Guide to Capture Seattle Skyline: 10 Top Locations | 8 Effective Tips

Seattle, popularly known as Emerald City is a city with a wonderful skyline, owing to the fact that it is always green here. In fact, you can be sure to like every view of the city, whether from the top of the Space Needle or from the shores of Lake Union.

Whether you are a resident of Seattle or someone who is looking forward to visiting Seattle for the first time, you definitely will want to catch a glimpse of the places we are going to share.

In this article, we are going to highlight some of the top locations in Seattle for skyline photography. We will also share ideas for photographers you can watch out for and tips to apply in building your skyline photography niche. 

The most iconic pictures of skylines take you beyond the urban environment. Rather, they use a wide variety of photographic techniques to produce a mood. They are uniquely characterized by features, including monuments and buildings, that can easily identify each region.

Given that mastering such techniques involves some work, we have compiled some tried and tested advice for capturing the city skylines that will set you off on your journey. So, you can level up your cityscape photography using these tips. 

1. Choose the Ideal Lens for the Situation

Taking pictures of the urban scene is not as hard as it first seems. If you use the best camera settings and the appropriate photographic equipment, you will be on the right path already.

If you're going to be zooming in to just one important landmark within the city skyline, use lenses that have a mid-range depth of field; around 28 mm to 100 mm but not too broad. In this focus range, the size of the skyline can be well shot without making it overly near or far.

Image from Unsplash

2. Use a Tripod

If you want to shoot sharp images, it would be a wise idea to use a tripod. The use of a tripod can help reduce the movement of the camera. You can also shoot at night or in very low lighting conditions using a slower shutter speed, or even if you wish to be a bit more experimental with your lighting. 

3. Focus Manually

Although there are lots of benefits of the autofocus feature, there are some really rare cases when manual focusing is more beneficial when taking city photographs. In almost all situations, manual focus is a lot sharper compared to autofocus, especially in low light.

The manual focusing can also be significantly much more accurate when taking photos of buildings in the distance, whereas the autofocus might have an issue with determining how far away the buildings really are. 

4. Set Aperture Priority as the Shooting Mode

While Manual mode should be used in almost all situations, capturing a city skyline can be one setting where you can switch to Aperture Priority. That is because Aperture Priority mode basically allows you complete control over every other camera setting except the shutter speed. 

Image from Unsplash

5. For Improved Field of View, Use a Narrow Aperture

Since we have highlighted the need to make sure you have the correct depth of focus, you might probably be wondering what's the best aperture for taking shots of city skylines. Generally, the aim would be to capture all the details at the scene with everything in sharp focus, but that really depends on what you are trying to achieve. 

To achieve this keep the aperture small at around f/11; this enhances front-to-back sharpness. You may have to bump up the aperture when shooting nighttime cityscapes to about f/3.5 for a brighter exposure. 

6. Low ISO

When photographing the city, as with any other type of photography, you should use the lowest ISO that will work for the lighting conditions. This way, you'll minimize the probability of getting blurry, noisy, or grainy shots. 

Image from Shutterstock

7. Shoot Horizontally and Straight.

In cityscapes especially, the horizon line can either make or break an image. The final result may become a distorted,  aesthetically poor image. You, therefore, always have to make sure that the horizon is level before you press the shutter button after you have chosen your composition. 

8. Morning, Twilight, and Azure Hours Are the Good Times to Take Pictures

One of the tricks to taking great cityscapes is in using the best lighting. At the “golden hour”, skylines look amazing; just after the sun rises and just before it sets, when brilliant colors light up the sky.

Cityscapes can even be more beautiful if the background becomes darker during the blue hour or twilight when all the city lights turn on. The ambient lighting will be adequate to show the structures but not so much that it creates too much contrast. The lighting is just enough that just the right makes the subject appear enchanted. 

Top Locations for Capture the Allure of Seattle Skyline

1. Kerry Park

Even though Kerry Park is just a small city park, it still offers beautiful views of the Seattle Space Needle, the skyline of the city, Elliot Bay, and Mount Rainier in the distance. We can enjoy stunning and glamorous scenery here. So, just choose a suitable place you like, and we can view the splendid Seattle skyline.

Image from Istockphoto

2. Space Needle

As one of the most photographed and meaningful recognized structures in the world, the Space Needle is worth going and viewing. Also, its reservation desk and revolving restaurant are at a height of 520 feet above the ground, so it is easy to enjoy the 360-degree panoramic view of Seattle. So there is no doubt that Space Needle is a good choice.

Image from Shutterstock

3. Gas Work Park

Due to its location in the heart of Seattle, Gas Work Park is not only a good place to relax but also one of the splendid city spots to enjoy the city’s skyline. Moreover, you can enjoy the magnificent panorama of the city, with the vast bay and distant mountains in view. Whether at sunset or the dazzling city lights at night, Gas Works Park always allows you to experience the unique allure of Seattle.

