ʻIolani Palace

Standing in the heart of downtown Honolulu, ʻIolani Palace is the only official royal residence on American soil, and its ornate Hawaiian Renaissance architecture makes it one of the most distinctive historic buildings in the Pacific. The symmetrical facade, grand staircase, and wraparound verandas give you strong compositional anchors to work with. Shoot straight on from the front lawn to capture the full symmetry, or move to a low angle on the stairs to emphasize the palace's grandeur against the sky. Early morning light is ideal, when the sun comes in from the east and illuminates the front facade with warm, soft tones before crowds arrive. A wide-angle or standard lens works well for the full building, while a longer focal length lets you isolate architectural details like the decorative ironwork and columns. The surrounding grounds offer framing opportunities through trees and the historic gates. (Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, United States)