Selma is located directly on the White River and at first glance looks like a quiet suburban piece, but it offers lots of pictures. I like the city because it is rarely overrun and you can experiment with the camera almost undisturbed. The mix of nature, small historical buildings and the river makes Selma an underestimated spot for photography lovers. Who after interesting Sightseeing in Selma searches, finds both open green spaces and hidden works of art. For me, the light here is the real highlight.
I plan the shooting around the four most important light phases. The Civil Twilight begin to glow the first city lights – perfect for silhouettes on the river. The Golden Hour provides warm, soft light, which acts particularly well on the wooden facades of the old barns. The Sunset over the few high-rise buildings in the north produces dramatic colors that are reflected in the water. And Blue Hour is ideal for long-term exposures when the blue of the sky plays with the first lights of the road. On the side of poi‐travel.de there is a map tool that calculates the position of the sun and indicates the direction as a line – azimut values help to determine the exact angle for the motif.
This forest area is central Landmark for nature lovers and photographers. In autumn, the dense trees form a colourful game of red and gold tones, which is ideal for panoramic recordings. The small hiking trail leads to a viewpoint from which you can see the river in the morning fog – a dream for long-term exposures. Opening hours: 24 hours, free admission. Best time: Early morning during the Civil Twilight when the light breaks through the canopy. Insider tip: A small remote trigger and an ND filter make the water silky without having to stand too long.
The wetland is another Landmark, which is rarely overrun by tourists. There are numerous species of birds, whose silhouettes are particularly impressive in counterlight. The roundabout is well signposted so you can quickly get to the best photo positions. Opening hours: 6 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., free admission. Best time: Golden Hour when the light dips the water surfaces into warm gold. Insider tip: A telephoto lens captures the details of the birds, while a wide angle emphasizes the wide landscape.
Camp Redwing is a historical youth camp that today serves as a public recreation area – an unusual Landmark for architecture photography. The old wooden buildings with their colorful curtains offer colorful contrasts to the surrounding fields. The terrain is easily accessible and has a small playground that provides lively scenes in the background. Opening hours: 7 am to 8 pm, free admission. Best time: Blue Hour when the lights in the camp create a warm light. Insider tip: Use a tripod and experiment with traces of light from playing children.
The park is a small but fine Landmark with a historic pavilion and a small lake. In spring the cherry trees flower on the shore, which provides a romantic motif for portraits. The lake reflects the light of dusk, ideal for reflections. Opening hours: 6 am to 9 pm, free admission. Best time: sunset when the water shines in pastel colors. Insider tip: A pole filter reduces reflections and makes the colors appear more intense.
This neo-Gothic mansion is the most striking Landmark in the centre of Selma. The towers and the weathered framework offer dramatic lines that have a particularly strong effect on counterlight. The property is surrounded by a small garden, full of flowers in spring. Opening hours: only from outside, round the clock, free admission. Best time: Civil Twilight when the house is surrounded by the first lights. Insider tip: A wide-angle lens captures the entire silhouette, while a bright flash highlights the details in the shadow.
The park is located directly on the river and is a popular Landmark for urban and landscape photography. The wooden bridge over the river offers a natural frame for recordings of passing boats. In summer there are often small concerts that create additional light sources. Opening hours: 5 a.m. to 11 a.m., free admission. Best time: Blue Hour when the water reflects the blue skylight. Insider tip: A long exposure period with an ND filter produces smooth water surfaces that almost look like a painting.
A little off but still an interesting Landmark for animal photography. The protected area houses wild turkeys that are active in dawn. The open meadow offers wide viewing lines, ideal for silhouettes. Opening hours: 6 am to 8 pm, free admission. Best time: Civil Twilight when the birds are in the opposite light. Insider tip: A fast autofocus lens captures the fast movements while a light tripod provides stable shots.
Selma combines calm nature, historical buildings and open spaces, so that every light phase opens up new possibilities. The Sightseeing in Selma are easily accessible, mostly free and provide enough space for creative experiments. Those who use the right timing and a few practical tricks can create pictures that both technically and atmospherically convince.
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 Selma, 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 Selma |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light, ideal for color depth and texture. | John Craddock Wetlands Nature Preserve |
| Sunset | Dramatic colors, long shadows, reflections in the water. | Aultshire Park |
| Civil Twilight | First city lights, gentle blue to violet tones, good silhouettes. | White River Woods, Castle House, Southside Turkey Sanctuary |
| Blue Hour | Cool blue, ideal for long-term exposures and light tracks. | Camp Redwing, Riverview Park |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| White River Woods | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/125 s | Use an ND filter for silky running water at longer exposures. |
| John Craddock Wetlands Nature Preserve | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/250 s | Telephoto lens for bird silhouettes; Counterlight emphasizes the springs. |
| Camp Redwing | ISO 800 / f/4 / 30 s (Stativ) | Use a tripod and experiment with light tracks of the playing children. |
| Aultshire Park | ISO 100 / f/11 / 1/60 s | Polfilter reduces reflections on the lake and intensifies shades. |
| Castle | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/80 s | Wide angle for silhouette, brightened lightning highlights details in the shade. |
| Riverview Park | ISO 200 / f/9 / 10 s (Stativ + ND) | Long-term exposure produces smooth water surfaces, light tracks from boats. |
| Camp Redwing | ISO 800 / f/4 / 30 s (Stativ) | Use the tripod and capture light tracks of the playing children. |
| Sanctuary | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/500 s | Fast autofocus captures the flying turkeys in counterlight. |
Greenfield is just a short drive away and has a small old town that attracts with brick pavement and an old court building. The light conditions in the early morning are often surprisingly soft, ideal for street scenes. There you will find some abandoned warehouses that radiate a little rough charm.
However, Danville is not only known for its bridge – the calm atmosphere on the river banks can be captured well in long-term exposures. The city has a few colorful murals that almost blur in counterlight. Perfect if you want to put some color in the recordings.
Columbus is a bit bigger, but the architecture is the real highlight. There are several buildings of famous architects who play with concrete and glass. The shapes look almost like sculptures, and with fog the whole gets an almost surreal touch.
Nevertheless, a trip to New Castle is worth it. The main road has old lighting complaints that still work, and a shutdown station building that almost looks like a film set. Interesting shadows arise there, especially when dusk.
Shelbyville offers wide fields and horse farms that look a bit dusty in the summer. The barns with their peeling colors give good textures for detail. It is also possible to capture the typical Indiana pastures that swing easily in the wind.
In short, Brown County is a forest area that is well suited for nature photography. The hills are not high, but the trees form a dense canopy that leaves a warm light in autumn. Small wooden huts scattered in the forest give a little rustic flair.
Zionsville looks like a small village from another time. The headstone pavement roads and the old lanterns are a good motive for nightly recordings. It's okay, a bit overrun, but the atmosphere remains relaxed enough to find calm compositions.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
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