Image from Istockshop

4. Alki Beach

As we know, Alki Beach offers an unparalleled view of the Seattle skyline at close range. The beaches and open bays here provide you with the perfect fusion of city and nature. What's more, whether the calm of the morning or the golden afterglow of the evening, the Seattle skyline always shows its unique charm here.

Image from Shutterstock

5. Seattle Great Wheel

As we know, the Seattle Great Wheel is not only a place to enjoy the stimulus experience, but it is also a good choice to enjoy the splendid Seattle skyline. By the sky wheel, you can overlook the magnificent panorama of the whole city from high above, with the space needle tower, the bay and the mountains in the distance. Especially at night, the city lights flicker on the sea, as if entering a dream of light and shadow.

Image from Pexels

6. Madison Park

Madison Park is a secret place to enjoy the Seattle skyline. Though it is away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but still offers the most fascinating view. From here, you can see the beauty of the space needle tower intersecting with the lake, and the skyline is perfectly reflected in the tranquil water. Also, no matter at sunset or in the first light of the morning, Madison Park will always bring you the unique charm of the city.

Image from Istockphoto

7. Smith Tower

With its classic historical charm and unique height, the Smith Tower is a secret place to enjoy the Seattle skyline. Standing on this historic tower, just like traveling through time and space to feel the modern vitality of Seattle and touch its deep cultural heritage.

Image from Istockphoto

8. Seattle Center

Seattle Center is a place where you can get up close to the Seattle skyline. When standing here, you can see the space needle piercing the sky, and the surrounding mountains and water all come into your sights. Especially in the evening, the sunset covers the city with warm gold, and the skyscrapers cast a different kind of beauty in the light and shadow. All of this allows you to feel the charm and unique atmosphere of Seattle at any time.

Image from Istockphoto

9. Chihuly Garden and Glass

In addition to being an art lover's paradise, Chihuly Garden and Glass is also a great location to enjoy the Seattle skyline. When standing here, you can find inspiration from the colorful glass artworks. Also, the attractive Seattle skyline can also be overlooked in view. What's more, whether the contrast of the artwork with the cityscape, or the reflection of the Glass sculpture at sunset interweaving with the sky, Chihuly Garden and Glass offers a unique perspective that allows you to revel in the beauty of the city.

Image from Shutterstock

10. Pike Place Market (Rooftop View)

If you want to view the Seattle skyline from a unique perspective, the rooftop of Pike Place Market must be a treasure spot. From here, not only the iconic Space Needle of Seattle but the hustle and beauty of the city, you can admire everything you want here. Moreover, you can easily enjoy the bay, the mountain and the busy market... which consists of a special charming picture. So it is obvious that the rooftop of Pike Place Market offers a perfect view, allowing you to enjoy the charm of Seattle.

Image from Shutterstock

Seattle Cityscape Photographers to Inspire Your Works

1. Brad Lyman

Brad Lyman is a landscape photographer based in the stunning Pacific Northwest. Landscapes are his most enduring passion, but his interests don't stop there. The beauty of his street and cityscapes from Seattle will literally take your breath away. 

2. JD Chen

JD Chen has captured the most inspirational 8K RAW images of the Emerald City. It's always a hard thing to realistically mimic the sky when shooting outside. Whether day or night, JD is good at capturing the mood and the nuances of the city. His photographs are some of the most inspirational pictures you can come across since they give you the impression you are walking down the streets with him. 

3. Sigma Sreedharan

Sigma, like most of us, got his start in photography for leisure. But it didn't take long for it to develop further. The azure hour or sunset are her two favorite photographic subjects, each one a window into her imagination, using bright, vivid colors that bring Seattle to life in new ways. 

4. Josh Spooner

In Josh Spooner's first image, The Space Needle nudges into the low-lying clouds, like it’s about to rain. It depicts the cityscape behind it so that you can hear the commotion of the street traffic. This is an awesome and crucial gift to Seattle cityscape photographers and Josh is a good place to get it. The photographs on his Instagram page offer a longing look, either using a camera or a drone, into the alleys of the Emerald City. 

5. Sam Emerson 

Seattle-based photographer Sam Emerson focuses on airborne and urban landscapes. As a result, the landscapes and cityscapes he photographs look like they belong in a motion picture. He seeks to preserve the city he adores with the use of a DJI Mavic 2 Pro and a Nikon D810 to produce his magnificent pictures. His use of subdued, slightly darker tones in both the drone and Nikon photos draws you into the adventure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating an image of the Seattle skyline can be so gratifying. With just a little of the right planning and a few simple tips, you could easily capture the beauty of this city from just the right angle. A huge variety of awesome locations are ideal for taking the best view of Seattle. With some thought put into the planning process, you could easily create stunning landscape photographs that bring out the beauty of the city.