35 Examples Of Beautiful City Photography
More people across the world are living in cities than ever before. Cities are both places of historical significance and the engines of the world’s economy. They’re also home to some of the greatest treasures and buildings that mankind has created. Cities are wonderful subjects for photography. They offer a variety of subjects suitable for both straight and HDR photography, including architectural, street and night photography. The structure, angles and texture you get with architectural photography make it unique and very engaging.
From the energy of Cairo to the canals of Venice, Smashing Magazine celebrates the diversity of the world’s cities by presenting you 35 beautiful city photos. Be sure to check out the portfolios of the talented photographers whose work you see here. We’ve also included some useful links at the bottom of the article.
You may be interested in the following related posts:
35 Beautiful City Photos
Cairo, Egypt
Rapanui, Chile
Paris, France
Singapore
Rome, Italy
Machu Picchu, Peru
Thomas Ebenhan
Lisbon, Portugal
Badalin, China
Bastide du Village de Monpazier, Périgord, Dordogne, France
Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
Valencia, Spain
Reykjavik, Iceland
Oia, Greece
Haram al-Sharif, Jerusalem
Paris, France
Berlin, Germany
Barcelona, Spain
Carrbridge, UK
London, UK
Pisa, Italy
Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Marrakech, Morocco
Zugspitze, Germany / Austria
New York City, US
Hamburg, Germany
Barcelona, Spain
Moscow, Russia
Ruben Seabra
Madrid, Spain
Tokyo, Japan
The Great Mosque, Makkah, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Newcastle, UK
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Giza Plateau, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt
Pisa, Italy
Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple, Bali
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
New York City, United States
Last Click
Lilla Torget (Little Square) Malmo, Sweden
Sources and Resources
- Wired.com Photo Contest: Cities
See the entrants to Wired.com’s city photo contest. - ePhotoZine – Architecture, a beginner’s guide
A beginner’s guide to architectural photography. - Universe Today
Photos of cities from space. - What Are Architectural Landscape Photos?
A guide to the history of architectural landscape photography. - Metro Arts and Architecture
A guide to the 50 most beautiful subway systems in the world. - Flickr Favorite City and Street Photographers
- Architectural Photography Inspiration
About the authors
Steven Snell is a Web designer and freelance blogger who can be found on his own blogs: Vandelay Website Design and DesignM.ag.
(al)
Supreet
February 1st, 2009 8:13 pmA very beautiful n stunning photography. Egypt one is best,
Harsimran Kaur
February 1st, 2009 8:15 pmThis is awesome!!!
neek
June 22nd, 2010 11:18 pmR u in india nah
Juavenita
February 1st, 2009 8:19 pmAn Amazing set of pics luved them all
DKumar M.
February 1st, 2009 8:21 pmNice Collection Andrew…… Some of them are really stunning. Thanks for sharing.
DKumar M.
devilock
February 1st, 2009 8:29 pmbreath taking pictures. I like them a lot. :D
Brian Gottier
February 1st, 2009 8:29 pmThose are certainly beautiful photos. I wish I could take photos like that! I have a nice camera, but I have the feeling it’s not the camera, its the photographer!
Michael
February 1st, 2009 8:30 pmThese are amazing. Smashing magazine makes me want to quit my job because it’s so bland! I’ve been to a lot of these sites in Europe however I couldn’t capture them anywhere as beautiful as this.
JimbaDesign
February 1st, 2009 9:15 pmwau! thanks–Nice collection…
chiefwakambi
February 1st, 2009 9:38 pmSuperb. My wish list this year to have a Digital SLR. And take up photographing courses.
Mike
February 1st, 2009 9:50 pmNice pictures, but about seven of them are landscape shots, not city shots.
Musings
February 1st, 2009 10:12 pmI feel Greece & Russia are two most beautiful countries under the sun, all there city images i have seen so far looks amazing!
Great collection!
aj
February 1st, 2009 10:12 pmsome great photographs in there, I wish some people could leave HDR pictures alone though
Fazai38
February 1st, 2009 11:04 pmso nice… All cities.. makes me wanna travel more.. hahhaa
Love Makkah
February 1st, 2009 11:08 pmGreat Collection Andrew…… all of them are really stunning, specially The Great Mosque, Makkah . Thanks for sharing.
Ejaz
February 1st, 2009 11:13 pmGreat list as always. :)
Noam
February 1st, 2009 11:23 pmAmzing
stoyan delev
February 1st, 2009 11:30 pmamazing
Josh
February 1st, 2009 11:36 pmFantastic photos. One small note, the country name is missing in the Jerusalem shot.
