Wynnedale is a small but charming neighborhood in the north of Indianapolis. The mix of old brick houses and modern green areas makes it a underestimated photo motif. I like the city because it is surprisingly quiet, but still offers enough architectural details to deal with the trigger. For a photo walk, one day is enough to capture the best light moments.
I plan to snap the picture that shows both the skyline and the quiet city life. I use the different light phases for this:
On this page there is a map tool by poi‐travel.de, which calculates the position of the sun and indicates the direction as a line. Azimut values can be entered there and thus set the exact alignment for the desired light.
The park is located directly on the border with Wynnedale and combines sculptures with extensive meadows. Especially the large metal structure “Above and Below” has a spectacular counterlight. Opening hours: daily 10–17, free admission. Best photo time: shortly after sunrise when the light dips the grasses into gold. Insider tip: a short walk to the small lake in the south gives reflections that strengthen the blue of the Blue Hour.
The museum itself is an architectural highlight, the outdoor facilities offer numerous angles. The atrium with its glass ceiling captures the light of the Golden Hour particularly well. Admission: $15 for adults, $12 for students, free on Sundays. Photo tip: Use the main gate in the west garden at about 6 pm when the building is immersed in warm light.
A small but fine city park with old oaks and a small brook. The wooden ridge above the water is a popular spot for long-term exposures. Opening hours: 6–22, no entrance. Ideal for Blue Hour because the water reflects the sky blue. Local note: The park is less visited on Wednesday night, so you can work undisturbed.
A modern amusement park on the river, which offers a viewing platform in addition to climbing facilities. The platform gives a wide view over the river and the skyline of Wynnedale. Entrance: $8, opening hours 9–19. For the best picture: Civil Twilight when the first lights glisten on the river. Tip: Bring a tripod because the platform is slightly shaking.
The historical district consists of well-preserved bungalows from the 1920s. The red brick facades and the small pre-gardens offer charming compositions. Free admission, accessible at any time. Golden Hour provides warm shades that emphasize the facades. Insider: The small café garden on Main Street has an old lantern that produces a beautiful bokeh at night.
A modern building with a glass facade that is well suited for reflections. The atrium is bright during the day, in the evening it reflects the city lights. Opening hours: 8–20, free admission. For a picture with city lights in the background: Civil Twilight when the light penetrates from the windows to the outside. Tip: The parking space behind the center has an interesting concrete structure that can serve as a foreground.
A short walk along the White River, lined with trees and small sculptures. The path leads over an old stone bridge, which is particularly photogenic in counterlight. Opening hours: around the clock, no entrance. Blue Hour provides a calm picture when the water reflects the sky blue. Note: On weekends there is sometimes a small street music ensemble that provides an additional atmosphere.
Wynnedale combines quiet residential streets with surprising art and nature scenery. For photographers there is a new light at any time of the day that sets the city in the scene. With these tips and the map tool you can plan the perfect picture without guessing for hours.
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 Wynnedale, 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 Wynnedale |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light shortly after sunrise or before sunset; ideal for colors and silhouettes. | Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, Newfields, Wynnedale Historic District |
| Sunset | Intensive, gold-red tones, long shadows; atmospheric for city views. | Newfields (Westgarten), Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park (South Sea) |
| Civil Twilight | Twilight after sunset, first lights of the city glow; good for silhouettes. | Riverside Adventure Park, Wynnedale Community Center |
| Blue Hour | Cool, deep blue light shortly after sunset; ideal for long term exposures and reflections. | Highwoods Park, Wynnedale Riverwalk, Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park (small lake) |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/125 s | Use the metal framework “Above and Below” as the foreground; with Blue Hour a tripod and 30 s exposure time. |
| Newfields (Indianapolis Museum of Art) | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/250 s | Photograph the atrium against the sun; use a light counterlight for the West Garden Gate at sunset. |
| Highwoods Park | ISO 800 / f/4 / 10 s (Stativ) | positioning the wooden web in the center of the image; use ND filter to soften the water. |
| Riverside Adventure Park | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/200 s | catch the river in the background on the viewing platform; at Civil Twilight use the tripod for 5‐s exposure. |
| Wynnedale Historic District | ISO 200 / f/11 / 1/160 s | concrete brick facades with lateral light; use the old lantern in the café garden for bokeh effects at night. |
| Wynnedale Community Center | ISO 400 / f/8 / 1/100 s | Spiegle the glass facade; use the light from the windows as a silhouette at Civil Twilight. |
| Wynnedale Riverwalk | ISO 800 / f/2.8 / 15 s (Stativ) | Catch the stone bridge in counterlight; while the Blue Hour uses the reflective water for long exposures. |
However, Indianapolis is not only the capital, but also a collection of graffiti walls, abandoned factory buildings and modern glass facades – perfect for contrasts. The Fountain Square district sometimes exaggerates, but the narrow streets with their colourful Murals offer surprising details when you look closely.
Short drive to Carmel leads you to the Arts & Design District. There are scurry sculptures in the park, which almost shine at sunset. Sometimes the whole thing works a bit cheesy, but the play of light and shadow can be captured well.
Zionsville, the small “Village” with headstone plaster, is quite relaxed. The old wooden houses and the quiet main business district give a nostalgic feeling. If you wait for a little rain, there are beautiful reflections in the puddies.
Fishers has an old railway tractor that has been in the field for years. The picture looks almost like a forgotten relic from another time. A little fog over it, and you have an atmospheric motive.
Westfield offers the “Riverside Park” with a wide river run that winds through wide meadows. The bridges there are not particularly spectacular, but the calm water reflects the sky – ideal for long-term exposures.
Noblesville has an old industrial area that is now overrun by graffiti and wild plants. The combination of rusty metal and green sometimes seems chaotic, but that's exactly what you're looking for an urban-natural picture.
If you're looking for something in the countryside, go to Greenfield. There is a field with old barns that are broken through by sunlight in the summer. The scene is simple, but the game of light and shadow can be really exciting.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
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