lantern light. |
| Butler Athletic Fields | ISO 800 / f/4 / 1/30 s (Blue Hour, tripod) | photographing up the stands to set light beams against the dark sky; Use LED lights as punctual light. |
Just a short trip to Indianapolis and you immediately have a whole arsenal of graffiti walls, rusted factory buildings and wide boulevards. The skyline sometimes looks too smooth, but the old warehouses in the Fountain Square district give enough rough charm for contrasty recordings.
However, the heart of Bloomington is not only the campus building. The small cafés along North Walnut Street, the headstone pavement and the surrounding hills offer surprisingly much texture. Especially in the case of fog, the light is almost tangible.
A short trip to Columbus brings you the famous “Crown Hill” – a slightly neglected hill with an old water tower. The view over the fields is wide, and the shades of the trees create an interesting pattern that is well suited for silhouettes.
If you want rural idyll, go to Brown County State Park. The paths are not always clean, but the devastating leaves and the old trees create an almost mystical atmosphere. Particularly in autumn, when the foliage turns, strong contrasts arise.
Nevertheless, it is worth a stop in Westfield. There is an old railway track that hasn't been used for years. The raw thresholds and the long straight track are a dream for line and perspective photography.
A short trip to Zionsville brings you a small but fine village centre with stone pavement and old lanterns. It sometimes acts somewhat overrun, but the small alleys behind the shops offer quiet corners for detail shots.
A short drive to Danville and you'll find the old prison building that now serves as a museum. The brick vault and the coarse metal grid give a strong industrial feeling that contrasts well with the surrounding green.
For something quite different: the small town of Shelbyville has an old railway bridge structure over the river. The water reflects the metal, and at sunset long, golden strips are created – perfect for long exposures.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
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