Staunton is located in the middle of the rural Indiana and surprises with a mixture of nature, history and small city flair. For hobby photographers, the city is a quiet starting point to practice both landscape and architecture photography. I like Staunton, because the streets are barely overflowing and the light over the fields is often dramatic. The Sightseeing in Staunton offer enough variety to catch any type of image.
I plan my shooting around the natural light phases. Civil Twilight provides the first city lights when the outside is still half dark. Golden Hour is my keyword for soft, warm light – ideal for portraits of historic buildings. The Sunset over the few buildings produces long shadows and rich colors. In Blue Hour I can try long-term exposures of illuminated bridges and the river.
The map tool, which is integrated under this text on poi‐travel.de, shows the solar position for every day. There is the direction as a line and the azimut angle, so I can plan the exact alignment of my camera.
This nature reserve is the main attraction for nature photographers in Staunton. Wetlands, reeds and a small lake offer ideal conditions for bird and macro photography. The Landmark is especially in spring when migratory birds move in, and in autumn when the foliage lights golden yellow. Opening hours: daily from sunrise to sunset, free admission. Best time for recordings: early morning light or late dusk when the water is mirror-smooth. Insider tip: The hidden wooden ridge at the north end of the lake is less frequented and provides clear reflections.
The central city park is a small but fine Landmark with old oaks, a fountain and wide paths. The combination of green areas and historical benches creates interesting picture compositions. Opening hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., no entry. For the best light, the golden hour at the western end, where the sunlight breaks through the treetops. Inside evidence: The small pavilion in the south-west has an artistic mosaic, which works particularly with counterlight.
Right next to the main park lies the military plaza, an official Landmark with monuments and a small memorial. The clear lines of the stone pillars contrast well with the soft green of the park. Opening times correspond to Craig Park, free admission. The blue hour is ideal because the illuminated monuments create a gentle light. Local tip: From the upper platform you have a wide view over the city, perfect for panoramic recordings.
Forest Park is a wooded area with hiking trails, a small creek and an old wooden bridge – a real Landmark for landscape and water photography. The park is open daily, free admission. The morning light that filters through the canopy creates beautiful light curtains. For long-term exposures, the Blue Hour is recommended when the water slightly shimmers. Insider proof: The hidden viewpoint behind the creek offers a frame of trees, ideal for silhouettes.
The old theatre is the cultural Landmark the city and impresses with its brick facade and the artistic marquee. Inside there is a small gallery, outside an illuminated sign that is good to photograph at night. Opening hours: performances from 7 p.m., accessible during the day only from 10 p.m. to 4 p.m., free admission. The golden hour casts warm light on the facade, while the blue hour dips the shield into a gentle blue. Tip from locals: The small car park behind the building offers an undisturbed view.
Babe Wheeler Park is a family-friendly place with playgrounds, a small lake and a sculpture collection – a versatile Landmark. Opening hours: 7 am to 9 pm, free admission. The lake reflects the evening red particularly well when the sun falls behind the trees. The colourful play equipment is suitable for portraits. Insider tip: The wooden ridge at the Westaler is less visited and offers clear reflections with calm water.
The historical trail follows the old National Road and is an important Landmark for history and landscape photography. The trail is accessible around the clock, no entrance. Along the way, there are old signposts, stone bridges and wide fields that are dramatic at sunrise. The best time for panoramic images is the Golden hour when the light dips the fields in gold. Local note: The section at the old mill has a small waterfall feature that works sparkling during long exposure.
A holiday in Staunton combines relaxed hours in the green with many photographic possibilities. The mix of nature, history and small city flair makes the Sightseeing in Staunton to a rewarding goal for anyone who wants to fill his camera with new impressions.
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 Staunton, 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 Staunton |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Soft, warm light – ideal for portraits and historical facades. | Craig Park (Westend), Community Theatre of Clay County, Inc., National Road Heritage Trail (old mill), Chinook Fish and Wildlife Area (wood ridge), Babe Wheeler Park (wine) |
| Sunset | Intense colors, long shadows – perfect for dramatic landscapes. | Chinook Fish and Wildlife Area (See), Babe Wheeler Park (See), National Road Heritage Trail (Fields), Forest Park (wood bridge) |
| Civil Twilight | First city lights, semi-dark – good mood for illuminated details. | Craig Park Military Plaza (Monument Lighting), Community Theatre (Marquee), Craig Park (Pavillon), National Road Heritage Trail (Wegweiser) |
| Blue Hour | Deep blue, long exposure times – ideal for long exposure of illuminated objects. | Craig Park Military Plaza, Community Theatre (Schild), Forest Park (water), Chinook Fish and Wildlife Area (mirrors) |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Chinook Fish and Wildlife Area | 200 ISO / f/8 / 1/250 s | Low angle at the wooden bridge for mirror-smooth water reflections. |
| Craig Park | 400 ISO / f/5.6 / 1/125 s | Position at the southwest pavilion, use counterlight for the mosaic. |
| Craig Park Military Plaza | 800 ISO / f/4 / 30 s (Stativ) | Long-term exposure of the illuminated columns – use remote triggers. |
| Forest Park | 100 ISO / f/11 / 15 s (ND filter) | Gentle water movement over the old wooden bridge – ND filter for silk effect. |
| Community Theatre of Clay County, Inc. | 200 ISO / f/4.5 / 1/200 s | Recording the illuminated sign from the parking lot, focus on Marquee. |
| Babe Wheeler Park | 400 ISO / f/5.6 / 1/160 s | Wooden ridge at the Wegrader for clear evening red reflections in the quiet lake. |
| National Road Heritage Trail | 100 ISO / f/8 / 1/500 s | capture golden fields at sunrise; Waterfall feature for long term. |
However, Bloomington is not only the Uni-city, but a collection of old brick buildings and narrow alleys, which are almost a bit melancholic in the morning light. The campus itself offers open green spaces where the light plays between the trees – perfect for silhouettes.
A short trip to Nashville, Indiana, is worthwhile when you are on rustic barns and abandoned railway tracks. There is an old water mill building that looks almost like a painting in the backlight, and the small city center has a few dirty brick walls that are good for texture recordings.
French Lick is a bit cheesy, but the abandoned casino building and surrounding pine forests offer contrasts that you rarely find. Especially at dusk, the light throws long shadows over the empty terraces – a bit dramatic, but not excessive.
Madison on Ohio River has this slightly weathered harbour atmosphere that you can't find anywhere in Indiana. The old warehouses on the river, the water, which is sometimes cloudy, and the bridge, which looks almost like a metal structure in the backlight, give you many possibilities for city and nature mixtures.
If you prefer forest and open fields, look at the Hoosier National Forest. There are remote paths that lead through deciduous forests, and small streams that glisten in sunlight. Sometimes you stumble over abandoned hunting lodges that radiate a bit of history without becoming too touristy.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
