Iconic Pensacola photos: Where to take the most memorable photos
Have you ever scrolled through your social media feed and had a photograph catch your eye? It probably happened this past week as you scrolled through the plethora of Blue Angel photos fans have posted.
Pensacola is full of photogenic spots, whether it’s an iconic landmark that begs for a picture or a popular place to snap a selfie.
Keep reading to discover some of our favorite spots.
We’d also love to hear yours. Emails us at [email protected] and we’ll put it on the list.
Some quick tips
Find the right lighting
Knowing when to take a good picture is just as important as where. Whether you’re shooting on a multi-thousand dollar DSLR or your iPhone, lighting is always king. But not all light is created equally. Bright fluorescent lighting can cheapen the look of a photo and still introduce a lot of noise into the photo despite seeming fine to our eyes. And taking photos on a bright, sunny day can introduce harsh light that makes it difficult to balance shadows and highlights, not to mention it can lead to unflattering shadows.
Knowing the best time to take photos
The best times to take a photo are early in the morning when the sun hasn’t quite risen to its peak. Golden hour is another great time. That short time frame as the sun is setting, you’ll get softer light with golden hues. Shooting on overcast days is also great since the clouds can filter out a lot of the harsher light, though you'll miss out on those brilliant blue skies. And lastly, if you’re taking a quick shot, find some shade to have your subject stand in and have them face the light. This will make sure your subject is lit but not overwhelmingly so.
Fortunately, phones have gotten pretty good at processing photos, so even in the worst of circumstances, it will do its best to balance exposure levels in a photo - especially if you’re using HDR mode. Just be careful that you don’t overdo it.
Pensacola Beach
You can’t mention photos and not mention the beach. It is the quintessential Pensacola photo to grab whether you’re visiting your first time or you’ve lived here for 40 years. No matter how many times you’ve seen it, you just can’t help but be taken aback by its beauty.
The sandy beaches are great places to take photos at during golden hour or early in the morning, but there are plenty of great vantage points to shoot from. The Pensacola Beach Pier can give you a full view down Casino Beach and the peninsula, but don’t ignore the boardwalk. It’s a great spot for grabbing photos of live music, people and more. And don't forget to stop and snap a photo of the Pensacola Beach sign on your way back.
Fort Pickens
Fort Pickens is one of the Third System forts the United States began constructing in the early 1800s. Its purpose was to protect important waterways and seaports. Today, visitors can explore the remnants of the fort and enjoy some of the surrounding habitat. Access to the fort can be tricky at times as heavy rain can occasionally flood the road and cause closures. Entrance fees are $15 per person for pedestrians or $25 by car.
Graffiti Bridge
The Graffiti Bridge is a fun place for photos because it’s a revolving door of art, personal messages and public statements. Climbing up to the top of the overpass, you’ll find a picturesque view overlooking the bay and the old train tracks used by CSX Transportation Company, which is used by many local photographers as a backdrop for portraits.
Downtown Pensacola
This story could easily consist of only downtown locations — Palafox Street was named as one of America’s Great Places by the American Planning Association, after all. But for brevity’s sake, we’ll just hit up the highlights.
Palafox Street
You can find a lot of great spots to photograph by simply walking down Palafox Street. It’s typically bursting with lively activity — whether it’s people eating, buskers, jogging or more. Gallery Night happens every third Friday of each month and makes for tons of great photo opportunities, and during the holidays, the city lights up Pensacola with dazzling light displays.
Palafox Pier
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Palafox Pier is at the end of Palafox Street and offers a breathtaking view of Pensacola Bay and a unique look at Community Maritime Park and Pensacola Port — where you’ll currently find the massive Blue Origin ship, Jacklyn. Don’t sleep on the sunset view here either.
Historic Churches
Many of Pensacola’s most photogenic churches are located downtown. Old Christ Church, built in 1832, is one of the oldest surviving church buildings in the state. While Old Christ Church may be the most popular, there are several other notable churches you probably often drive by, including Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, Immanuel Lutheran Church Christ Episcopal Church, First United Methodist Church and Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Parks
Downtown has a number of different parks that can make for great portrait backdrops. Ferdinand Plaza VII is located in the heart of Downtown Pensacola and pays homage to Ferdinand VII of Spain, President Andrew Jackson and mayor of Pensacola William Dudley Chipley. The Community Maritime Park is to the west and features the Blue Wahoos Stadium, an amphitheater, a kids playground, callisthenic fitness court and another great view of the bay. And finally, Seville Square doesn’t disappoint either — especially during a festival, like the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival.
Murals
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Murals popping up: Historic murals are popping up in downtown Pensacola
Murals are big in downtown Pensacola, and there are a number that serve as great standalone photos or as a selfie backdrop. The Foo Foo Fest mural on the Garden Street side of Vinyl and the Wish You Were Here mural on Romana are great spots to pose for photos. In 2016, Pensacola artists Ashton Howard and Evan Levin collaborated on a 3,000-square-foot mural on the Jefferson Street Garage and features a number of local references. And finally, a number of larger-than-life historic murals have popped all around Pensacola. Here’s a quick list of where they are located:
117 E. Government St.
Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St.
Seville Tower, 226 S. Palafox St.
Regions Bank, 70 N. Baylen St.
4 N. Palafox St.
Historic Pensacola
Last but definitely not least, the Seville Historic District is a fantastic place for a walk and a look at historic buildings like the Tivoli High House, Lavalle House, Door House, Lear/Rocheblave House, Manuel Barrios Cottage, Old Christ Church and more.
Pensacola postcard mural
When Alga Beer Co. moved into the former Brew Ha Ha building, it renovated the whole place. What stayed was the giant Pensacola postcard mural on the side of the building that became a popular spot for Instagram photos.
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Veterans Memorial Park
The Veterans Memorial Park has stood for 30 years, paying respect to thousands of veterans with a replica of Maya Lin's original 1987 Wall South design and many others with memorials honoring those who served and gave their lives in the WWI, WII, Korean and other wars. The park is open to all visitors and makes for some truly memorable photos.
The Bluffs
The Bluffs showcase some of Florida's unique geology thanks to slopes of red clay that eventually meet the sandy shores of Pensacola Bay. The CSX train tracks run along the coast, offering a contrast between man and nature. Walkways wind through the area's topography, providing great views and excellent light for portraits.
Holland Farms
This one is cheating a bit since it's not technically in Pensacola, but Holland Farms is still a great place to go for family photoshoots and family-friendly fun. Holland Farm is a peanut farm located in Santa Rosa County that offers free peanuts upon entry and grows pumpkins and sunflowers when they're in season, which make for beautiful photos.
Entry to Holland Farms for pumpkins and sunflowers is seasonal and runs from Sept. 25 to Nov. 6. Full admission is $14 and there is currently no extra photography fee. Just check in at the entrance to receive wrist bands. Vehicles aren't allowed to drive to the fields, but wagons for equipment are allowed.
12th Avenue Tree Tunnel
The 12th Avenue tree tunnel rounds out our list. Stretching between Driftwood Drive and Ariola Avenue, the road under the tree canopy was the entrance to the Baars Family Estate. Today, it's used as a main thoroughfare between Brent and East Hill and Downtown Pensacola. Be mindful of passing traffic when snapping a photo.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Iconic Pensacola photos: Where to take the most memorable photos
