Fillmore is a small town in the heart of Indiana that surprises with wide avenues and historic buildings. For hobby photographers there are surprisingly many open areas and quiet corners that are well suited for compositions. I like the city because it is not overrun and the light is often clear and soft – perfect for spontaneous recordings.
I'm planning to snap the picture that captures the mood of the city. The Civil Twilight provides the first city lights, ideal for silhouettes. During the Golden Hour lets the warm light dip facades into a soft gold – just look for “Golden Hour Fillmore” in your lighting design app. The Sunset over the few buildings creates dramatic colors that reflect well into the sky. In Blue Hour you can turn the lights of the main road into flowing strips with long exposure. On the side of poi‐travel.de you will find a map tool that calculates the position of the sun and displays the direction (azimut) as a line – a real helper if you are looking for the perfect angle.
The museum is the cultural heart of Fillmore and shows exhibits on local history. The brick façade with its high windows offers a strong architectural motif, especially in counterlight during the Golden hour. Inside there is a small gallery that throws interesting shadows with weak light. Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10–17, free admission. Early in the morning, there's hardly any visitor, that gives you free view of the front. Insider tip: The small garden behind the museum captures the evening light especially beautifully – a quiet space for detailed photos of plants and sculptures.
This monument is centrally located on the market square and consists of a granite plate with engraved names. The simple shape is strong when the sun stands deep and produces long shades. The monument is accessible around the clock, entrance costs nothing. For a dramatic picture, the blue hour is recommended when the lighting of the square dips the monument into a cool light. Insider proof: From the opposite bank you get a slight reflection in the wet headstone plaster after a rain – a cool effect for night photography.
The park is the largest green area in the city, with wide lawns, a small lake and modern sports facilities. The wide view over the field is ideal for silhouettes of trees against sunset. Opening hours: daily 6–22, free admission. The lake reflects the light especially well during the Golden hour, so plan your shooting about 30 minutes before sunset. Insider tip: On the north side there is an old wooden boat that is almost always in the water – perfect for romantic compositions.
The outdoor amphitheater is located on the edge of the city centre and offers a slightly elevated stage overlooking the park. The wooden stands and the open roof create interesting lines that emerge particularly strongly in the case of counterlight. Opening hours: from sunrise to sunset, free admission. For recordings of crowds during an event, the blue hour is ideal because the artificial light of the headlights merges with the natural dam light. Insider proof: On the left there is an old oak whose ast crown forms a natural frame element.
This small half-timbered bridge spreads over a quiet brook in the south of Fillmore. The wooden frame and the clear water create a classic image motif, which looks almost fairytale in fog. The bridge is open 24 hours, no entrance. The best time for photos is shortly after sunrise when the light gently falls on the wood and the water slightly shimmers. Insider tip: When you photograph after rain, the water remains on the stones and reflects the light – a simple way to generate depth.
The municipal center is a modern building with large glass fronts and a striking metal facade. The clear geometry can be used well in abstract compositions, especially when the sunlight breaks through the windows. Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8–18, free admission. For a picture with strong reflections, the blue hour is recommended when the interior lighting brings the glass to light. Insider proof: On the roof there is a small solar panel that creates an interesting light game at sunset.
The Trailhead is the starting point for several hiking and cycling trails, surrounded by trees and small sculptures. The path leads to a small light that is lined by wild flowers in the summer – a colourful background for portraits. Opening hours: daily 5–23, free admission. The Golden Hour provides a warm light that brings the flowers to light. Insider tip: At the end of the path there is an old wooden ridge, which swings slightly with slight wind – a dynamic element for motion recordings.
A small town park with a playground, a pond and a historic clock. The watch is a popular photo motif because it is illuminated at night. The park is accessible 24 hours a day, free admission. For night recordings, the blue hour is recommended if the clock is not yet fully lit, but the ambient light is already damped. Insider proof: On the west side of the pond there is an old wooden horse that looks almost silver at moonlight – perfect for long-term exposures.
Fillmore may be small, but the mix of historical buildings, open green spaces and quiet waterways delivers enough photo motifs for a whole weekend. With the poi‐travel.de map tool, you can exactly plan the light and get the best out of every hour. Pack your camera, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and get inspired by the simple but effective scenes.
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 Fillmore, 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 Fillmore |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light dips facades and water surfaces in gold; ideal for detail and landscape recordings. | Putnam County Museum, Big Walnut Sports Park, People Pathways Trailhead Park |
| Sunset | Dramatic colors, long shadows; Silhouettes over wide green areas. | Big Walnut Sports Park |
| Civil Twilight | First city lights, soft twilight; good for silhouettes and light counterlight effects. | World War I Memorial |
| Blue Hour | Cool, diffuse light; ideal for long-term exposures and illuminated monuments. | World War I Memorial, Robe Ann Park Amphitheater, McAnally Center, Jaycee Park |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Putnam County Museum | ISO 100 / f/8 / 1/200 s | Use counter light to highlight the brick structure; Focus on the front façade, background slightly unsharp. |
| Big Walnut Sports Park (See) | ISO 200 / f/11 / 1/125 s | Position the wooden boat in the foreground and use the reflective water for reflections. |
| People Pathways Trailhead Park | ISO 100 / f/5.6 / 1/250 s | Use a light pole filter to reduce reflections. |
| World War I Memorial | ISO 400 / f/4 / 2 s (Stativ) | Use an ND filter to emphasize the wet headstone plaster after rain; Long-term for light tracks. |
| Robe Ann Park Amphitheater | ISO 800 / f/2.8 / 5 s (Stativ) | Use stage lighting as main light source; Foreground with the old oak frame. |
| McAnally Center | ISO 200 / f/9 / 1/60 s (Stativ) | Start the glass reflections when the inner light is lit; use a Tilt-Shift lens for abstract lines. |
| Jaycee Park (watch) | ISO 640 / f/2.0 / 10 s (Stativ) | Start the exposure shortly after sunset to show the clock in the half-dark; use a light sword for creative light tracks. |
Bloomington is not far away and has a quite loose campus feeling. The old brick buildings of the university give beautiful lines, especially when the light comes from behind. On the nearby Lake Monroe you can catch a few calm water reflections.
However, Indianapolis looks more like a mix of high-rise silhouette and broad suburbs. The Monument Circle with its imposing column is a classic motif that can be photographed from different angles. Street art in the Mass Ave district is sometimes surprisingly good when you find the right angle.
Columbus is a bit smaller, but the modern architecture there is a real eye-catcher. The houses inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright have clear shapes, which are almost abstract in contrast. The nearby Hoosier River then offers a few quiet scenes when the water stands still.
Nevertheless, the town of Madison on the Ohio River has its own charm. The old brick houses on the river banks form an almost cinematic panorama. When the light falls over the water, long shadows arise which make the image more interesting.
Short trip to French Lick and you will find a little retro atmosphere there. The old casino building has a slightly rusted shield that almost seems poetic in the twilight. The surrounding forest is not too crowded, so you can also make a few natural recordings there.
A bit further south is Bedford, which looks more industrial. The old quarries and the rough factory grounds give a completely different feeling than the rural fields around Fillmore. If you have a bit of patience, you can find interesting textures and patterns there.
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