Seattle, the Emerald City, is a photographer’s paradise. With the Space Needle and Discovery Park greenery, Seattle has no shortage of opportunities to capture amazing photos. But although those popular locations are wonderful, there is another Seattle, a realm of hidden Seattle photography gems to discover. For established photographers or thrill-seeking hobbyists, discovering these lesser spots could hold the secret to producing truly exceptional and memorable shots. In this article, we’re going to give you a tour of the Seattle’s secret photography spots, unveiling places that aren’t on every traveler’s radar. City photography,

1. Kerry Park But Do It Differently

While Kerry Park is as iconic as it comes to photographing Seattle’s skyline, most tourists do the standard shot of the Space Needle sandwiched between Mount Rainier. To make your shots stand out, explore the surrounding streets. Get a few blocks away to find other angles of the skyline. The narrow alleys and charming residential streets lined with ivy-covered fences create a strange contrast between the cityscape of the metropolis and serene neighborhoods.
For a more creative endeavor, go to Kerry Park at night to experiment with long exposure photography. The city lights combined with light trails from cars driving through will yield magical shots that are both lively and serene.

2. Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge

Concealed in Seattle’s Beacon Hill district, the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge is a photographer’s paradise. This bridge offers an excellent photo of Interstate 90 as the downtown skyline looms in the distance. Photograph during golden hour or twilight to get the city as it’s illuminated with warm light, or stick around into the night to create ethereal light trail photos as cars whizz by on the freeway.
Pro tip: Pack a tripod and take some time to get your shot just so. The contrast between the freeway’s movement and the stillness of the skyline is an active shot that’s quintessentially Seattle.

3. The Fremont Troll

The Fremont Troll is not a secret treasure, but most photographers play it safe. To photograph this quirky landmark like a pro, take a shot from the ground or use a wide-angle lens to emphasize the size of the troll. To get an artistic shot, incorporate passersby in your photo to give scale to the troll.
Better yet, visit in off-peak hours, early morning or late evening, to avoid the usual tourist crowds. The eerie mood of the troll in the dark will lend an element of mystery, nearly mythical to your photos.

4. Kubota Garden

This Seattle’s secret photography spot is heaven for nature photographers. Kubota Garden melds traditional Japanese landscaping with the bright green that comes along with the Pacific Northwest. The result is an idyllic, peaceful realm with luscious color, meditative ponds, and soothing strolling trails.
Come in autumn to catch the bright red, orange, and yellow of the fall foliage, or arrive in the spring to witness the cherry blossoms. Don’t leave home without packing a macro lens to photograph the beauty of the small flowers and leaves’ intricate detail.

5. Industrial Charm of Georgetown

Georgetown, the oldest Seattle neighborhood, is a photographer’s paradise where gritty industrial charm is the norm. The area is full of aged warehouses, railroad lines, and splashes of color in the form of murals. The industrial tone is the perfect complement to the artistic vibe of the neighborhood, and therefore it’s a wonderful spot for urban photography.
One of the highlights is the Georgetown Steam Plant, a historic building with fascinating architecture. Pair this with the neighborhood’s vibrant street art, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities for unique shots.

6. Gas Works Park’s Hidden Corners

Gas Works Park is renowned for its skyline and lake views, but the park contains secrets beyond view. Wander off the central hill and explore the industrial structures within the park. The old, rusty machinery and pipes of the old gasification plant make for excellent compositions, particularly when combined with the verdant flora of the park.
As a challenge, attempt to include puddle or lake reflections in your photographs. This introduces depth and originality into your images, making a well-visited spot into something new and unique.

7. Rattlesnake Ledge

Just a short drive from Seattle, Rattlesnake Ledge is a landscape photographer’s dream destination. The hike to the top is tough but well worth it for the reward: an expansive open view of Rattlesnake Lake and the surrounding peaks. The ledge itself makes for a stunning foreground for your shots, and the lake below will often replicate the sky as a natural reflector.
Visit this Seattle’s secret photography spot at sunrise or on a weekday so that the beach won’t be crowded with tourists, and don’t miss packing a wide-angle lens to capture the whole width of the breathtaking view.

8. Golden Gardens’ Secret Beaches

Golden Gardens is also a wonderful spot for sunset photography, but few tourists venture off the main beach. Travel north on the beach to discover secluded, untrafficked beaches with good views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. These secluded spots are perfect for intimate landscapes or experimenting with long exposures to achieve a silky surface on the water.
For a totally different experience, visit this Seattle’s secret photography spot during low tide to photograph tide pools and their interesting occupants.

9. Volunteer Park Conservatory

Located on Capitol Hill, the Volunteer Park Conservatory is one off-the-beaten-track treasure for macro photography and botany. The turn-of-the-century greenhouse features a stunning variety of plants from tropical flowers to cacti. The highly crafted exhibits present limitless scope for up-close photos, and the light pouring in through the glass roof makes everything seem magical.
Outside the conservatory, the park itself offers further photography opportunities, including the lovely Black Sun sculpture and photographs of the Space Needle through its circular frame.

10. Seattle Central Library

The brainchild of Joshua Prince-Ramus and Rem Koolhaas, this modern marvel of a building is adorned with high-tech angles, angular appearance, and loads of light. The interior is just as recallable as the exterior, featuring painted floors, large stairways, and breathtaking vistas around every corner.
Experiment with different composition and angles in order to evoke the futuristic theme of the library. Make sure not to overlook capturing the light and dark contrast, which invokes depth and drama in your photos.

Conclusion

Seattle is a city with unlimited photographic possibilities, ranging from sweeping landmarks to hidden secrets that only the most adventurous photographers ever encounter. By traveling the unbeaten path and exploring Seattle’s secret photography spots like Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge, Kubota Garden, and Georgetown, you can capture the Emerald City in images few others have.
So, grab your camera, explore the city, and let the magic of Seattle inspire your creativity. And when you’re ready to take your photography to the next level, reach out to Iconic Photography to make your vision come to life.

Iconic Photography; The Best Photographer in Seattle

While discovering hidden photography spots is an exciting adventure, bringing them to life in all their beauty is a matter of talent, imagination, and technique. That is where Iconic Photography comes in. The highly-rated Seattle photographer, Iconic Photography has an intimate understanding of the city’s offbeat personality and knows precisely how to elicit its character out of every snap.
No matter what you need from a photographer, maybe taking your portraits in front of Seattle’s stunning backdrops, capture a milestone moment, or assist with leading you on a photography tour of the city, Iconic Photography is where you want to go. Our expertise in the combination of technical skill and creative vision guarantees that every photo taken is not only a snap, but a masterpiece.