Lex van de Oudeweetering
February 2nd, 2009 12:27 amThe photo’s are Ok. A lot of them are spectacular a few are beautiful and too many are just buildings and too few are city’s. Thus I think your title is misleading and not correct. They are spectacular photo’s of buildings.
aminhers
February 2nd, 2009 12:31 amGreat photos,
thank you
Dileep K Sharma
February 2nd, 2009 1:01 amAwesome. Thanks for sharing.
Victor
February 2nd, 2009 1:29 amAbsolutely amazing set of photos here. The one of the leaning tower of Pisa was stunning capture with amazing color and perspective.
Tsesci
February 2nd, 2009 2:57 amthis is amazing photography
i like it
ROB
February 2nd, 2009 3:19 amWhooh, great collection. I am inspired to get out in my own city some more. Thanks for the inspiration.
Korayem
February 2nd, 2009 3:54 amYikes!! I am the first photo :)
Arri Kafoor
February 2nd, 2009 4:38 amIf you’re a fan of HDR images and mega colour corrections in post-processing, then some of these shots are nice. I wouldn’t say they’re impressive shots, since its very easy to HDR and colour correct any picture to make them look good.
But this is coming from a person who doesn’t like the whole fake looking thing. I think this set is a good example of skill being determined by the equipment, and not by the photographer, which I think photography is really about.
However the Pisa, New York, Morocco and China entries deserve special mention. Really like those shots.
Korayem
February 2nd, 2009 4:53 am@Arri Kafoor: my photo isn’t HDRed, BTW
Alex Ojeda
February 2nd, 2009 5:21 amVery Nice collection
Here is one of New Orleans I really like
http://www.zooomr.com/photos/alexoz/6686052/
4psd.com
February 2nd, 2009 6:06 amrealy nice!
Gas
February 2nd, 2009 6:22 amI am the photographer of the ‘Tour Eiffel”
I am proud and honored to be on your site which is for me one of the best dedicated to creativity.
Thanks a lot
Gaston Batistini
Marvin
February 2nd, 2009 6:25 amstunning !
Amp
February 2nd, 2009 6:37 amDidn’t know that Zugspitze was a city, always thought it was a mountain…..
Spongebob
February 2nd, 2009 9:43 amUnder every photo you wrote the city name then comma then the country name.
For example: “New York City, United States”
So, what reason you have to not write “Jerusalem, Israel”? but just “Jerusalem”..?
It’s start with this little antisemitism issues and ends with 6,000,000 Jews murders by Nazis in holocaust.
Big Z
August 2nd, 2011 9:51 pmYou are a spong bob and will always remain one. Dude what happened to jews is got nothing to do with this stunning photography. Stop politicalizing everything and enjoy these pictures and be grateful to the person who has so painstakingly put these pictures up and shared it. Just stop bitching.
Asrar
February 2nd, 2009 9:45 amMosques are beautiful places. Nice collection.
Asrar
February 2nd, 2009 9:49 am@Spongebob : they probably left it out as not to offend anyone, those pro-Palestine, or pro-Israel. The problem is that you are apparently offended by anything that isn’t pro-Israel.
Extra kudos to Smashing Magazine for being politically correct.
heather van de mark
February 2nd, 2009 9:50 amMakes me want to travel. Some really beautiful photos/places–china, greece, sweden, peru and japan.
Korayem
February 2nd, 2009 9:55 am@Spongebob: yup, thanks for the correction. The title should’ve been “Jerusalem, Palestine”.
ella
February 2nd, 2009 9:56 amsome of these are really stunning… but… some of them are altered to the point where the super-saturated colors and highlights are more distracting than actually adding to the image. i am all for editing photos, and i do like some hdr photography, but when it starts to look too “fakey” i feel it sometimes is more about showing off the photographer than it is about showing off the actual place.
Spongebob
February 2nd, 2009 9:59 am@Asrar : The country called “Israel”, not “Palestine”. I live in Argentina and don’t have any opinion in this issues of middle east, but the fact is that this place is in Israel, no doubt…
So I can’t see how writing “Israel” can offend anyone, all pro-Palestine will agree it still Israel, nobody thinks that there is anywhere country called “Palestine”…
So not writing “Israel” is the thing that can make peoples offend. If it’s good enough for the UN and most of the world mark Jerusalem as part of Israel, it shall be enough for this post.
Ali
February 2nd, 2009 10:37 amistanbul?
Jason
February 2nd, 2009 10:49 amFantastic photoshopping. Personally, I like more realistic photos.
