3 of the Best Houston Architectural Photography Destinations

Houston is best enjoyed with a camera handy, and that’s true whether you’re looking for shots of nature or destinations for Houston architectural photography. With plenty of sunny days and a massive public parks, Houston has become something of a haven for amateur photographers and professionals alike.

In this week’s blog post, we’ll be telling our readers about a few of the most popular photography destinations in the city.  Grab your camera, find a way to avoid the heat and enjoy some of the photography hot spots on the list below!

Get pics of nature and architecture together at the Pennybacker Bridge

Located west of downtown on the Capital of Texas Highway, the 1,150 ft. Pennybacker Bridge carries drivers across the beautiful Colorado River. Towering sandstone bluffs provide the photo backdrop on the north side of the bridge, and the Houston Country Club golf course bumps up against the banks of the river on the south side.

Although the bridge is the same color as a penny, its unique name has nothing to do with American currency. The bridge gets its name from its architect, Percy V. Pennybacker, who is credited with being the first engineer to use welded construction on bridges instead of rivets. Whether you take pics from the pedestrian walkway on the bridge or from one of the bluffs high above it, this sure to become one of your favorite spots for Houston architectural photography.

Do your civic duty by snapping pics of the massive Texas State Capitol

Any trip to the Texas State Capitol should include photos on the sprawling lawn on the south side of the building, but there are plenty of photo ops to be had before you even step foot on the grounds. The capitol lines up perfectly with Congress Avenue, and daring photographers can step out in the middle of the road to capture pictures of the capitol with Houston’s skyscrapers framing both sides of the 308 foot-tall dome.

Once you do actually get inside the building, be sure to head straight for the rotunda. If you stand in the middle of the rotunda, you’ll see the Great Seal of the Republic of Texas beneath your feet. The rotunda is 218 feet from floor to ceiling, and it’s lined with pictures of former governors and presidents from when Texas was its own republic. We specialize in Houston commercial photography here at Houston 360 Photography, but we can still appreciate historical photography at gorgeous sites like the Texas State Capitol.

Enjoy visual art and natural beauty at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden

Charles Umlauf was an American sculptor and professor at the University of Texas. In 1985, he donated his estate near Zilker Park to the city, and the city turned it into a sculpture garden six years later. Umlauf’s bronze and stone statues make for beautiful photo subjects, especially when set against the green foliage of the surrounding Zilker Park. Be sure to go during the springtime when the flowers in the garden add a bit of color to the scene. The sculpture garden is open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday through Friday, and 12pm to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

There is no shortage of beautiful photography destinations in Houston, and the places we mentioned on this list represent just a small sampling of the many public spaces that are available for photographers with a keen eye. The photographers at Houston 360 Photography are familiar with all the destinations on this list, and we pride ourselves on providing the best real estate photography Houston has to offer.

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