Advance is a small town in the heart of Indiana, which surprises with wide avenues and quiet river banks. The mixture of historical building material and open nature makes it an underestimated photo motif. I like the city because it is not overrun and you can easily immerse yourself in the rhythm of daylights. There is enough room for photographers to experiment undisturbed.
The first moment when the city lights in Civil Twilight starting to light is ideal for silhouettes. Plan your recordings Golden Hour – the warm light makes the brick building particularly appreciated. The Sunset over the few high-rise buildings on the outskirts creates dramatic colors in the sky. For long-term exposure, Blue Hour perfect because the cool light emphasizes the lights of the road. Under this text, a map tool by poi‐travel.de is integrated, which calculates the position of the sun and displays the direction by line and the azimut angle – a real helper for lighting planning.
The park is located on the river bank and offers wide green areas, a small lake and old oaks. The wooden bridge, which produces a warm light in the backlight of the evening sun, is particularly photogenic. Opening hours: daily from sunrise to sunset, free admission. The best way to take pictures here Golden Hourwhen the water reflects the colors. Insider tip: The way behind the playground leads to a hidden viewpoint, from which you walk the river in the Blue Hour can catch.
The red brick church with a high bell tower is the most striking building in the city. The window front has a particularly impressive effect in counterlight because the light breaks through the colourful stained glass. Entrance: free, visitor hours: Monday to Saturday, 9 – 17 hrs. For a strong picture, you should Civil Twilight when the first lights emerge behind the tower. Local note: On the back there is a small cemetery where the tombstones in the moonlight almost look like sculptures.
The main road is lined with restored shops from the 1900s, which score with shop window benches and old light advertisements. The headstone plaster reflects the light of the street lights particularly well in the Blue Hour. Opening hours: Store openings vary, but the road is accessible 24 hours. The best way to take pictures between 6 pm and 8 pm when the lights begin to shine. Insider: A small café backyard offers a quiet setting for portraits with city flair.
The cycle and hiking trail along the river offers wide viewing lines and an open panorama. In spring, the clear water reflects the surrounding trees, in autumn the leaves are immersed in warm tones. Free admission, opening hours: 24 hours. For an image with long exposure strips select Blue Hourwhen the water acts almost black and the lights of the small port shine. Tip from locals: At the northern end there is an old millstone that serves as a natural foreground.
The library is a modern building of glass and concrete, contrasting with the historical parts of the city. The glass facade reflects the cityscape and creates interesting patterns at sunset. Entrance: free, opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, 10 – 6 pm, Saturday 10 – 4 pm. For a picture with clear lines you should go to Golden Hour when the light dips the glass surfaces into warm gold. Insider proof: On the ground floor there is a small reading corner with vintage chairs that are well suited for indoor shooting.
The market takes place every Saturday in the city centre and offers colorful stands with fresh fruit, vegetables and handmade products. The colorful goods and the bustling drive provide lively scenes for street photography. Entrance: free, opening hours: Saturday, 8 – 13 hrs. The soft light shortly after sunrise is ideal to emphasize the colors while people are still little busy. Local tip: Right behind the main stand there is a small pavilion where you can take undisturbed portraits with natural light.
Advance combines quiet natural landscapes with charming historic buildings so you can use all daylight for different photo styles. Whether you're looking for wide panoramic images, atmospheric city lights or intimate portraits – the city provides the right scenery. And the best thing: You can photograph almost everywhere for free, which makes it particularly attractive.
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 Advance, 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 Advance |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light; ideal for colors and reflections. | Advance Community Park, Advance Public Library |
| Sunset | Intense colors, long shadows. | Advance Public Library |
| Civil Twilight | First city lights, silhouettes. | Advance Christian Church |
| Blue Hour | Cool light, emphasizes lights of the city. | Advance Community Park, Historic Main Street, Riverfront Trail |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Advance Community Park | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/250 s | Use the counterlight of the wooden bridge, position the camera low for reflections in the water. |
| Advance Christian Church | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/125 s | Photograph the window front in counterlight while Civil Twilight to let the stained glass shine. |
| Historic Main Street | ISO 800 / f/4 / 1/60 s | Use a tripod to take the lantern lights in the Blue Hour and use the Café-Hinterhof for portraits. |
| Riverfront Trail | ISO 100 / f/11 / 30 s | Use an ND filter for long-term exposure of the water during the Blue Hour, focus the millstone in the foreground. |
| Advance Public Library | ISO 200 / f/7.1 / 1/200 s | Use the warm light of the Golden Hour to make the glass facade shine; respect reflections in the glass. |
| Advance Farmers Market | ISO 400 / f/5 / 1/160 s | Early in the morning after sunrise, use the soft light for colored stands; a small pavilion offers shades for portraits. |
Madison is located on the Ohio River, the water often reflects the light quite differently from the country here. The old brick buildings on the banks give a rough pattern that is well suited for contrasts. You can be there early in the morning when the city is still asleep.
However, the cityscape of Bloomington is not exactly a photo motif for everyone. The Uni-Campus architecture is sometimes overloaded, but the surrounding hills offer wide views that are well suited for panoramic views. Especially after a rain, the green is almost too bright.
Nevertheless, a trip to French Lick is worthwhile if you are looking for rusty rides and decayed hotels. The atmosphere is a bit like an abandoned film set – perfect for mood solutions that do not look too smooth.
Short journey to Brown County State Park takes you to a forest area that is almost too quiet to describe it. The trails swell through deciduousness, which becomes a bit too colorful in autumn, but the light falling through the trees is a real profit for silhouettes.
Corydon, the old capital, has a few old government buildings that are not quite as well maintained as in the tourist guides. This sometimes seems a bit chaotic, but that makes the photos more interesting – a bit of history, a bit of decay.
If you're looking for urban driving, try New Albany. The bridge over the Ohio offers a view of the Louisville skyline, which in contrast almost looks like a shadow. It's not what you find in guidebooks, but for a quick shot it's okay.
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