McCordsville is located just south-east of Indianapolis and at first glance looks like a quiet suburban town. Nevertheless, there are surprisingly many open areas, waterways and small art islands that are perfect for hobby and advanced photographers. I like the city because it is not overrun and you can catch almost everywhere undisturbed light moods. Anyone who likes to work with natural light quickly finds a motive that becomes more than just a snapshot.
I plan to shoot the image that shows the city in its most beautiful light phase. The Civil Twilight awakens the cityscape, the first lights flicker and the blue of the sky is still deep. The Golden Hour provides warm, soft light – the keyword for my lighting is “golden hour McCordsville”. Shortly before sunset, when the clouds are above the few buildings, a more dramatic one is created Sunset- Effect. The Blue Hour is ideal for long-term exposures of illuminated bridges and the river. The map tool of poi‐travel.de, embedded under this text, shows the position of the sun, the exact line to the sun and the azimuth angle, so that I can exactly plan the orientation of my camera.
The Waterside Trail stretches along the White River and offers wide lines of view of the water that shimmers silbrig in the morning light. Particularly photogenic is the small wooden bridge, which acts almost as a frame in counterlight. The trail is open all year round, opening hours: 24 hours, admission: free. For the best picture it is recommended to have an appearance Civil Twilightwhen the water is still smooth and the city lights begin to shine. Insider tip: A short trip to the adjacent gravel path gives you a quiet foreground element for long-term exposures.
Sports Park is the largest open space in the city and houses football fields, a skate park and a small amphitheater. The wide lawn areas reflect the evening red particularly well, while the modern grandstands seem almost futuristic in counterlight. Opening hours: 6 am – 10 pm, entrance: free. The Golden Hour over the fields of play creates long shadows, bringing the depth into the picture. If you are a fan of night photography, try Blue Hour – the illuminated playgrounds form an interesting pattern. Local note: The small kiosk at the entrance has a warm light in the evening, which serves as a natural spot for portraits.
Bee Camp Creek is a small but picturesque brook that flows through a forested route. The water passes over stones, and in autumn the trees are coloured in rich red and yellow shades. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, entrance: free. A tripod and the Blue Hourwhen the light is soft and the water is almost black. Locals say that the small wooden deck on the eastern shore offers the best foreground element for silhouettes.
This small gallery in the city center shows local artists and has a simple glass front that allows the daylight. The play of light and shadow on the exhibited frame is an underestimated photo motif. Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm, admission: free. The Golden Hour lets the glass front dip into warm light, ideal for interiors with natural lighting. Tip from the owner: On Wednesday there is a short guided tour where the light is deliberately directed to certain artworks – perfect for detailed recordings.
Although the park is technically located in Fishers, it is just minutes away from McCordsville and offers a wide view of the spirit reservoir. The promenade that leads over the water is a magnet for photographers especially at sunset. Opening hours: 5 a.m. – 23 a.m., admission: free. The Sunset-Stimmation over the water creates a spectacular color play that is well suited for panoramic recordings. Insider proof: The small bridge at the southern end has a railing that serves as a natural foreground for reflections.
The park honors the veterans of the region and has a central monument surrounded by well maintained lawns and trees. The monument is illuminated at night, making it an interesting motif for Night Photography do. Opening hours: 24 hours, entrance: free. For an image with a dramatic sky, the Blue Hourwhen the light gets soft behind the trees. A local tip: The small rose garden in the northern part blossoms in late spring and offers coloured accents for portraits.
AgriPark is an agricultural experience museum with old barns, tractors and a small market. The rustic buildings and the open field offer classic rural photo motifs. Opening hours: Saturday – Sunday 9 am – 5 pm, admission: free. The Golden Hour lets the wood of the barns dip into warm gold while the fields gently float in the background. Practical note: The parking lot has an elevated viewpoint from which you can overlook the entire terrain – ideal for drone recordings (if allowed).
McCordsville may look small, but the combination of open green areas, waterways and a few hidden art islands makes the city an underestimated photo paradise. Whether you're after the perfect Golden Hour-Landscape, a quiet Blue Hour- Long-term exposure or an urban detail – here you will find everything without long journeys. Pack your camera, use the poi‐travel.de card tool and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere that makes every image a bit more authentic.
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 McCordsville, 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 McCordsville |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light with long shade – ideal for landscapes and architecture. | McCordsville Sports Park, Custom Framing and Fine Art Gallery, Fishers AgriPark |
| Sunset | Intensive colour play, dramatic sky over water surfaces. | Spirit Waterfront Park |
| Civil Twilight | Insulation light, first city light, calm water surface. | Waterside Trail |
| Blue Hour | Cool, deep blue, long exposure times for light tracks. | McCordsville Sports Park, Bee Camp Creek Trailhead Park, Veterans Memorial Park |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| McCordsville Sports Park | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/250 s | Use the counterlight of the stands for silhouettes; keep the focus on the foreground for depth. |
| Custom Framing and Fine Art Gallery | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/125 s | Position yourself in such a way that the sunlight falls through the glass front; use a light pole filter to minimize reflections. |
| Fishers Agripark | ISO 100 / f/11 / 1/500 s | Catch the warm illuminated barns; a light telephoto lens compresses the scene. |
| Bee Camp Creek Trailhead Park | ISO 800 / f/4 / 10 s (Stativ) | Use a long-term exposure for silky-smooth water. |
| Veterans Memorial Park | ISO 640 / f/2.8 / 8 s (Stativ) | Start the illuminated monument; use Light-Painting to emphasize the sky. |
| McCordsville Sports Park (Night) | ISO 1600 / f/2.0 / 15 s (Stativ) | Use the illuminated play fields for patterns; place the white balance on “art light”. |
However, the small carmel is not only known for its shopping passage – the old brick houses along Main Street give off a good piece of midwestern charm, perfect for street scenes with a bit of nostalgia.
In Fishers there is an old industrial building that now serves as a loft complex. The rusty metal straps and the spicy light through the high windows create a rough game of shadow that photographers like to exploit.
The city centre of Noblesville sometimes looks over, but that's what makes them interesting. The combination of historical façades and modern graffiti artworks provides contrasts that are not found every day.
A short trip to Anderson leads to an abandoned station depot. The rusted rails and the crunchy wood create a melancholic mood that fits well with black and white recordings.
Nevertheless, a stop at the White River State Park in Indianapolis is worthwhile if you want to bring nature and city together. The river reflects the light in the evening while the skyline silhouette appears in the background.
In short, The Fountain Square neighborhood in Indianapolis is a bit chaotic, but the colorful Murals and the old theatre halls offer enough visual incentives to create some unusual picture compositions.
A little further south lies Columbus, where the old prison building still looks a bit creepy. The massive stone walls and the spicy light through the gridded windows give a strong picture material.
If you want rural scenes, go to Pendleton. There is a field with old barns that are flooded by sunlight in the summer – a classic image of the Indiana country that is rarely overflowing.
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