Parliament of Canada

The Centre Block of Canada's Parliament Hill is one of the most iconic pieces of Gothic Revival architecture in North America, with its intricate stone carvings, soaring Peace Tower, and the ornate Parliamentary Library making it endlessly rewarding to photograph. From the main approach along Wellington Street, you get a strong symmetrical composition with the Peace Tower centered and the Centennial Flame in the foreground, which works especially well at dusk when the flame is visible and the building is lit up. A wide angle lens in the 16-24mm range lets you capture the full facade without stepping too far back. Early morning gives you softer light and far fewer tourists on the grounds. Walking around to the rear of the building reveals the dramatic cliff edge overlooking the Ottawa River, a perspective most visitors miss entirely. Security staff are present but photography on the grounds is unrestricted. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)