Parliament House

The Australian Parliament House is cut into the top of Capital Hill in Canberra, with earth and grass laid back over the roof so the building and hill appear to be one entity. Two long curved walls run out from the centre and hold the whole composition together, with a steel flagpole standing over the middle that you can see from most of the city. From the front, everything lines up straight down over Old Parliament House, across Lake Burley Griffin and along Anzac Parade to the War Memorial, with Mount Ainslie behind it. Getting up to the roof lets you capture that whole scene in one frame. (Lifts run up to the roof from inside the building once you're through screening.) Inside, the Marble Foyer has rows of grey-green columns that create an amazing repeating pattern and fun leading lines. Entry is free and it is open daily, with screening at the main entrance since it is a running government building. Photography in the public areas is fine for personal use, but commercial work needs approval arranged ahead of time. Chamber proceedings are off limits, and you can only shoot in public spaces. (Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia)