{"id":77002,"date":"2021-12-08T10:00:03","date_gmt":"2021-12-08T15:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=77002"},"modified":"2021-12-01T10:43:01","modified_gmt":"2021-12-01T15:43:01","slug":"city-photo-spots-austin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/city-photo-spots-austin\/","title":{"rendered":"City Photo Spots: Best Locations in Austin for Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a native Texan, I\u2019ve spent a lot of time on backroads throughout the state. Although, I\u2019ve called Austin home for over 30 years. I\u2019ve watched the downtown skyline grow taller and spread along the shores of Lady Bird Lake. The vibrancy of Austin draws in visitors and offers a wide variety of cultural experiences. <\/span>Like no other Texas city, Austin prides itself on being just a bit \u201cweird\u201d \u2014 but in a very good way. Food trucks, colorful graffiti, neon lights, and an endless number of live music venues make Austin a fun place to explore with a camera in hand.\u00a0Whether your gear of choice is your phone<\/a> or a top-of-the-line mirrorless camera<\/a>, this article will point you in the direction of locations in Austin for your next photoshoot. You\u2019re bound to enjoy the challenge of making these Austin photo spots your own.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Texas State Capitol. Photo by Linda Nickell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Texas State Capitol\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

A must-see subject is both the inside and outside of the Texas State Capitol (1100 Congress Avenue). Most people just wander inside the building to check out the dome and rotunda, but be sure to walk through the underground extension on the north side of the building that leads to a beautiful atrium. Along the corridors and galleries, there are many architectural elements that make interesting subjects<\/a>. The Capitol is open late so, if you visit near closing time you\u2019ll find it much easier to photograph people-free interior shots. <\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most popular shots in Austin is of the State Capitol taken from the middle of Congress Avenue. You\u2019ll be tempted to take this shot from a crosswalk on this busy downtown street. Although, if you have a telephoto lens that is 200mm or greater, you can take the same amazing shot without putting yourself in harm\u2019s way. Head south and across the river to the parking lot of a pizza restaurant (2206 S. Congress Avenue).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Driskill. Photo by Linda Nickell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sixth Street <\/b>(Between Congress Avenue and Red River Street)<\/span><\/h2>\n

Want to do some street, urban, or\u00a0long exposure photography<\/a>? Sixth Street (between Congress Avenue and Red River Street) is a prime spot for people watching. It\u2019s packed with an array of neon-lit bars, restaurants, tattoo parlors, and music venues. Street and urban photographers will enjoy the gritty nooks and crannies along alleys and the colorful characters hanging out on the street. The Driskill (604 Brazos Street) is an iconic and historic hotel dating back to 1886 built by a wealthy cattle baron. It is designed in Romanesque-style architecture and is the oldest operating hotel in Austin. It has an impressive foyer and plenty of not-so-subtle design elements that will entice you to pull out your tripod<\/a> and a wide angle lens<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Doug Sahm Hill. Photo by Linda Nickell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Doug Sahm Hill<\/b><\/h2>\n

Want to catch the sunrise over the city? There is no prettier spot overlooking downtown than Doug Sahm Hill (836 W. Riverside Drive) in Butler Park. With an ever-changing skyline, there is rarely an opportunity to see the Austin skyline without a crane. Although,they are nice reminders that the city is thriving and architectural designs will continue to add interest to the modern-day horizon. Right next to Butler Park is The Long Center for the Performing Arts (701 W. Riverside Drive) where you will find the HEB terrace with columns that perfectly frame the skyline. It\u2019s a great location for portraits. At the front of the terrace, a round, illuminated platform offers a perfect spot to highlight an individual subject.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Boardwalk trail. Photo by Linda Nickell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail<\/b><\/h2>\n

The calm waters of Lady Bird Lake flow underneath six bridges in the city. These include Interstate Highway-35, Congress Avenue Bridge, South 1<\/span>st<\/span> Street Bridge, Pflugerville Pedestrian Bridge, Lamar Street Bridge, and the bridge below the MoPac Expressway. Each bridge offers a unique view of the city and can easily be accessed via The Ann and Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail. This is a 10-mile crushed gravel\/dirt\/asphalt trail that loops around the lake. It\u2019s the perfect spot to catch early morning reflections of the skyline. <\/span><\/p>\n

At the eastern end of the loop, the Boardwalk Trail sits just above the water to provide wonderful views of the trail with a skyline backdrop. Between late March and mid-October, large crowds of people gather along the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk to witness an estimated 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats take flight against a dark sky, creating a dramatic visual.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Heading west on the trail, the statue of famed guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn stands at the water\u2019s edge. He\u2019s almost perfectly centered in front of the skyline. Sometimes you\u2019ll find him holding a flower or donning a scarf left by a fan. Keep heading west and access the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, a foot bridge that connects downtown to Auditorium Shores and Butler Park. The ever-changing graffiti along the train tracks, reflections of the skyline, and the energy of those that use the bridge make it a popular location to photograph the Austin skyline at sunset.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pennybacker Bridge. Photo by Linda Nickell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lake Travis and the Pennybacker Bridge<\/b><\/h2>\n

The vista over Lake Travis and the Pennybacker Bridge (N. Capital of Texas Highway) is a short drive from downtown but it\u2019s worth the field trip. Access to the trails are just north of the bridge on each side of the highway. The most popular view is on the west side of the highway and is a great place to photograph sunrise and sunset<\/a>. On the east side of the highway, the views of sunset are better and if you don\u2019t mind walking down the hill in the dark, it\u2019s a fun spot to shoot light trails of the cars crossing the bridge. Bull Creek District Park (6701 Lakewood Drive) is three miles north of the bridge and is a quiet local park. You\u2019ll only see locals and their dogs along the trail. Also of interest is a small creek that runs along the hiking trail passes some interesting rock formations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Bull Creek Park. Photo by Linda Nickell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Barton Creek Greenbelt<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re a nature or landscape photographer<\/a>, you\u2019ll want to make a beeline to the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Multiple entrances are along the creek. Depending which trailhead you choose, you\u2019ll have many opportunities to photograph this area of the Hill Country. Wear hiking shoes so that you can safely follow the Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail to Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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McKinney Falls. Photo by Linda Nickell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

McKinney Falls State Park<\/b><\/h2>\n

Nature photographers will welcome a break from the concrete jungle of the city. Austin is within an hour\u2019s drive from six state parks and dozens of local area parks. The easiest to reach is a 20-minute drive from downtown to McKinney Falls State Park (5808 McKinney Falls Parkway). The sunsets here can be magical. If you\u2019re looking for wildlife you\u2019ll have many opportunities to see birds, large mammals, and plenty of cute critters. Another Austin gem are the trails through the prairie, canyon, and chaparral of Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park (614 Commons Ford Road).\u00a0 Wildlife sightings in spring are particularly good in this park because it supports a natural habitat for native and migratory birds.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo by Linda Nickell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other Popular Spots<\/h3>\n

A quick search for Austin\u2019s most popular Instagram spots will include these locations:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n