Kayla
February 2nd, 2009 11:09 amThese are amazing. Very nice!
Joep Roosen
February 2nd, 2009 11:26 amThanks for posting my New York and Rotterdam photo’s.
@krjx
February 2nd, 2009 11:42 ambeautiful pictures!
Asrar
February 2nd, 2009 11:56 am@Spongebob : I see your point. But to mention Nazis and the holocaust was unnecessary.
Claudio Cárdes
February 2nd, 2009 1:02 pmChile!
ArsalanE
February 2nd, 2009 2:07 pmMorocco :)
Eric
February 2nd, 2009 2:17 pmNice shots but more city shots and not landmark shots was what I was hoping to see.
dani
February 2nd, 2009 3:45 pmamazing collection! my favourite from budapest: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25690941@N03/3244461940/in/set-72157613194343139/
James
February 2nd, 2009 5:05 pmYou need some photos of dubai! Some insane architecture there… i thought i saw some here http://flickr.com/photos/pallian
James
February 2nd, 2009 5:06 pmoops.. wrong link… here’s the right one: http://flickr.com/photos/danielcheong/2888296660/
Ed
February 2nd, 2009 6:48 pmThanks for the great collection and the Haram al-Sharif Mosque in Palestine.
Goody
February 2nd, 2009 8:25 pmridiculously awesome!
i can’t wait until my photography gets there.
italianjob17
February 3rd, 2009 12:43 amGreat Selection and truly fab shots!! My favs in flickr just got a big update!!!! Sad my Rome shot still didn’t make there, but who knows… …maybe in City Photography 2.0 I’ll do it!!?? ^_^
Janckos
February 3rd, 2009 5:32 amexcelente galeria.
Teddy Cheezy
February 3rd, 2009 6:07 amwonderful !!!!!
loved the Marrakech alley pic !! but it still need some extra effects !!!!!
coool
Teddy Cheezy
February 3rd, 2009 6:18 am@Spongebob : you shouldn’t have started the Antisemitisme issue here @ Smashing Mag !! there is CNN.com ; BBC.com …..soo mlany forums where you can start this discusssion ; BUT NOT @ SM !!
as a loyal visitor i felt very offenced by your comment ! and the 6 mill “BURNED” jewish by NAZIS , is not a joy in your hands , so you can use it whenever you want ! and to take someone else’s land , and TO BURN 1305 VICITM WITH A BRAND NEW WEAPON CALLED THE WHITE PHOSPHORUS BOMBS , its a new technology of makin’ easy and fast HOLOCUSTS !!
anyways.. the title should’ve been “Al Qu’uds – Palestine” ( because Jerusalem is an intruding word)
yoninou
February 3rd, 2009 7:17 ampourquoi ne pas avoir indiqué ISRAËL a coté de JÉRUSALEM ???
la capitale d’Israël est Jérusalem et Jérusalem est situe en Israël…. comme tout le monde le sait.
en oubliant de mettre Israël a cote de Jérusalem et en montrant uniquement une mosquée pour représenter Jérusalem, on joue le jeu des musulmans, qui souhaitent prendre la terre des juifs pour en faire une terre musulmane. c’est le souhait des turcs, des iraniens, des pakistanais, des algériens… des peuples qui n’ont rien en commun si ce n’est une foi commune, l’islam, et le souhait de détruire les juifs et ISRAËL.
yoninou
February 3rd, 2009 7:22 amles musulmans sont des voleurs, c’est bien connus. ils ont construits leur mosquée a l’emplacement du lieu le plus saint des juifs, Le Temple de Jérusalem détruit par les romains. il faudrait déplacer (détruire ?) cette mosquée et reconstruire le Temple juif dont il ne reste que le mur occidental (mur des lamentations). Bientôt avec l’aide de Dieu.
a bon entendeur……
emi
February 3rd, 2009 8:30 amI have been to Egypt. Its really beautiful city. Overall a masterpiece post.
Ozon
February 3rd, 2009 9:01 amAmazing photos!!!
But where is something from Prague, Czech Republic?!
Venkat
February 3rd, 2009 11:37 amgreat and kool photo’s
ganjipally
February 3rd, 2009 11:39 amIts Smashing!!
Hal
February 3rd, 2009 11:56 amGreat pics, but I cretainly don’t think labelling them as “City” pictures is very accurate.
And by the way, Jerusalem is in Israel, as everyone knows.
Helmut Freydag
February 3rd, 2009 12:21 pmBeautyful photos!
amarjeet
February 4th, 2009 1:32 amWish Tajmahal was one of it
Farshad Palideh
February 4th, 2009 1:48 amhow could we introduce beautiful IRAN?
