Waterloo is located in the heart of DeKalb County and has this quiet Midwestern charm that I personally like. The small streets, the old brick buildings and the extensive green areas offer plenty of photo opportunities. For hobby photographers, the city is an underestimated laboratory for light and composition. I like to come back every time, because there are always new angles.
My goal is to snap the best photo of the city – and for that I plan every light phase.
The map tool, which is integrated under this text on poi‐travel.de, calculates the position of the sun and draws the direction as a line. The azimuth (the horizontal angle) is also displayed – practically if you want to set the exact alignment of your camera.
The central park is the heart of Waterloo and houses the historic monument to independence. The open green, the old oaks and the small monument offer clear lines for architecture and landscape photography. Opening hours: all year round, 6 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., free admission. Best time: Early morning to the Civil Twilight for gentle shadows, or to the Blue Hour for reflections in the pond. Insider tip: On the west side there is a hidden wooden pavilion that throws a warm light at sunset – perfect for portraits.
A small but well maintained park with a playground, a basketball field and a small brook course. The brook creates beautiful motion blur when you photograph it at the Golden Hour. Opening hours: 7 am to 8 pm, free admission. Best time: Around 6 pm when the light falls through the trees and the water glitters. Insider tip: The old wooden ridge at the brook is less frequented on the weekend – there you get quiet recordings without crowds.
The park is known for its sculpture “The Pioneer”, which consists of recycled metal. The combination of artwork and natural background makes it an interesting photo motif. Opening hours: 6 am to 9 pm, free of charge. Best time: During the Blue Hour, when the metal is slightly reflected and the environment is dipped in the blue. Insider tip: On the north side there is a small beet with wild flowers, which sets colored accents in spring.
A family-friendly park with a small amphitheater and an outdoor stage. The wooden seat rows offer good frame lines for portrait and event photography. Opening hours: 8 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., free admission. Best time: During the Golden Hour, when the light emphasizes the wooden bench structures. Insider tip: Behind the stage there is an old masonry that produces dramatic silhouettes in counterlight.
The park is located on the outskirts of the city and offers wide fields that dip into a warm gold at sunset. Ideal for wide-angle and panoramic views. Opening hours: 5 am to 11 pm, free of charge. Best time: Shortly before sunset when the skyscrapers become dramatic. Insider tip: An old tractor that stands as an art object can serve as the foreground for dramatic landscapes.
A small town park with a historic water tower that shapes the cityscape. The tower is a popular motif for vertical compositions. Opening hours: 6 am to 8 pm, free admission. Best time: During the Civil Twilight, when the first light sets the tower in Silhouette. Insider tip: On the south side there is a small bench that throws a warm light at sunrise – perfect for morning portraits.
The Community Center is the architectural highlight of the city – a brick building from the 1920s with a wide veranda and large windows. The facade reflects the light particularly well, which makes it a top spot for architectural recordings. Opening hours: Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–17 p.m., closed weekend, free admission. Best time: Golden Hour in the late afternoon when the sunlight dips the bricks in warm red. Insider tip: The small front garden has a historical sign that produces an interesting bokeh in the case of backlight.
Waterloo may be small, but the combination of historical buildings, quiet parks and clear lighting conditions makes the city an underestimated paradise for photographers. Whether you're looking for the perfect Blue-Hour recording or just want to capture the relaxed atmosphere – here you'll find everything you need without crowded tourist warmth.
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 Waterloo, 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 Waterloo |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Soft, warm light; ideal for landscape and architecture photography. | Kephart Park, Switzer Park, Waterloo Community Center |
| Sunset | Red light in the sky; short, dramatic light phase. | Devonshire Park |
| Civil Twilight | First city lights, good silhouettes. | Independence Park, Witt Park |
| Blue Hour | Cool blue, ideal for long term exposures and reflections. | Independence Park, Windisch Park |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Independence Park | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/125 s (Golden/Blue Hour) | Use the wooden pavilion in the west at sunset for portraits; for Blue Hour focus the pond for reflections. |
| Kephart Park | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/60 s | Photographer the old wooden ridge on the brook during the Golden Hour for gentle water-glitter effects. |
| Windy Park | ISO 800 / f/4 / 10 s (Stativ) | Put the camera on a tripod and use the Blue Hour to shine the metal of the “The Pioneer” sculpture. |
| Switzer Park | ISO 200 / f/11 / 1/200 s | Position behind the stage and use counterlight for dramatic silhouettes of the wall. |
| Devonshire Park | ISO 100 / f/16 / 1/250 s | Integrate the old tractor as the foreground; wide aperture for depth control. |
| Witt Park | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/80 s | Use the silhouette of the water tower during Civil Twilight; the south bank offers warm morning light. |
| Waterloo Community Center | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/125 s | photograph the brick facade in the late Golden Hour; the historical sign in the front garden creates a beautiful bokeh. |
If you have enough of the fields after a few hours in the small town, a short trip to Muncie is worth it. The Uni-Campus buildings cast interesting shadows, and the old brick buildings in the city centre give a little rough charm. Especially in morning light, cracky contrasts arise between glass and brick.
However, Richmond is not only a short trip, but a real photo puzzle. The historic railroads that still lead through the city offer lines that lead to the picture. The old brick houses with their slightly weathered façades seem almost like a different time, and the light in the late afternoon makes the windows glisten.
Anderson has a bit of industrial feeling that you don't find anywhere. The White River swells through the city, and the old factory choir stones are like silent witnesses in the sky. If you like to play with long exposure times, you can set the water in motion and hold the rough structures in contrast.
Kokomo is a small stop for fans of automotive history. The old factory halls, which are now partly used as art galleries, have massive steel beams that form interesting patterns. On the walls are hanging a few large-format murals that bring a little color to the picture – a good contrast to the gray concrete surfaces.
A short trip to the Brown County State Park provides nature that you don't see every day in the area. The dense forests that turn into a colourful colour play in autumn offer great opportunities for landscape and detail. The trails are sometimes a bit of a mushy, but that gives the pictures an authentic touch.
The Tippecanoe River near Delphi is a quiet place where the water is almost like a mirror. If you're there early in the morning, you can catch the fog swaths that pull over the surface – it almost creates a slightly mystical picture without exaggerating.
Lafayette has a bit more city life, but still enough space for quiet scenes. The bridges over the Wabash River create beautiful geometric shapes, and the old warehouses on the river banks give you the opportunity to experiment with light and shadow. In the evening, when the lights are approaching, a light luminaire is created that fits well with long exposures.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
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