New Ross is located in the heart of Indiana and has more to offer than you suspect at first glance. The mixture of small districts, open green spaces and a few historic buildings creates surprisingly varied picture compositions. I like the city because it is quiet enough to sample long exposures, and at the same time has enough light sources to experiment after dark. For photographers who like to shoot off the tourist trails, New Ross is a real secret tip.
The Community Center is the central cultural building of the city and impresses with its modern glass façade, which is immersed in gold at sunset. Inside there is a large atrium hall with freestanding stairs that offer interesting lines for architectural photography. Opening hours: Monday–Friday 9 – 6 pm, weekend only for events. Admission is free, but a small contribution can be required for special exhibitions. Best photo time: Golden Hour when the light breaks through the glass surfaces. Insider tip: Position in the parking lot opposite the main facade to use the mirror image in the water basin.
The park is named after a local philanthropist and offers a small lake, several sculptures and extensive meadows. The wooden bridge, which is surrounded by flowering cherry trees in the spring, is particularly photogenic. Opening hours: Daily 6 – 22 hrs., free admission. Recommended time: Blue Hour when the lighting of the bridge creates a gentle lighting. Insider tip: Use the flat water for reflections – a short tripod structure is enough to stabilize the image.
The main street preserves old brick buildings, an original cinema from the 30s and a few small cafés with outdoor terraces. The cobblestone gasses create a nostalgic flair, which works particularly with weak light. Opening hours: Shops usually open at 10 a.m., close at 6 p.m.; the cinema has evening performances by 10:00. Photo tip: Civil Twilight, when the shop window lights arrive and the street dive into a warm half-dark. Insider tip: The small bookstore on the corner has a vintage shop window, which is ideal for detailing.
The Riverwalk follows the small river that flows through the city and offers several wooden bridges that lead over the water. In summer trees sprinkled on the shore, in autumn the leaves are red. Opening hours: Open all year, no entrance fee. Best light mood: Golden Hour in the late afternoon when the water throws golden reflections. Insider tip: On the northern ridge you can catch the sunlight from behind, creating silhouettes from passing canoes.
The church from the early 20th Century impresses with a high bell tower tip and colorful stained glass windows. Inside there is an artful altarpiece that shines in rainbow colours in sunlight. Opening hours: Monday–Friday 8 – 4 p.m., Sunday only for divine services. Free admission, donation box available. Photo tip: Civil Twilight when the light falls through the stained glass windows and the interior dips into a mystical blue. Insider tip: The small cemetery behind the church offers old tombstones that have a particularly atmospheric effect on moonlight.
The library is a modern building with a glass facade and a green roof. In front of the main entrance there is a sculpture made of recycled metal, which casts interesting shadows in counterlight. Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday 9 – 7 pm, Saturday 10 – 4 pm, Monday and Sunday closed. Free admission. Recommended recording time: Blue Hour, when the interior lighting penetrates through the glass front to the outside. Insider tip: On the roof garden there is a small terrace overlooking the city – perfect for panoramic views at sunset.
New Ross combines quiet natural landscapes with a few architectural highlights that offer interesting lighting all year round. For hobby photographers, the city is a compact playground where you can realize both day and night recordings without great effort. Pack the tripod, use the map tool and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere while collecting your best 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 New Ross, 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 New Ross |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, soft light shortly after sunrise or before sunset – ideal for reflective surfaces. | New Ross Community Center, New Ross Riverwalk |
| Sunset | Dramatic color patterns in the sky, intense red/orange light. | New Ross Community Center, New Ross Riverwalk |
| Civil Twilight | Twilight after sunset, city lights begin to shine – good for silhouettes. | Historic Downtown Main Street, St. Mary’s Catholic Church |
| Blue Hour | Deep blue after dusk, ideal for long-term exposures and illuminated structures. | Leland Cornette Memorial Park, New Ross Public Library |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| New Ross Community Center | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/125 s | Position against the glass facade, use the mirror image in the water basin for symmetrical compositions. |
| Leland Cornette Memorial Park | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 10 s (Stativ) | Use the flat water of the bridge for reflections; place the focus manually on infinity. |
| Historic Downtown Main Street | ISO 800 / f/4 / 1/60 s | Start the shop window lights and watch the book shop's vintage shop window for detail. |
| New Ross Riverwalk | ISO 200 / f/11 / 1/250 s | Shoot from the northern ridge against the sunlight for silhouettes of canoes and reflective water. |
| St. Mary’s Catholic Church | ISO 400 / f/2.8 / 1/30 s (Stativ) | Use the stained glass at Civil Twilight; focus on the windows to capture the mystical blue. |
| New Ross Public Library | ISO 200 / f/5.6 / 8 s (Stativ) | Photographer the glass facade during the Blue Hour; the interior lighting creates beautiful light patterns. |
New Albany is just a few minutes away and has an old port area where old warehouses in counterlight almost seem a bit melancholic. The bridges over the Ohio offer unusual lines, especially in fog.
Jeffersonville's okay, but the city center sometimes seems overrun. Nevertheless, there are a few abandoned factory buildings, which with Graffiti are almost already works of art – perfect for contrasting recordings.
The Big Four Bridge, now a pedestrian path, runs over the river. In short, the steel construction in counterlight when the sun goes down provides dramatic silhouettes.
If you like nature, go to Brown County. The forests there are a bit wild, the lights appear almost randomly placed – ideal for landscape and autumn colors.
Corydon, the old capital, has a few abandoned council houses and a small museum that looks rather inconspicuous from the outside. But the old brick buildings with their leaves give you a lot of texture.
Madison am Ohio River has a historic old town that is not overrun. The old stone houses and the narrow Main Street offer nice perspectives, especially when you photograph from an elevated position.
The Hoosier National Forest is not just a city trip, but the paths there are sometimes something devastating, which gives the pictures a rough touch. A small waterfall, a crashed tree – you can catch it well.
If you like to go a little further, Indianapolis is not despised. The Fountain Square district has a bit of an indie vibe, graffiti, old theatre halls and cafes that are well suited for street photography.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
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