IU Bloomington’s campus is gorgeous, and as someone who loves photography, it’s been a great place for me to get creative with my hobby. I’ve been able to play around with new framing techniques, experiment with photographing architecture and practice taking portraits through shooting my sister’s graduation photos on campus.
If you’re looking for a great photo opportunity — whether it is a picturesque scene or an iconic landmark — here are five of my favorite photo spots on campus.
Sample Gates
As a symbol of IU, not only is Sample Gates an iconic place on campus, but I also think it is just one of the many gorgeous campus structures.
The Sample Gates themselves offer great opportunities for headshots, as well as group photos. And the gates perfectly frame the bustling Kirkwood Ave, allowing anyone to capture Bloomington life.
Following the gate’s red brick road into campus are even more photo opportunities. There are some beautiful, old buildings such as Franklin Hall, Maxwell Hall and Kirkwood Hall worth checking out. Around these buildings are historic landmarks like Rose Well House and the Herman B Wells statue.
Showalter Fountain
Among IU’s most well-known landmarks, the Showalter Fountain lays at the heart of the Showalter Arts Plaza.
I especially love this photo spot during the summer when the water is on. I think it’s a great place for portraits or capturing the landscape. I recommend checking it out at sunset when the sun sets perfectly down Seventh Street, which stretches out from the plaza, allowing the sun to frame itself beautifully by the fountain.
If you explore the area around the Fine Arts Building and IU Auditorium, there are some great photo spots with colorful flowers and sculptures of prominent musical artists from Indiana, including Hoagy Carmichael and John Mellencamp. I highly recommend taking a seat by Bloomington’s own Carmichael at his piano and snapping a fun shot with the statue.
Eskenazi Museum of Art
Located next to Showalter Fountain is the Eskenazi Museum of Art. This museum has many great galleries and exhibitions where you’re sure to find something worth taking a picture of.
Outside of the museum is the Light Totem, which casts an array of colorful lights up the side of the building at night. The tradition of lying on the floor with your legs against the lit-up wall offers another great photo opportunity.
This location’s hidden gem is a colorful window mural just beside the museum. It can be a little difficult to find, but if you go behind the museum there is an entrance to the Fine Arts Building. It is a glass hallway decorated with a colorful abstract mural that can be seen from outside. I highly recommend using the distinctive artwork as a backdrop for taking photos.
Cox Arboretum
The Cox Arboretum is a beautiful area of greenery with many trees, a stream and the Metz Bicentennial Grand Carillon. While the Carillon looks like a tower, it is actually a playable musical instrument and another well-known campus landmark, adding a futuristic look to these photos.
The fairy-like stream and gazebo area create a magical setting for those who enjoy campus wildlife. I loved shooting some portraits for my sister’s graduation photoshoot here as it produced some whimsical and distinctive photos.
Third Street
I walk down Third Street practically every day to get to class, and I must say, it is one of my favorite streets on campus. It has many historic and beautifully crafted buildings like the Biology Building, Swain Hall and the Mauer School of Law. I especially love Memorial Hall as I have had a lot of fun photographing different parts of the building’s castle-like appearance.
In the Biology Building’s greenhouse, you can take pictures of diverse plants from all over the world. Additionally, there are quiet green spaces by Merrill Hall that have beautiful pink trees and squirrels roaming about.
Overall, I’ve loved living on IU’s campus because at every turn I find something that inspires me to take a picture. If you’re looking for some great photo spots to get started, the locations on this list are sure to inspire you, but I’m sure there are also plenty more hidden gems on campus that are just waiting to be discovered.
This story was originally published in the Indiana Daily Student's 2026 Orienter.
