Clifford is a small town in the heart of Indiana that surprisingly has a lot to offer when you have the camera. I like the city because it offers a mixture of quiet natural areas and unusual art installations that are perfect for spontaneous recordings. The Sightseeing in Clifford are not overrun, so that you can often work undisturbed. For hobby photographers, the light is particularly varied here – from soft morning to clear stars. In short, Clifford is an underestimated photo paradise.
The plan: first capture the cityscape in the Civil Twilight when the first lights begin to flicker. Then Golden Hour use – the warm light around the noon gives the buildings a rich tone. The Sunset over the few high houses provides dramatic silhouettes, ideal for evening moods. For long-term exposure, Blue Hour perfect after the fall, because the blue of the sky emphasizes the lights especially. 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 park is the main attraction in Clifford and offers wide meadows, a small lake and old stone bridges. The Landmark scores with reflective water surfaces that throw back golden colors at sunrise. Opening hours: daily 6 am to 2 pm, free admission. For the best photo you should come early in the morning when the light slides gently over the water. Insider tip: On the north side there is a hidden wooden bridge from which you can photograph the bridge in counterlight.
This museum houses historic aircraft and a large outdoor exhibition field. The combination of metal, wood and sky makes the Landmark to an interesting photo motif, especially during the Golden Hourwhen the sunlight emphasizes the wings. Opening hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10 a.m.–17 p.m., admission 8 USD. In the late afternoon the light casts long shadows that make the structure more dramatic. Insider tip: The small Hangar building has a red roof that comes particularly well at Blau-Stunde.
A small town park with an old oak grove and a modern sculpture of metal. The Landmark is ideal for close-ups of textures, because the bark of trees almost shines in counterlight. The park is open daily from 7 am to 9 pm, free admission. The best time for recordings is the Blue Hourwhen the light dips the metal sculpture into a cool blue. Insider tip: Behind the sculpture there is a small pond that reflects the light and creates interesting reflections.
This nature reserve is a quiet retreat with hiking trails that lead through dense forests and small streams. The Landmark lies in the natural light games between the trees, especially in fog in the early morning. Opening hours: 5 a.m.–20 a.m., no entry. For landscapes, the Civil Twilightwhen the diffuse light softens the colors. Insider tip: The viewpoint on the southern edge offers a wide view over the valley – perfect for panoramic sunsets.
A modern tower in the city centre, which serves as a sunglass and at the same time is considered an art work. The Landmark is particularly interesting at night because the LED illumination pulsates in different colors. Opening hours: 24 hours accessible, free admission. The Blue Hour provides a beautiful interplay of natural blue and artificial lights. Insider tip: From the top platform you have a wide view over the city, ideal for night photography with starry sky.
A small park next to the historic Richards School, which is still in original condition. The Landmark lies in the charm of the old brick facade, which gets a warm light at sunset. Opening hours: 6 am to 22 pm, free admission. The Golden Hour lets the windows dip into a soft gold – perfect for architectural recordings. Insider tip: Right behind the school building there is an old tree house that offers a great silhouette motif in contrast light.
A monument of bronze worthy of the history of the city in the First World War. The Landmark is a popular spot for detail recordings because the metal surface reflects the light and shows fine structures. Opening hours: 24 hours, free admission. For a strong picture, the Blue Hourwhen the cool light makes the bronze appear almost silver. Insider tip: On the back of the monument there is an inscription which can be read particularly well with lateral light.
Clifford may look small, but the diversity Sightseeing in Clifford offers the right motif for every photographer. Whether you are the gentle colors of the Golden Hour looking, the calm mood of the Blue Hour want to use for long-term exposures or just want to stroll through charming parks – here you will find everything you need. Pack your camera and get inspired by the surprising moments of light.
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 Clifford, 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 Clifford |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light; long shadow; Colourful | Owen's Bend County Park, Atterbury‐Bakalar Air Museum, Richards School Park |
| Sunset | Dramatic silhouettes, deep red to orange tones | Richards School Park, Owen's Bend County Park, Pauline Crump Nature Preserve |
| Civil Twilight | Diffuses, cool light; ideal for landscapes | Pauline Crump Nature Preserve |
| Blue Hour | Clear blue, city lights shine, ideal for long term exposure | Blackwell Park, Sun Dial Tower, Memorial Artillery |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Owen's Bend County Park | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/125 s | Use the wooden bridge for counter-light exposures of the bridge; Focus on water reflex. |
| Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/250 s | Position laterally to the aircraft to emphasize the wings in sunlight. |
| Richards School Park | ISO 100 / f/11 / 1/60 s | photographers the brick facade in counterlight; Tree house as a silhouette. |
| Pauline Crump Nature Preserve | ISO 800 / f/4 / 1/200 s | Use a tripod for Panorama at Civil Twilight; HDR for heaven and forest. |
| Blackwell Park | ISO 1600 / f/2.8 / 30 s (Stativ) | catch the metal sculpture in blue; Mirroring in the pond for double exposure. |
| Sun Dial Tower | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/30 s (Stativ) | combine natural blue with LED lights; Wide angle lens for the entire structure. |
| Memorial Artillery | ISO 400 / f/5 / 1/60 s (Stativ) | Lateral light highlights the inscription; Long-term exposure for starry sky. |
Just a short trip to Indianapolis and you have a whole urban maze of graffiti, old factory buildings and wide boulevards in front of you. The skyline sometimes looks too big, but that gives you interesting silhouettes, especially at sunset.
However, the heart of Indianapolis is not always full. The Fountain Square district has small cafés, weathered brick buildings and narrow alleys, which are well suited for detail.
A little further south lies Bloomington. The Uni-Campus architecture is a mix of modern glass facades and historical brick classrooms. The campus lake sometimes reflects the light almost too strongly, but you can use it well.
Nevertheless, the real highlight is the nearby Brown County. The hilly landscape, old oaks and the occasional fog game almost give you a painting feeling when you are there early in the morning.
Short trip to Columbus and you will find the Art Deco neighborhood. The buildings have clear lines, little buckling, interesting shadows. You can easily catch some unusual perspectives there.
A detour to Lafayette/West Lafayette is worthwhile if you like industrial and river landscapes. The Wabash River offers reflections, and the old bridges give you solid structures to play with lines.
If you're looking for something less familiar, try the little town of Nashville in Brown County. The cobblestone streets look almost like a film, and the small shops often have colorful shop windows that are good for color combinations.
A bit further east, towards Muncie, is the Ball State University Campus. The mix of modern buildings and old auditoriums creates contrasts that are not found anywhere.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
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