For those who like to take blue hour pictures then they should know Romania offers many places for such type of pictures.
Romania has several cities that are known for their medieval architecture, therefore being very suitable for blue-hour pictures. On the other hand, Bucharest is also suitable for these pictures despite of its cables stretched in between the poles. In the last years the local city hall took more care of this problem and now there are fewer then in the past.
Bellow there is a top of the best photogenic cities during the blue hour.
1. Sighisoara
Sighisoara is a medieval citadel built on a hill about 800 years ago. It displays an amazing Saxon architecture, houses built on 2-3 levels with Gothic windows or Renaissance elements, cobble-stone streets and alleys, powerful walls and amazing watching towers. The old town, part of the Unesco heritage, was restored in 2007-2008 very well. What I like about the restoration works is that the company that took care of this had a very good knowledge regarding the night illumination. Therefore, the amazing medieval silhouette of the citadel is accentuated by a good white light, just perfect for a blue-hour picture. As the citadel is one of the major tourist attraction of Romania, you might want to come here for a good shoot only during the months of April or October. It’s not cold, just perfect for taking pictures, and few tourists adventure themselves for a tour of Sighisoara so early or so late in the year. Probably the only disadvantage is that cars are allowed in the old citadel and sometimes you might find them parked just in front of your main subject.
2 Brasov
As it was one of the most important medieval citadels of Transylvania and surrounded by the slopes of the Carpathian Mountains, Brasov might be another good destination for blue-hour pictures. It was founded by the same Saxons 800 years ago. The architecture is beautiful, the old square is large enough for a wide shoot while the tall steeples of the churches might look during the evening like white swords scratching the blue sky. But by far, and this is the reason for choosing Brasov as the second place, it’s main advantage is given by the hills and mountains that surround the old town. It is here where you can wait for a perfect blue-hour picture of Romania. As a suggestion, you might go to the Black Tower (it is almost white, long story) and you can take a nice shoot of the old square together with the main tourist attraction of Brasov, the Black Church.
Despite of so many reasons to make Brasov one of the best blue-hour landmarks of Romania, it seems that the local authorities are totally unaware of this as the the city is lit quite late and you’ll have time just for 2-3 blue-hour shoots.
3 Sibiu
Located in Transylvania, named the European Cultural Capital in 2007 and also built by the Saxons in the 13th century, the medieval town of Sibiu is a prefect destination for blue-hour pictures. Very well restored in 2006 and 2007, Sibiu boasts a series of impressive buildings with a stunning architecture, some of them 700 years old, quaint cobble-stone streets, staircase passages, watching towers and high steeples. The two main old squares are very good for wide pictures while the fountain of the Large Square can bring a nice touch to your photo. Sibiu is very well lit, albeit the light might be too yellow. The only disadvantage is that Sibiu is quite a large city, therefore many people will pass in front of your camera.
4 Bucharest
The capital of Romania has by far the most impressive buildings, many of them very well lit. The famous communication cables of Bucharest that became a sort of dismal attraction of the city and such a nuisance for the photographers, started to disappear in the last years. Probably the best blue-hour picture can be taken in front of the Romanian Parliament, the largest administrative building of Europe. Well lit and well located on one of the former hills of Bucharest, the Parliament is a good subject for such pictures. The Square of the Revolution is another good landmark for blue-hour pictures. It is here you can take some good shoots of the Romanian Athenaeum, probably the most elegant building of Bucharest. The Central University Library and the monument of Carol I represent other good options. The Church of the Patriarchy is another good location.
Last but not the least, we should mention the cities of Timisoara, Cluj Napoca, Oradea or Bran Castle. They too have a beautiful architecture nicely accentuated by a good illumination.
text and pictures by Daniel Gheorghita