Markdvl
February 4th, 2009 3:57 amThe photo of Pisa is fantastic !!!!!
Ron
February 4th, 2009 4:53 amJerusalem is in Israel, why didn’t you write it down? All other photos have the country near the city name….
Aurore
February 4th, 2009 5:57 amIl love this one
Jessica
February 4th, 2009 9:05 amAwsome list!!!
A friend of mine does some amazing city photography HERE
DanD
February 4th, 2009 3:30 pmI think every photographer should spend some time shooting black and white exclusively. Then they might learn the importance of drawing the eye to the subject (assuming there is one) rather than distracting them with supersaturated colors.
I know this is the style-de-jure but come on, CSI Miami snaps get really old really fast. A few were quite good though.
Bilal
February 4th, 2009 5:37 pmwhat about Japan pictures!!?
:(
Anton
February 4th, 2009 8:33 pmMoscow rules, thanks Andrey
Naina
February 5th, 2009 1:52 ambeautiful photos
Prerna
February 5th, 2009 1:56 amnice pictures
CL
February 5th, 2009 3:06 amSome beautiful photos here, thanks!
Bruno
February 5th, 2009 11:45 amI live in Rio. Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, the best!
Angelo Panares
February 5th, 2009 11:08 pmI specially like the Bali and Sweden shot….. this is a good one SM, as always !
Muzzy
February 6th, 2009 12:05 amI like Istanbul shots, but can’t find it here:P
by the way: all of them are great!
Ashley Mumbs
February 6th, 2009 3:36 amI think the photos are of a great quality, however that are not very original and just send us back to the touristic pattern! I have lived in almost all of those cities, I cant send you some pictures of me and my friends where you can really appreciatte the life of each city! I am a really city citizen addict!! By the way the Lisbon pic is wonderful, it was the most passionate and intense city I have ever lived, it brought me wonderful toughts!
daral
February 7th, 2009 5:24 amwhere is istanbul?
Jan
February 8th, 2009 7:16 pmVery Beautiful!!!
Diyan
February 9th, 2009 9:49 amUluwati, Bali is one part of beautiful Indonesia. Find more there…Thanks..
its great..................pk
February 10th, 2009 7:58 pmits greate
CyberGus
February 10th, 2009 10:12 pmHere one of my pictures from Mexico City:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/social_commentary/3036758225/
:)
yanks
February 11th, 2009 9:02 amThe pictures are amazing and the scenery is breathtaking. I love Cairo, Egypt, it is beautiful. Good job!
armando
February 11th, 2009 7:44 pmBeautyful machupicchu ¡¡
Geetinder
February 11th, 2009 10:33 pmSimply Awesome!!!
twi
February 12th, 2009 6:48 amAwesome post!
City photography is great…
I maintain this website just with cool photos from my city, Salvador (Brazil´s first capital city)
http://www.soteropoli.com
sohail
February 13th, 2009 7:03 amwonderful , outstanding and mind blowing collection.
rufo rock
February 14th, 2009 3:21 pmbrazil
Ehtesham
February 15th, 2009 8:41 pmvery nice and amazing photography-thanks for web
Manakar
February 17th, 2009 12:25 amGreat pictures. Especially love the Egypt one the best.
On the whole Jerusalem being in Israel fiasco, kudos to Smashing Magazine for not only being politically correct but also historically accurate. Jerusalem does not belong to either state, Palestine or Israel, but is an international city. Israel has been trying to claim it entirely for itself, also the reason that they have shifted their capital from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and expelled a number of Arabs from regions of Jerusalem. I don’t want to start a political debate here but what I said has been thoroughly documented. In any case the name should be left there as it is without giving into either side on terms of neutrality.
HASSAN EJAZ AKHTA
February 17th, 2009 5:31 amYes no any dout A very beautiful n stunning photography. Egypt one is best,
Oblikovanje
February 18th, 2009 5:55 amamazing. Specialy Barcelona, Spain and Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Aamer Saeed
February 18th, 2009 11:47 pmi am from Pakistan from the city of love Jhang
KASHIF
February 19th, 2009 2:28 amAWESOME SPECIALLY THE MAKAH SHARIF PICS GR8 PICS THANX FOR SHARING.
Aman khan dubai
February 19th, 2009 5:39 amGreat efferts. and i want to visit these counteries and see these places with my own eyes
Beatriz
February 20th, 2009 5:37 amRio de Janeiro inspires me. But the other cities are also beautiful and these pictures are awesome!