Today we’re taking a look at fifty beautiful examples of city skyline architecture. Some images are captured at night, some in the day, and some in twilight. There’s plenty of inspiration for any urban, city photograph project!
Why Shoot a City?
There are hundreds of beautiful city skylines in the world. Some take their beauty because of the architecture itself, while others are complemented by their natural surroundings. In either case, the way a photographer chooses to capture a particular skyline has just as much impact on the final image as the skyline itself. Even a less-than-stellar skyline can be a work of art in the hands of a skilled photographer.
Below are fifty great skyline photos. There’s a mix of daytime, nighttime, and twilight shots. Some have extensive post-processing while others do not. Not all are professionally taken—it’s obvious some are simply snapshots—but they all capture the essence of the city they feature. Some are taken from odd angles, and while some may argue that they’re not traditional skyline shots, they still have a similar look and are worth inclusion.
Please feel free to share links to your favorite city skyline photos in the comments.
San Diego Skyline 2 by WouteR
Tower Bridge & Skyline – London, England by Trodel
Skyline – Hong Kong, China by Trodel
The lighting and long expsoure time here really make the lights of the city stand out and create an almost ethereal look.
Jakarta Skyline Part 2 by yohanes budiyanto
Richmond Skyline and James River by taberandrew
Don’t disregard the foreground when taking a skyline photo. The river and trees turn what might have been a very ho-hum photo into something more special.
Louisville Skyline by The Pug Father
A Night View of Skyline of Portland, Oregon by Curt Deatherage
Toronto Skyline by ChoudhrySaab
The Living Skyline by kennymatic
Shanghai Pudong Skyline by pamhule
New York Skyline by wwarby
Skyline – Paris, France at Night by Trodel
Singapore Skyline by redeye^
Skyline – San Diego, California at Night by Trodel
Manhattan Skyline (Panorama) by Francisco Diez
Skyline. by Sarah Jane
Hong Kong Skyline by das farbamt
New York City Skyline by ajagendorf25
SF Skyline by angeloangelo
Weather patterns, like the fog here in San Francisco, can often add extra depth and interest to your photos. The tower in the background appears larger than it actually is since its base is obscured.
Frankfurt Skyline by icarus_shift
Seattle Skyline with Mount Ranier From Kerry Park Stitch by Walakazoo
Sydney by Corey Leopold
Sydney Skyline by jemsweb
Seattle Skyline by papalars
New York Skyline by geoftheref
New York Skyline Sunset 2 by thenails
City of Gold – Hong Kong by Dennis Wong
From the North Shore by kennymatic
Dark City 2 by fehlart
Another fantastic example of how weather can really add depth and interest to a photo.
City of Lights by paul (dex)
Good Morning Toronto by purplepick
Puget Sound Just Before Dawn by joiseyshowaa
Boston Back Bay at Night by Werner Kunz
Chicago HDR 1 by dielotr
The Needle & Rainier by papalars
California San Francisco by Benjamin Rossen
Southbank Waiting 12 by Looking Glass
Sunset Skyline by Sienar
Just Beautiful by gyverchangphotos
Calgary Skyline by LipBomb
Buenos Aires – Night Pano by lrargerich
Saint Paul from Mounds Blvd by StArHaCkT
I Still Call Rialto Home by
Hong Kong Island Light Show by calloutLOUD
Brisbane Skyline at Night by slord
Skyline – New York City, New York at Night by Trodel
New York City Skyline by hyunlab
City Skyline by jordanpermenter
The skyline itself stands out more here because of the expanse of sky above it.
The Skyline by ecksunderscore
San Fransisco by TenSafeFrogs
