Onward is a small town in the heart of Indiana, which surprisingly provides a lot of charm for picturemakers. I like the city because it offers a quiet setting where you can experiment without crowds. The mix of historical parks and a surprising collection of aviation attractions makes the shooting varied. If you're interested Sightseeing in Onward look, you're right here.
I plan to snap the picture that the city captures in its whole mood. The Civil Twilight delivers the first glow of the city lights – perfect for silhouettes. During the Golden Hour, i.e. shortly after sunrise or before sunset, the light all dives into a warm light that is particularly suitable for the parks. The sunset over the few buildings creates dramatic colors that are well suited for panoramic images. In the Blue Hour, when the sky becomes deep blue, long-term exposures can be made with the bright road signs. On the side of poi‐travel.de you will find a map tool that calculates the position of the sun and displays the direction by line; Azimut values help you to determine the exact angle.
The Shaw Street Park is the central green area and is considered the main attraction in Onward. The vast meadow, a small pond and a historical monument offer numerous angles. Especially for the Golden Hour, the light casts long shadows that allow the water to shine in the pond. The park is free, opening hours are around the clock, but for the best light you should be there between 6:00 and 8:00 in the morning or 6:00 to 8:00 in the evening. Insider tip: A short walk along the old gravel path leads to a hidden wooden bridge, which is ideal for frame compositions.
North Lincoln Park is another popular Landmark, which is known especially for its old oaks and the small amphitheater. The trees form a natural frame element that is particularly photogenic in spring. The entrance is free, opening hours from 7 am to 22 pm. For recordings during the Blue Hour, the amphitheater is recommended because the lighting is gentle and even there. Insider proof: On the back of the park there is an abandoned carousel, which produces a slightly nostalgic flair at dam light.
The Walton Park combines sports facilities with a well maintained landscape – an interesting mix for dynamic recordings. The basketball and football fields reflect the sunlight while the surrounding trees donate shade. The complex is free of charge, opening hours from 6 am to 11 pm. The best photo opportunities are offered during the Civil Twilight when the floodlights of the fields begin to shine. Insider tip: On the small hill behind the main field there is a viewpoint from which you can catch the entire terrain at a wide angle.
Memorial Park is a quiet Landmark with a monument to fallen soldiers and a small rose garden. The combination of stone, metal and flowers creates contrasting motifs, especially at sunset. The entrance is free, opening hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Rosengarten alley is recommended for portraits in counterlight shortly before dusk. Insider proof: The monument is occasionally illuminated by a single lantern in the evening – a perfect spot for night photography.
The yellow bench is a small but striking work of art in the city centre and has developed into a local icon. It is ideal for street photography, because passersby often spontaneously pose. The bank is in public space around the clock, no entry is required. The light of the Golden Hour makes the color appear particularly strong. Insider tip: If you use a wide-angle lens, you can include the surrounding brick buildings in the background and create depth.
Just a few kilometres from Onward, the Grissom Air Museum is home to an impressive collection of aircraft, including the NAMC YS‐11‐120, the Boeing B‐47B Stratojet and the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG‐23MLD. Each of these Attractions is a highlight for aviation photographers. The museum is open from April to October, opening hours 9 am to 5 pm, admission 8 USD for adults. The early morning is recommended for the best shots when the sunlight makes the metal surfaces shine. Insider proof: Behind the MiG‐23 there is a small hangar that generates a warm, diffuse light at sunset – perfect for detail shots.
Bunker Hill Park is a little known but very photogenic place with a small hill from which you have a wide view over the surrounding area. The park is free of charge, opening hours from 6 am to 2 pm. During the Blue Hour, the hill offers a clear view of the sky, ideal for star-long exposures. Insider tip: On the way to the top there is an old masonry that produces interesting silhouettes in counterlight.
Onward may seem small, but the diversity Sightseeing in Onward and the favorable lighting conditions make the city a rewarding destination for photographers. Whether you want to capture city lights, historic parks or impressive aircraft expeditions – here you will find everything you need to shoot your next favorite photo.
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 Onward, 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 Onward |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light shortly after sunrise or before sunset – long shade and intense color engraving. | Shaw Street Park, Yellow Chair, Grissom Air Museum |
| Sunset | Dramatic, colour-intensive light with long shadows – ideal for panoramic and silhouette recordings. | Memorial Park, Grissom Air Museum |
| Civil Twilight | First shimmer of artificial lighting, city lights begin to shine – good for silhouettes and light tracks. | Walton Park and Sports Complex |
| Blue Hour | Deep blue sky, long exposure times, bright city lights – perfect for long exposures. | North Lincoln Park, Bunker Hill Park |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Shaw Street Park | ISO 200 – f/5.6 – 1/125 s | Use low angle to capture the reflections in the pond. |
| Yellow chair | ISO 100 – f/8 – 1/250 s | Use wide angle objective to integrate the brick building in the background. |
| Grissom Air Museum | ISO 400 – f/4 – 1/60 s | Use polarization filters to reduce reflections on metal. |
| Memorial Park | ISO 200 – f/5.6 – 1/200 s | Position behind the Rosengarten alley to create counterlight portraits. |
| Walton Park and Sports Complex | ISO 800 – f/4 – 1/30 s | Use tripod to sharply depict the illuminated fields of play. |
| North Lincoln Park | ISO 1600 – f/2.8 – 30 s | Use remote control to clearly capture the silhouette of the carousel. |
| Bunker Hill Park | ISO 800 – f/4 – 20 s | Wide-angle recording with star tracks for a dramatic sky. |
New Castle is just a few minutes away and has a small but interesting historical core. The old court building façade casts beautiful shadows when the light is deep. On the main square there are some faded murals that are well suited for contrasting shots. In short, a bit of city flair that is not too crowded.
However, Knightstown is not only the “Hoosiers” filming location. The brick lanes look almost like from another time, and the old cinema with its faded neon advertising offers a great motif for night recordings. You can easily catch a few quiet scenes there before the tourist streams arrive.
Richmond on the White River has a few industrial relics that are well suited for urban photography. The old channel that flows through the city reflects the light on foggy morning hours. The combination of brick buildings and the river creates a slightly rough but charming picture.
Nevertheless, a detour to Anderson is worthwhile. There are abandoned factory buildings whose rusty metal structures seem almost poetic in counterlight. A few graffiti artworks have nested there – perfect for contrasting street photography.
Muncie, the home of Ball State, has a few old campus buildings that radiate a little academic flair with their high pillars and the weathered stone. The Campus Lake reflects the trees when the weather is clear, and that gives beautiful reflections.
Portland am White River is a small place, but the bridges there offer interesting lines. Especially at sunset, the water casts long shadows, which are well suited for silhouettes. It's okay, a little quieter than the larger cities.
If you still want to drive a bit further, the Hoosier National Forest is a good destination for nature photography. The dense forests that are permeated by fog give an almost mystical picture. The paths are not overrun, so you have time to observe the light.
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