Edinburgh is a small town in the heart of Indiana, which surprises with wide avenues, historic buildings and lots of greenery. For hobby photographers, the mixture of rural idyll and surprising city views is a real plus point. I like the city because it doesn't seem overrun and you find a good photo motif everywhere. The Sightseeing in Edinburgh offer enough variety to plan both day and night recordings.
The Civil Twilight marks the moment when the first lights of the city begin to shine – perfect for city panoramas with light blue. The Golden Hour delivers warm, soft light that dips facades and fields in gold; Just search for “Golden Hour Edinburgh Indiana” for exact times. At sunset (sunset) you can light up the silhouettes of the high-rise buildings against the sky. The Blue Hour is ideal for long-term exposures of illuminated road trains. The map tool of poi‐travel.de shows you the sun position, the direction (azimut) and allows you to capture lines for the optimal alignment of your camera.
This Art Deco Theatre from the 1930s is the central Landmark the city. The glowing neon façade has a particularly impressive effect during the Blue Hour, when the light of the city is still weak and the shield shines almost alone. Inside there is an original preserved marquee design that provides great contrasts with weak light. Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday 12 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., free admission, tickets for performances cost about 8 USD. Insider tip: Photographer the shield from the opposite side of the road to capture the reflection in the wet asphalt after a rain.
The small town park with lake and walks is an underestimated Landmark for natural and urban photography. The water reflects morning light during the Civil Twilight especially well, so you can get gentle colors and clear lines. The park is open 24 hours, free admission. Early risers have the advantage that fewer visitors are travelling and the light is still fresh. Insider tip: Use the small wooden ridge set on the lake for a low perspective – that creates depth and makes the sky more dramatic.
This country road is a classic photo pot for leading lines and wide fields, which Landmark the rural environment. During the Golden Hour the sun casts long shadows over the rows of corn and creates a warm, inviting image. The street is publicly accessible, no entrance fee. Best time: shortly after sunrise, when the light is still soft. Insider tip: Hold on an old barn door and use it as a frame for the horizon – that gives the image structure.
The Military Museum is the largest Landmark around Edinburgh and houses vehicles, uniforms and exhibitions from the Second World War. The outdoor area offers massive tanks and an old plane that looks dramatic at sunset. Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9 am – 5 pm, admission 5 USD for adults, children free. For long-term exposures during the Blue Hour, the main gate that is illuminated from the inside is recommended. Insider tip: Use the old barracks gate as the foreground to generate depth, and wait for the first light that reflects the metal plates.
A small wildlife resort that houses rescued bears and other animals – an unusual Landmark for animal photography. Guided tours take place daily at 11 am and 3 pm, admission 10 USD. The natural light in the late afternoon lets the bear's fur appear warm, ideal for portraits. Note: Book online in advance because the groups are small. Insider tip: Photograph the bears while eating when the light falls through the high trees – this creates a beautiful bokeh in the background.
The spacious park with gentle hills, a small stream and picnic areas is another Landmark for landscapes. The sunset over the hills creates an intense red orange that is reflected in the water. The park is open all day, free admission. For the best shots, you should hike to the highest point about 30 minutes before sunset. Insider tip: Use the old wooden bridge above the brook as the foreground to emphasize the light play in the water.
Another rural road that offers a colourful motif especially in autumn with a colourful foliage – a Landmark for seasonal recordings. The road stretches through fields and offers numerous possibilities for symmetry. Public road, no fees. The best time is the golden hour in autumn when the light dips the foliage into warm gold. Insider tip: Position on an old barn to capture the light from both sides and get a balanced picture.
This small stone chapel was built by Italian prisoners of war during the Second World War and is one of the special Attractions from Camp Atterbury. The interior is simple, but the artistic frescoes shine at candlelight, which leads to an almost mystical atmosphere during the Blue Hour. The chapel is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm, free admission. A tripod and a strong lens are recommended for interior shots to capture the weak light sources. Insider tip: Photographers the cross from outside when the moonlight lights the facade easily – this creates a gentle silhouette image.
