Union City is located right on the border with Indiana and has a charming little town flair that I personally appreciate. The mix of historic buildings, green parks and the quiet river bank makes the city an underestimated photo magnet. For hobby photographers, there are plenty of attractions in Union City, which can be captured in daylight as well as at night. I particularly like the relaxed pace – you can search for the perfect picture without stress.
The plan begins with Civil Twilight, the moment when the first city lights glow gently. This is ideal to capture the silhouettes of the old warehouses. For classic Golden Hour I recommend that you enter the search term “Union City Golden Hour” into the map tool of poi‐travel.de – where the solar position can be calculated exactly.
The Sunset over the few buildings of the city provides warm colors that reflect particularly well in the windows of the Interlocking Tower. Shortly after that follows Blue Hourperfect for long-term exposures at the river bank where the water reflects the blue light. The tool not only shows the time, but also the azimuth, i.e. the horizontal angle, so that you can place the sun exactly in the picture.
The Landmark Artisan Crossing is a converted freight train station, which today serves as a creative center. The brick buildings with their large windows provide great frames for city recordings, especially at sunrise when the light breaks through the glass fronts. Opening times are available daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Insider tip: In the late afternoon, a small market is gathering, providing colorful stands for street photography.
Right next to the crossing is Artisan Park, a small town park with an old railway bridge. The bridge is a popular photo spot because it is in the foreground and in the background the skyline of Union City appears. The park is accessible 24 hours a day, free admission. For the best picture you should go to Blue Hour when the lights of the city shine behind the bridge. Locals say that the squirrel, which often blows over the bridge, can be a nice motive.
The Interlocking Tower is the main attraction in Union City and a real landmark. The red-white structure projects over the rails and offers a strong geometrical motif. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m.–16 a.m., free admission. For a dramatic picture, the Golden Hourwhen the sunlight dips the metal parts into warm light. A local photographer found that a light rain makes the light softer and creates reflections on the tracks.
The art gallery of the Randolph County Art Association is not only a cultural hotspot, but also a photogenic building with a modern glass facade. The exhibition halls are open during the day from 10 am to 5 pm, free admission. The light that falls through the glass front creates interesting shadows – ideal for portraits or abstract images. Insider proof: On the first Saturday of the month there is an open studio where you can photograph artists at work.
Harter Park is a green retreat with a small lake that reflects the cityscape. The combination of water, trees and an old stone bridge makes the park a versatile photo pot. Opening hours: 6 am to 22 pm, free admission. For long-term exposures during Blue Hour recommends the shore where the water reflects the blue light. Locals swear that the morning fog game above the lake is particularly atmospheric.
The Worth Family Nature Preserve is a nature reserve with hiking trails and a small canyon. The natural environment offers great opportunities for landscape and macro photography. The Preserve is open from 7 am to 7 pm, free entry. The best time for soft light conditions is shortly after sunrise when the light filters through the canopy. Insider tip: A hidden view point above the gorge provides a wide view, ideal for panoramic views.
Coppess Nature Sanctuary is a quiet protected area with a small forest path and a historic mill wheel. The mill wheel is the central Landmark and is particularly impressive at sunset when the light makes the wood glow. Opening hours: 8 a.m.– 8 p.m., free admission. For night photography, the proximity to the mill wheel is recommended because the wheel itself is a good light reflection object. A local tip: Bring a tripod, because the light will quickly weaken after sunset.
Union City may be small, but the Sightseeing in Union City offer enough variety for every photographic preference – from historical buildings to quiet natural areas to lively art centres. Whether you're looking for the perfect sunset, a clear blue hour scene or interesting street shots, you'll find everything you need to enrich your pictures.
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 Union City, 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 Union City |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light; ideal for long shades and warm colors. | Union City Interlocking Tower, Artisan Crossing |
| Sunset | Intensive red/orange tones, silhouettes against the sky. | Coppess Nature Sanctuary (Mühlrad), Union City Interlocking Tower |
| Civil Twilight | First city lights, gentle dusk, good for silhouettes. | Artisan Crossing, Randolph County Art Association |
| Blue Hour | Cool blue light, ideal for long term exposures and reflections. | Artisan Park, Harter Park |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Union City Interlocking Tower | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/125 s | Light rain creates soft light and reflections on the rails. |
| Artisan Crossing | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/250 s | Use morning light through the glass fronts for clear lines. |
| Artisan Park | ISO 800 / f/4 / 10 s (Stativ) | Blue Hour: Let the city lights shine behind the bridge. |
| Coppes Nature Sanctuary | ISO 200 / f/11 / 1/60 s | Sunset: The mill wheel is highlighted by warm light. |
| Randolph County Art Association | ISO 400 / f/2.8 / 1/200 s | Use the glass facade for interesting shadows and portraits. |
| Hard park | ISO 800 / f/5.6 / 15 s (Stativ) | Blue Hour: The water reflects the blue light for calm compositions. |
| Worth Family Nature Preserve | ISO 100 / f/16 / 1/30 s | Early morning: The filtered light through the canopy creates soft colors. |
However, Van Worth is not the first thing you think about photography. There is an old railway track, which almost looks like a painting in the morning light. The tracks are rusty, the grass grows between the thresholds – a good motif for texture and contrast games.
A short detour to Wabash, Indiana, is worth it because of the Mississippi-like river that opens into the Wabash River. The river is wide, the water sluggish, and the bridge from the 1930s offers an interesting scaffold for silhouettes at sunset.
Lima, Ohio, has a neglected industrial area on the edge of the city. There are old factory buildings whose bricks are removed from the tooth of time. You can catch the passing trains with long exposure times – a bit rough, but with character.
Delphos is a bit further south and surprises with a small old town where the facades are painted colourfully. The colors seem almost random, but this gives the picture a loose, unpretentious mood. Perfect for street photography if you want to have some people in the picture.
Bluffton, Indiana, has a small lake surrounded by trees. The water reflects the foliage, and when the wind attracts easily, fine waves arise which make the image more vivid. No crowds, rather a quiet place for nature and landscape shots.
Decatur, Indiana, offers an old marketplace with stone pavement. The street is narrow, the lanterns old-fashioned. When the light breaks through the clouds, long shadows arise, which make the image almost dramatic.
Celina, Ohio, is located on the southern end of the Mosquito-Lake. The lake is large, the shore is partly wooded, and a slightly mystical look is created in fog. You can photograph the water in the early hours of the morning when it is almost still.
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