Shrine of Remembrance

The Shrine of Remembrance is one of Melbourne's most commanding structures, a neoclassical war memorial that rises above its surroundings and offers strong geometric lines and monumental scale for architectural photography. Shoot from the long ceremonial boulevard to the north for a symmetrical front-on composition with the steps and columns filling your frame; a wide to standard zoom in the 24-70mm range works well here. Early morning gives you soft, even light and near-empty grounds, while the low golden light of late afternoon wraps beautifully around the stone facade. The elevated position of the Shrine also lets you turn around and use the tree-lined Kings Domain as foreground, with the Melbourne CBD skyline visible in the distance. Weekends bring crowds, so arriving at or just after sunrise gives you the cleanest shots of the steps and forecourt without people in the way. (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)