A large wetland with freshwater marshes, which is one of the most important Attractions for natural and bird recordings. The morning hours during the Civil Twilight provide clear, reflecting water surfaces that capture the first light. The area is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., free entry. For long-term exposures of waterfalls, a short stop at the wooden ridges is recommended, where you can soften the flowing water. Insider tip: Bring a pole filter to reduce reflections and make the colors of the sky more intense.
A small park that extends around a river loop and thus a natural park Landmark for water and landscape photography. The river offers quiet places that are ideal for long-term exposures during the Blue Hour. The park is open 24 hours, free admission. Position yourself in such a way that the light falls from the left onto the water surface to create a gentle light. Insider tip: Use the old wooden bench on the shore as the foreground to stabilize the image and emphasize the light play in the water.
Edinburgh may be small, but the diversity of its Sightseeing in Edinburgh makes it an ideal destination for any kind of photography – from rural panoramas to historic buildings to nightly city lights. With a little planning and the right lighting conditions, images are created that perfectly capture the calm beauty of this Indiana jewel.
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 Edinburgh, 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 Edinburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light, long shadow | County Road 650 South, County Road 900 North |
| Sunset | Silhouettes, intense red orange | Camp Atterbury Museum, Johnson County Park |
| Civil Twilight | First city lights, light blue | Irwin Park, Atterbury State Fish and Wildlife Area |
| Blue Hour | Dark blue light, long-term exposure | The Pixy Theater, Camp Atterbury Museum, Italian Prisoner of War Chapel, Owen's Bend County Park |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| County Road 650 South | ISO 200 / f/11 / 1/125 s | Use the old barn door as a frame and photograph against the sun for silhouettes. |
| County Road 900 North | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/160 s | Catch the colourful foliage by placing the focus on the road and leaving the foreground slightly inflamed. |
| Camp Atterbury Museum | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/60 s | Position at the main gate, use counterlight for dramatic silhouettes at sunset. |
| Johnson County Park | ISO 200 / f/11 / 1/30 s | Use the wood bridge in the foreground and a tripod for soft water reflections. |
| Irwin Park | ISO 100 / f/16 / 1/15 s | Tripod at the wooden bridge to capture the mirror image in the water during Civil Twilight. |
| Atterbury State Fish and Wildlife Area | ISO 200 / f/11 / 1/20 s | Use pole filters to reduce reflections and emphasize the sky. |
| The Pixy Theatre | ISO 800 / f/2.8 / 1/30 s | Catch the neon light by using the reflection in the wet asphalt. |
| Italian Prisoner of War Chapel | ISO 400 / f/4 / 1/10 s | Use the warm indoor light, keep the camera close to details of architecture. |
| Owen's Bend County Park | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/8 s | Standing on the old wooden bench, long-term exposure for gentle lighting of the water. |
However, the surrounding area of Edinburgh is not exactly a magnet for tourists, but a quiet playground for people who like to travel with the camera. The streets of Columbus have a little more character than what you would expect in the small town.
In Columbus there are a few old factory buildings that are oversown by Graffiti – a bit rough, but the light in the late afternoon makes the whole almost poetic. The nearby Ohio River offers reflections that you don't catch every day.
Nevertheless, a trip to Bloomington is worth it. There, the university's campus site looks like an open photo studio, especially when the foliage dives into gold in autumn. The city centre has a few sloping cafes that look almost like art installations from the outside.
A short trip to Indianapolis brings you the skyline and a few modern glass facades that look almost transparent in the backlight. The Canal Walk is a bit touristic, but the bridges there give nice lines for compositions.
If you're looking for rural scenes, go to Brown County State Park. The hills are not spectacularly high, but the light between the trees in spring is surprisingly soft. The old barns scattered here have this weathered charm that you rarely find in urban environments.
Another tip: the town of French Lick. The old hotels and the casino building have a little retro feeling that fits well with black and white recordings. The surrounding forests are dense, so bring a tripod if you want to catch the morning light.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
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