Southport is located directly on the Westrand of Indianapolis and combines urban flair with many green areas. The mixture of old brick buildings, wide avenues and modern residential quarters provides varied motifs. I like the city because it doesn't seem overrun, but still offers enough interesting picture details. For photographers, Southport is a small laboratory for light and composition experiments.
To crack the perfect picture, I plan my recordings after the natural light phases. The Civil Twilight provides the first shimmer of city lights, ideal for city panoramas. During the Golden Hour – the warm, soft light shortly after sunrise or before sunset – the façade structure of Southport can be emphasized particularly well. The Sunset over the few high houses in the north produces dramatic silhouettes. For long term exposure, I use the Blue Hourwhen the sky is deep blue and lights draw long traces. The map tool of poi‐travel.de is embedded and calculates the position of the sun, emits azimut angle and a line to the direction of the sun – a real helper for lighting planning.
The central park is the heart of the city and offers a wide lake, walks and a historic pavilion building. In spring, the water reflects the surrounding trees, especially in the Blue Hour looks impressive. Entrance is free, opening hours are from 6 am to 2 pm. For the best picture, I recommend the south shore stage shortly after sunset when the light falls gently onto the water surface. Insider tip: A small wooden ridge at the north end is less visited and provides clear lines for minimal compositions.
Gray Park is a small but well maintained city park with an old oak and a modern sculpture of metal. The combination of nature and art makes it an interesting photo motif, especially during the Golden Hourwhen the light makes the metal surface shine. The park is open 24 hours and free of charge. Practical note: The parking lot behind the playground is often empty so you can quickly build a setup. Local Tip: Use the nearby café for a quick coffee and warm up a little before you set up the exposure.
Perry Park is located on the outskirts of the city and has wide lawn areas, a small creek and a historic water tower monument. The tower is a striking landmark that is good in silhouette recordings during the Blue Hour in. The park is open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., free admission. For a strong picture I recommend the view from the western hill where you can place the tower in front of the colored sky. Insider proof: An old wooden bridge part above the creek creates natural frame lines for portraits.
Longacre Park is bigger and offers several sports facilities, an amphitheater and an artistic water game. The water game is a highlight at sunset because the falling drops glisten in counterlight. Opening hours: 6 am to 9 pm, free admission. The best photo pot is the elevated grandstand over the playground, from where you have the entire water game in the picture. Practical tip: Bring a tripod to capture the short flashes of light, and use an ND filter to smooth the movement.
The dog park is not only a attraction for four-legged people, but also for photographers looking for lively scenes. The open meadow, the trees and the playing dogs offer dynamic motifs, especially with soft morning light. The park is open daily from 7 am to 8 pm, free admission. For portraits of dogs in counterlight, the west side is recommended shortly after sunrise. Insider tip: The small sand area in the northwest is less frequented and provides clear, undisturbed backgrounds.
The Center is a modern cultural building with a glass facade that reflects the cityscape. The architecture is a magnet for architectural photographers, especially during the Golden Hourwhen the glass is dipped into warm light. Opening hours: Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–17 p.m., free entry for the outside view. The best angle is the southern staircase, from where you have the facade and the adjacent space in the picture. Practical note: The Center offers free guided tours on the first Saturday of the month – a great opportunity to make indoor recordings. Local tip: After the tour, you can drink an espresso in the centre's café and watch the light in the evening.
Southport combines quiet green spaces, interesting architecture and a relaxed city life that is perfect for photography trips. Whether you're looking for sunsets, blue-hour moods or lively everyday scenes, the city delivers versatile motifs. Pack your tripod, use the map tool for the solar position and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere that makes Southport a rewarding destination for every photographer.
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 Southport, 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 Southport |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light shortly after sunrise or before sunset – ideal for facades and glossy surfaces. | Gray Park, Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center |
| Sunset | Dramatic, contrasting light, silhouettes of buildings and water. | Longacre Park |
| Civil Twilight | First shimmer of city lights, good mood for city panoramas. | Southport Park |
| Blue Hour | Deep blue sky, long exposure times for light tracks. | Southport Park, Perry Park |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Southport Park | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/60 s (Golden/Blue Hour) | Use the Southern Branch for reflections; for Blue Hour a tripod and 10 seconds exposure for light tracks. |
| Gray Park | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/125 s | Position yourself so that the metal sculpture reflects the incident light; use a polarization filter to control reflections. |
| Perry Park | ISO 200 / f/11 / 5 s (Stativ) | Start the water tower as a silhouette; focus on the tower and use the manual focus lock. |
| Longacre Park | ISO 100 / f/16 / 1/30 s + ND filter | Take a look at the stands to photograph the water play in counterlight; ND filter smoothes the drops. |
| Smock Dog Park | ISO 800 / f/4 / 1/500 s | Move low to isolate the dogs in counterlight; fast closing time catches the action. |
| Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center | ISO 200 / f/9 / 1/80 s | Photographer the glass facade from the southern staircase; look at reflections in the glass for interesting compositions. |
Just a short jump north leads you to Carmel. There is a small art district that attracts with colorful graffitis and scrupulous sculptures. Light often falls obliquely between the buildings – perfect for shadow games.
However, the city centre of Indianapolis is not just a business node. The skyline is reflected in the White River, and the bridges offer unusual perspectives, especially at dusk. A little crowd, but that makes the charm.
Zionsville looks like a movie. Headstone pavement roads, old wooden houses and a small river that swells through the city. You can catch quiet images of people in everyday life without having to look too touristy.
If you want rural idyll, go to Brown County. The hills are forested, the paths are angled, and the light breaks through the leaves like a kaleidoscope. It's okay, it's a bit muddy, but that gives the pictures character.
Nevertheless, a trip to Columbus is worth it. The city is famous for its architecture, but this is not the only thing that attracts photographically. The wide avenues and the old factory buildings create an interesting interplay of old and new.
A short trip to Bloomington brings you the campus feeling. The university has green squares, old brick buildings and a lake that almost glistens at sunset. Students run by, that gives the picture life.
In short, Westfield has a modern mall with glass façades that almost look like a mirror cabinet. It is not the destination for nature lovers, but for abstract city recordings a good spot.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
