Brandenburger Tor
The Brandenburg Gate is one of Europe's most recognizable neoclassical monuments, built in the late 18th century and now standing as the centerpiece of Pariser Platz with its twelve Doric columns and the Quadriga chariot sculpture crowning the top. Shooting straight on from the east side gives you a clean symmetrical composition, and a wide-angle lens in the 16 to 24mm range works well to capture the full structure while keeping the surrounding plaza in frame. For tighter detail shots, pull back with a short telephoto to isolate the Quadriga against the sky. Blue hour and the hour after sunset are particularly rewarding, when the warm artificial lighting on the stone contrasts beautifully with the deep blue sky. Early morning on weekdays gives you the best chance of an empty foreground; by mid-morning the plaza fills quickly with tourists. The gate is fully accessible on foot and sits a short walk from the Brandenburger Tor U-Bahn and S-Bahn station. (Berlin, Germany)
