Best Photography Spots in Seattle. Seattle isn’t just known for its rainy weather. It is also the location of many famous landmarks and photogenic spots. There is a unique urban vibe that you can only find here. There is not only endless coffee, interesting architecture, and cool museums to visit but also some natural aspects here and there to admire. So if you are wondering where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Here is a list of the best photography spots in the city to get you going on your explorations.
The Gear
The gear we recommend is a good camera and the holy trinity. A wide-angle lens. 14-24mm or something similar. A 24-70mm or something similar and, of course, a 70-200mm or something similar.
If you do not have these particular lenses, do not worry; something similar will be just fine. It would be best if you also had a tripod.
1. Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is one of the most well-known markets in the world. Not only do people visit to photograph the infamous sign that is located outside the market, but they also enjoy the endless amount of food and vendors around. You can also search for the second sign that is one street over from the main one and has a backdrop of Elliot Bay.
2. Seattle Space Needle
The Space Needle is an iconic tourist attraction in the city. It is a futuristic tower that offers plenty of cool angles to take pictures of. You can get some interesting perspectives up close but also be sure to head to various parts of the city to get shots of the Space Needle from a distance.
3. Kerry Park
For those wanting to capture that postcard picture of the city, Kerry Park is the perfect place to go. This location allows you to see the Space Needle among all of the skyscrapers as well as Mount Rainier on a good day.
4. Seattle Waterfront
The waterfront is a one-stop-shop for lots of city views and unique spaces to photograph. One of the things that everyone goes for is the Seattle Great Wheel which is a large Ferris wheel located along the water. In addition to this, there are a few piers around that offer some cool shots.
5. The Smith Tower
This is a skyscraper in the city that also served as a historic observatory. It gives you a 360-degree view of the city and is the oldest skyscraper in all of Seattle. Back in the day, it was also the tallest building outside of NYC.
Best Photography Spots in Seattle Washington
6. Gas Works Park
This is the location of a historic coal gasification plant and gives you a really industrial perspective of the city. It is cool to photograph on its own or to use as a place to go at sunset to capture the skyline.
7. MoPOP
The Museum of Pop Culture has tons of interactive exhibits that can keep you entertained for hours. The outside of the museum is really what you want to take photos of. The building is covered in thousands of colorful panels that change depending on which angle the light hits it. It’s a good idea to go when it is sunny because that is when the colors are most vibrant.
8. West Seattle
This location gives you a great panoramic view of the Seattle skyline. You can capture some really great sunrise and sunset photos from West Seattle and also enjoy plenty of good food. It is across the bay, which helps to frame shots with the ocean.
9. Seattle Central Library
This library was newly renovated in 2004 and is now one of the most stunning spots in the city. There are 11 floors for you to explore, and it has a modern roof design to top it all off, creating cool picture opportunities from the inside and on the outside.
10. Fremont Troll
This is one of the neighborhoods in the city that is fun to explore due to its colorful and quirky vibe. A fun statue to capture is the Fremont Troll which is a gigantic troll crushing a Volkswagen Beetle in its hand.
11. Double Helix Bridge
This bridge is located on the waterfront and might not seem like much until you get closer and really start to explore the angles yourself. The design of it makes it really cool in photos, especially if you’re able to play with the light.
12. Gum Wall
While this sounds like a gross sight to see, the Gum Wall has become its own art piece after being decorated with millions of pieces of chewed-up gum. It is near Pike Place Market and has its own hoards of visitors, so you’ll have to be strategic with your pictures.
13. Japanese Gardens
The neighborhood of Madison Park has some beautiful gardens that you can visit for a small fee. This is an ideal place for the fall because of the stunning colors that come with the changing of the leaves.
Best Photography Spots in Seattle Washington
14. Alki Beach
To get a good view of the city from afar, you’ll want to head to Alki Beach, which is a sand beach in the area. It gets crowded throughout the summer, so head here early to get a parking spot.
15. Chihuly Garden and Glass
This is a museum with a beautiful collection of glass-blown art. There is also a glass garden outside of the museum as well. A popular shot here is one that photographs the art hanging on the ceiling that is made completely of windows. If you find the right angle, you could even capture the Space Needle in the background.
16. University of Washington
This campus is beautiful all year round but is especially popular during the spring when the cherry blossoms bloom. It is not just university students that enjoy the flowers—people from all over flock to campus each year to look at the extraordinary trees.
17. Starbucks Reserve
You can’t visit Seattle without thinking about coffee. Starbucks is a major chain around the world and has a Starbucks Reserve location in the city where you can get a glimpse of coffee making behind the scenes. Enjoy a cup yourself while you admire all of the cool machinery they have.
18. Seattle Aquarium
The aquarium always offers good photo opportunities and is a good place to include on your list as a backup for any potential rainy days. There are tide pools and indoor exhibits to wander through as well as cute otters outside to capture on camera.
19. King Street Station
Visit the past with a trip to the King Street Station. There is plenty of history that comes with this old train station and gives you some insight into how the city has changed throughout the years.
20. Mount Rainier
While Mount Rainier is located outside of Seattle, visitors who are lucky can spot this mountain from the city when the sky is clear. This is one of the active stratovolcanoes just 60 miles away from Seattle and is a prominent feature of Mount Rainier National Park.
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These are the Best Photography Spots in Seattle Washington
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