A City rarely ever sleeps. It stays busy with the constant flow of people, nonstop traffic and the evergreen city-lights. However, the city does stop for a moment when captured in the stillness of a cityscape photograph. Country-sides of the world represent serenity whereas a city represents glitz, glamour and modernity. Here are 10 cityscape photographs taken at night that let you witness the charm of the city behind the lens. These well-captured cityscapes take your breath away and leave you gazing!
1. BURJ KHALIFA, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Burj Khalifa is the ‘towering’ example of the evolution of man and his architectural prowess. It stands unparalleled like the king of the world. It is the fruit of three years of planning and meticulous work to reach a gigantic height of 829.8 m. This structure may be called a crystal stalagmite and is a treasure for the human eye. This cone of glass is a perfect place to view the United Arab Emirates. It won’t be wrong to say that other structures of Dubai seem like crawling ants before Burj Khalifa. This picture shows the magnificence of the city of Dubai in its full glitter and pride. The mesmerizing waterside increases the splendor of the city. The above cityscape photograph clarifies why Dubai is the most sought after tourist destination among the Arab Countries.
2. GARGOYLE AT NOTRE-DAME, PARIS, FRANCE
Paris, the ‘City of Light’ (La Ville Lumière) is called so because of its role during the Age of Enlightenment. It was also one of the first cities to use gas street lighting on its boulevards and monuments.
Walking up the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, you’re sure to see Gothic sculptures along the monument. The gargoyles are an essential part of the history of the cathedral and the culture of Paris. They are staple to Gothic-architecture. These mythical creatures are said to protect the building from bad weather by preventing water from dripping too close to the walls and also provide symbolic protection. They are said to scare the evil forces away from the sacred walls.
The Eiffel Tower peeping in the background, the beautiful city streets and waters of the Seine river make for a beautiful backdrop against the gargoyle at Notre-Dame.
3. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA
Las Vegas is the resort city in Nevada, internationally famous for its casinos, shopping and nightlife. This city never rests and never sleeps. It is the heartbeat of most tourists across the world and is the reason for many dreamy nights for tourism enthusiasts. Famously known as “the entertainment capital of the world”, “Sin City” and “the Gambling Mecca”, Vegas is also home to the world-famous Mirage Hotel, a super-casino and a family vacation center. It also houses the Bellagio Hotel and boasts of the largest number of hotel rooms for any city in the States.
The charming light-and-water shows as shown in this cityscape photograph taken at night are a sight to behold and a major tourist attraction. It is rightly said that whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. All the memories and fun stay in Vegas as no other city can replicate its charms.
4. PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS, KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
The seemingly brothers-in-arms Twin Towers that are seen in this cityscape photograph taken at night were the tallest buildings in the world till 2004. They are still the tallest twin towers in the world. This specimen of architecture is a source of envy for all the skyscrapers in the world. Situated amidst the glitz of the city of Kuala Lumpur, these twin towers are a brilliant example of postmodern architecture fused with traditional Islamic motifs, representing the indigenous culture. The Skybridge joining the two towers is the world’s tallest sky bridge. This 88 story wonder is the pride of Malaysia. The city has witnessed some rapid development in recent years and has become a spot for various bird’s eye view camera shots. This Southeast Asian city is a major international tourist destination.
5. OPERA HOUSE, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
The beautiful performing-arts center at Sydney harbor against the backdrop of the port city is a photographer’s paradise. Contrasting with the night sky with its magnificent shell-shaped roofs, the Opera House is the star-tourist attraction of Australia. Nighttime view of the Opera House located in New South Wales, Sydney is a sight to behold. Aesthetically located on the Bennelong Point headland, it extends into the Tasman Sea. The Opera House is home to many performance venues, with over a thousand performances each year attracting millions of people. Around the Opera House is the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Sydney Harbor Bridge.
Every New Year’s Eve, the Opera House is a visual marvel, bedecked with lights and fireworks along the skyline. This building has been one of the most innovative and distinct construction works in the 20th century, and has also been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. A work of sheer artistic brilliance and modern expressionism, the Sydney Opera House stands out proudly in this cityscape photograph taken at night and makes Australia’s heart swell with pride.
6. RED-ROOFED HOUSES ALONG VLATVA RIVER, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
The fairy-tale city of Prague is located at the crossing point of the Vltava River in the Bohemian Basin. It is the capital of the Czech Republic, and is no less of a dream come true when viewed at night. The shining river, cobblestone streets and the old red thatch roof houses give an exquisite look to this beautiful photograph. The bridge along the river seems to extend the view beyond the limits of the picture. Also called the City of a Hundred Spires, Prague is home to a rich historic culture which resonates through its magnificent 20th-century buildings. The Baroque St Nicholas Church with its blue-green roof looms over the contrasting red-roofed city. Illuminated with jewel-like lamps along the river and the bridge, this picture enhances the true glory of Eastern Europe by capturing the very heart of its cultural and architectural beauty.
7. MOSCOW CITYSCAPE REFLECTED IN THE MOSKVA RIVER, RUSSIA.
A nighttime cityscape photograph of Moscow city along the Moskva River captures the heart of modern-day Russia. The city stands illuminated against the night sky, with the steeples of its most important historical structures, the Kremlin, Red Square, the Spasskaya Tower and St Basil’s Cathedral, shooting up against the horizon. The Red Square and Kremlin have been designated UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1990 owing to their cultural and historical significance. The lit-up city looms behind the busy Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge. Its hazy reflection against the clear, calm river adds to the aesthetics of this cityscape picture, and it appears unreal, like stepping into a Disney movie.
8. GRAND CANAL NIGHT VIEW, VENICE, ITALY
This cityscape photograph taken at night captures the busy and beautiful canals of Venice, the most visited tourist-destination in Italy. This night-time view of the exquisite Grand Canal is an eye-catching sight. The canal is of integral importance to Venice, connecting the San Marca basin and the Santa Lucia Railway station lagoon through the sestieri or central districts. The banks of the Grand Canal are lined with buildings dating back to the 13th century. Shimmering lights and gondolas give an excellent view of the night-life and culture of Venice. Busy streets with lit-up shops along the bank of the canal add to the beauty of this cityscape photograph taken at night.
9. NEW YORK CITY SKYSCRAPERS, NEW YORK, USA
A cityscape photograph of the Big Apple is a necessity when it comes to capturing the most of city-life in the modern-day world. New York City, the most populous city in the United States, is home to 7,000+ high-rise buildings. The World Trade Center(541 m) is the tallest building in New York, the USA and the Western Hemisphere. By June 2020, New York has 284 completed skyscrapers that are 150 m high, the highest number in the United States. Due to the whopping number of skyscrapers, New York is deservedly known as “the City of Skyscrapers”. It is also the world’s leading financial center and clearly boasts of the most urban design in the entire world. The cityscape of the busy Big Apple is at night the most glamorous sight in the world.
10. GRAND PALACE, BANGKOK, THAILAND
Image Source The Grand Palace is a galore of buildings in the heart of Bangkok, the capital of the Kingdom of Thailand. The palace is the official residence of the King of Thailand and hosts all official functions and royal ceremonies in its confines each year. During the reign of absolute monarchy (1782-1932), the Grand Palace was both the country’s religious and administrative center. The palace is one of the most sought after tourist destinations in Thailand, also called the land of White Elephants. This beautiful cityscape photograph of the otherwise modern Bangkok taken at night shows its culturally strong roots and the legacy it still retains in today’s world.
