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7 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
Small, varied preserve of woodlands, prairie, wetlands and boardwalks — great for intimate landscapes, seasonal colors, reflections and songbirds. Best at golden hour or dawn for soft light and bird activity; fall for foliage; winter for stark snow scenes. Trails are easy-to-moderate; parking at the trailhead (no fee). Preserve hours usually dawn–dusk. Expect mosquitoes in summer and limited facilities—bring water and bug spray.
Small suburban lake with a shoreline boardwalk, cattail marshes and mature trees that produce strong reflections and seasonal color. Best at golden hour (sunrise for east-side reflections, late afternoon for warm side light) and in fall when foliage pops. Easy access with free parking; flat, short trails and boardwalks make gear transport simple. Expect local birdlife and occasional anglers—quiet weekdays are best for unobstructed shots.
Small community park with open lawns, mature trees, walking paths and a pond — good for seasonal landscapes, reflections, fall color and intimate nature shots. Best light at sunrise or golden hour; late afternoon can yield warm backlight through trees. Easy drive-up access and on-site parking, no entry fee; expect family use on weekends. Winter offers stark silhouettes and snow textures. Trails and paved paths improve accessibility.
Malone Park is a neighborhood park with trails, open lawns, tree lines and small wetlands — good for seasonal landscapes, fall color, winter snowscapes and intimate nature shots. Best at golden hour for warm side-light on trees and at sunrise for mist over low-lying wet areas. Easy access from Al Stigler Pkwy with parking nearby and paved paths for carrying gear; no entry fee. Weekdays and early mornings minimize families and dog walkers. Expect typical Midwestern weather and changing foliage; a
A community outdoor recreation space suited to pet and family photography — think candid action shots of dogs at play, lifestyle portraits on lawns, and close-ups of natural details. Best light is early morning or late afternoon (soft golden hour); weekdays or off-peak hours reduce crowds. Suburban location with on-site parking; verify seasonal hours and any entry rules for pets/events. Easy access and informal settings make it a good quick shoot location.
A large Moai-style Easter Island head sculpture on public lawn beside W Cleveland Ave — an eye-catching roadside subject for portrait-scale sculpture shots and contextual urban compositions. Easy to reach with curbside parking; no entry fee. Best light is golden hour or overcast for even texture; winter snow adds contrast. Weekday mornings have minimal traffic; bring a small tripod for low-angle shots and long exposures if shooting traffic trails.
Small suburban park with mixed woodlands, open prairie patches and a pond—good for intimate landscape compositions, seasonal foliage, birding and quiet nature shots. Best at golden hours and in fall for color or spring for fresh greens and migrating songbirds. Easily accessible with a small parking lot off W Kostner Ln, flat paved and dirt paths suitable for hike-in gear; no entry fee. Weekday mornings are least crowded; check local weather for wind that affects water reflections.