Thorntown is located in the heart of Indiana and looks like a well preserved chapter from the 19th century. Century. The small alleys, the historical cityscape and the wide fields around it offer lots of contrasts. I like the city because it's not overrun and you can experiment here undisturbedly. For hobby and professional photographers, it is a silent playground full of light and shadow moments.
The first glow of the city lights appears Civil Twilight, ideal for subtle silhouettes. Plan your recordings Golden Hour – the warm light makes the brick building almost glow. The Sunset over the few but striking buildings creates dramatic colors in the sky. For long-term exposure, Blue Hour perfect because the cool blue makes the sky almost black and lights emerge especially. On the side of poi‐travel.de find a map tool that calculates the position of the sun and displays the direction by line; Azimut values help you to determine the exact angle.
The museum is located on the main square and presents originals from the founding period, including old tools and photographs. The brick building itself is a photo motif: The red facades reflect the light of the Golden Hour especially beautiful. Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m.–16 a.m., free admission. It is best to get close when the light falls from the west side and the windows dip into warm light. Insider tip: In the courtyard there is an old railway bridge that provides a great frame image at sunset.
The central park is surrounded by ancient oaks and a small pond that offers reflections of heaven and trees. In spring rose beds flourish, in autumn the leaves are red-gold. The park is open daily from 6 am to 2 pm, free admission. For Blue Hour The small wooden pavilion building at the lake is recommended, because the artificial light divides the water into gentle strips. Local note: On the weekend there is sometimes a small jazz concert that provides additional light sources for creative long-term recordings.
The 45 meter high water tower is the most striking landmark of the city. Its red brick surface contrasts strongly with the sky, especially at clear sunset. The tower is not open to the public, but the surrounding field offers a clear view. Visiting time: any time, no entry. For Civil Twilight a location about 200 meters south, where the light illuminates the bricks easily. Insider tip: If you use a tripod with a slight inclination, you will get a dramatic foreground shadow game.
The library impresses with its large glass front and modern interior, contrasting with the historic city. The daylight flutes through the windows and creates interesting patterns on the shelves. Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 8 pm, Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, free admission. For Night Photography the library is a secret tip after closing time: The inner light remains on and creates a warm light inside, while the road outside remains dark. Local note: The small café area on the ground floor has a cozy corner with vintage lights that are well suited for portraits.
The historic city centre comprises several well-preserved half-timbered houses and the old city bank. The headstone pavement roads offer great lines for perspective shots. The District is open 24 hours a day, free admission. The Golden Hour lets the facades dip into warm light, ideal for detailing doors and windows. Insider tip: If you photograph the small fountain at the crossroads, you will cast long shadows at sunset, which make the image more dynamic.
The community centre houses a modern sports hall and an atrium with a large glass ceiling. The atrium allows a lot of natural light, which Blue Hour dipped into a cool blue. Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, 8 a.m.–20 a.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–17 p.m., free admission. For long-term exposures, the back is recommended where the light is reflected by the surrounding trees. Local Note: Every first Friday of the month there is an open art event where additional lighting is installed – perfect for experimental recordings.
Thorntown combines historical architecture, open green spaces and a relaxed little town feeling that gives photographers a lot of creative possibilities. Whether you are the first lights of the Civil Twilight want to capture the warm tones of Golden Hour or the cool mood of the Blue Hour need for long-term exposure – the city provides matching photo standpoints. And the best thing: you can enjoy the whole experience without crowds and experience a piece of real Indiana landscape.
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 Thorntown, 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 Thorntown |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light lets brick buildings and workshop houses shine. | Thorntown Heritage Museum, Thorntown Historic District |
| Sunset | Dramatic colors, long shadows, ideal for silhouettes. | Thorntown Heritage Museum, Thorntown Water Tower |
| Civil Twilight | First insulation light, discreet silhouettes, light lighting. | Thorntown Water Tower |
| Blue Hour | Cool blue, lights are strong, perfect for long-term exposures. | Garden Park, Thorntown Community Center |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Thorntown Heritage Museum | 200 ISO / f/8 / 1/125 s | Use the western light of the Golden Hour to glow the red facades. |
| Garden Park | 400 ISO / f/5.6 / 1/60 s | Use a polarization filter to control reflections in the pond. |
| Thorntown Water Tower | 100 ISO / f/11 / 1/250 s | Choose a slightly elevated position to emphasize the red brickwork in front of the sky. |
| Thorntown Public Library | 800 ISO / f/2.8 / 30 s | Tripod and manual focus; the inner light creates a warm light against the dark road. |
| Thorntown Historic District | 200 ISO / f/9 / 1/160 s | use the cobblestone roads as guidelines; golden light highlights doors and windows. |
| Thorntown Community Center | 400 ISO / f/4 / 2 s | Long-term exposure during the Blue Hour; the atrium reflects the cool blue of the environment. |
Only a short drive to the north is Lafayette. The city centre is sometimes exaggerated, but the old factory buildings on the West Side offer rough textures that are well suited for black and white recordings. A short detour to the Purdue-Campus-Allee provides long, tree-lined paths that almost float in the morning light.
However, the real highlight is the small town of Delphi, about 30 minutes away. There is a historical railway museum, whose rusty tracks and abandoned wagons seem a bit melancholic. The nearby Wabash River Bridge throws interesting shadows when the water fades easily.
West of Thorntown, towards Indianapolis, is the town of Crawfordsville. The old County Courthouse with its copper dome is a good motive, especially when the sun shines behind the trees. The nearby Turkey Run State Park is a bit further, but the angled canyons and the clear water give every landscape photographer a little excitement.
Nevertheless, one should not forget the small villages in the south, such as Greencastle. There are some abandoned barns flooded with golden light in the autumn. The streets are narrow, the houses of red brick, which almost looks like a set of films from the 50s.
A short trip to Muncie brings the picture of a city that fluctuates between modern university architecture and old industrial plants. The Ball State University Campus has a few modern glass buildings that look almost transparent in the opposite light. Directly next to this is the Ball State Museum, whose outer facade of coarse concrete forms a good counterpart to the smooth glass surfaces.
In short, if you're looking for something that's not too touristy, go to Kokomo. There is an old railway museum that is sown by Graffiti – a bit urban, a bit wilder. The nearby Kokomo Riverwalk offers long, straight paths that almost seem like an endless stripe in the backlight.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
