Colfax is a small town in the heart of Grant County, which surprises with historic façades and lots of greenery. The quiet streets offer little distraction, for that clear lines of view for compositions. I like the city, because it feels like an open photo studio – hardly crowds, much space for experiments. Those who like to play with light find their favorite spots here quickly.
I plan the shooting around the four golden light phases. The Civil Twilight slowly awakens the city, the first lights dip the main road into a gentle blue. The Golden Hour provides warm, diffuse light – a good search term for lighting is “golden hour Colfax”. Shortly before Sunset light throws long shadows over the historic buildings, ideal for dramatic silhouettes. In Blue Hour I put on long-term exposures to turn the city lights into velvety blue.
The map tool of poi‐travel.deembedded under this text exactly shows the position of the sun and indicates the azimuth (horizontal angle). So I can record the line to the sun and set the optimal orientation for each photo.
Miller’s restaurant’s neon-lit shield has been a landmark since the 1950s. It stands at the intersection of Main Street & Oak Avenue and offers a strong contrast play from red and yellow tones at night. For an image with clear lines, a short tele zoom is recommended to capture the shield isolated from the background. Opening hours: The restaurant is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., the sign illuminates from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Insider tip: Position on the opposite side of the road to reflect the light of the shield on the wet stone plasters – this creates a beautiful mirror image.
The central park is located on the edge of the old town and has a small lake, old oaks and a historical monument. In particular, Golden Hour the light throws long shadows over the water, which leads to interesting reflections. The park is free of charge and has open from 6 am to 2 pm. Practical note: The best photo pot is the wooden bridge in the northwest, where the sunlight can be filtered through the trees. Insider tip: Early in the morning, when the Tau is still lying, soft pastel colors are created – perfect for landscape photography.
The two-storey brick building from the late 19. The century houses a café and a small art studio today. The facade with its original bricks and wrought iron balconies is a magnet for architectural photographers. Opening hours: The café is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the building is accessible from the outside at any time. For recordings in Blue Hour a tripod and an ND filter is recommended to soften the lights of the city in the background. Insider tip: From the opposite alley you can frame the building with the sunset in the background – this gives the image depth.
Just a few kilometres south of Colfax, Broadview Lake is a popular destination for anglers and campers. The lake offers wide water areas that shine in golden and pink at sunset. The campsite is open from May to October, entrance costs 5 USD per vehicle. The ideal photo moment is the Sunset phasewhen the light slides over the water. Practical note: Use the wooden pea deck in the southwest for long term exposures – the water then acts silky. Insider tip: If you go a little further to the right, you will find an old wooden boat that can serve as the foreground for your composition.
The neo-Gothic church from the early 20th. Century dominates the Colfax skyline. Their high tower and colourful glass windows offer exciting light games, especially when the sun falls through the windows. The church is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for visitors. For recordings during Civil Twilight a wide angle lens is recommended to set the tower against the dark sky. Insider tip: In the small cemetery behind the church there are old tombstones that give a mystical picture at moonlight – ideal for night photography.
Colfax may be small, but the combination of historical architecture, quiet green spaces and clear light phases makes it an underestimated paradise for photographers. With a few local tips and the map tool from poi‐travel.de, every light can be captured here – from the warm gold of the dusk to the deep blue of the night.
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 Colfax, 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 Colfax |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | Warm, diffuse light with long shadows; ideal for landscapes and reflections. | Colfax Park (Holzbrücke) |
| Sunset | Gold and pink tones, dramatic silhouettes over water surfaces. | Broadview Lake Campground (Holzpier-Deck) |
| Civil Twilight | Gentle blue, first city lights, ideal for silhouettes against heaven. | St. Mary’s Catholic Church (Turm) |
| Blue Hour | Deep blue, long exposures, city lights and neon. | Historic Miller’s Restaurant Sign; Rosenberger Building |
| Photos | Settings (ISO/Blende/Zeit) | Professional tip |
|---|---|---|
| Historic Miller’s Restaurant Sign | ISO 400 / f/5.6 / 1/60 s | Use a tele zoom (70-200 mm), position yourself against the road and start the mirror image in the wet headstone paver. |
| Colfax Park (Holzbrücke) | ISO 200 / f/8 / 1/125 s | Choose the golden moment just before sunset; focus on the bridge to emphasize the reflections in the water. |
| Rosenberger Building | ISO 800 / f/4 / 5 s (Stativ, ND filter) | photograph on the opposite alley, frame sunset in the background; ND filters for soft lights. |
| Broadview Lake Campground (Holzpier-Deck) | ISO 100 / f/11 / 10 s (Stativ) | Use a wide angle lens, keep the foreground (boat) in the image and use long term exposure for silky-smooth water. |
| St. Mary’s Catholic Church | ISO 640 / f/4.5 / 2 s (Stativ) | Use wide angle, position tower against the dark sky; at Civil Twilight capture the light of the glass windows. |
However, the small Colfax itself is not the target, but the surrounding area that provides a little more picture material. Right north is Marion. There is an old railway track, which looks almost like a film set in the morning light – a bit rusty, but with interesting lines.
A short trip to Muncie brings Ball State University. The campus is a mix of modern architecture and old brick buildings. Especially the reflections in the lake behind the main building can be surprising when the weather plays.
Nevertheless, a detour to Anderson is worthwhile. The city center has a few abandoned factory halls whose window frames still break the light. Sometimes the whole looks a bit overrun, but that gives the picture a certain roughness.
A bit further east, direction Ohio, is Richmond. There is an old railway station building that is oversaturated by Graffiti – a contrast of history and present that is well suited for street photography.
In short, if you are looking for something that is not too touristy, try the small village of Noblesville. The White River river stream offers quiet water areas that are almost mirror-smooth at sunset.
Another tip: The area around the Mississinewa State Park. The forests there are dense, the paths are a bit angled, and the light that falls through the trees creates an almost mystical pattern – perfect for natural and landscape images.
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