Discover Tazewell
7 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
40.469045
Located along the banks of the Illinois River, this spot is ideal for minimalist landscape photography. The area features mature trees that provide strong silhouettes, especially during the colder months when branches are bare. The calm water serves as a clean, reflective backdrop, making it a great location for long-exposure shots and fine-art black and white photography that emphasizes form and texture.
1540 Illinois Highway 9
A roadside stretch on Illinois Highway 9 on Peoria’s outskirts offering wide Midwestern vistas: open fields, farm buildings, highway lines and occasional industrial backdrops. Best at golden hour and blue hour for warm light on crops and dramatic skies; weekday mornings are quieter for composition and parking at pullouts or small business lots nearby. Easy roadside access with no special entry requirements; expect typical Midwestern weather and seasonal change (snow, spring green, autumn color).
213 Burr Oak Drive
This residential setting in Morton, Illinois, provides a quiet backdrop for pet photography and capturing suburban life. The area features a mix of natural elements like mature trees and seasonal foliage alongside residential structures. The overcast conditions shown here offer excellent soft lighting, reducing harsh highlights and making it easier to capture detail in dark-furred subjects.
Farmdale overlook
Small roadside overlook offering wide views over the Illinois River valley, patchwork farms and meandering waterways. Best at golden hour — sunrise or sunset — when low light sculpts fields and river reflections. Accessible by car with limited parking; no entry fee. Fall brings color; spring offers green contrast and plowed-field textures. Easy walk from the pullout; expect occasional local traffic.
Farmdale Reservoir
Small rural reservoir offering calm water reflections, marshy shorelines, and wide open Midwestern skies—good for sunrise/sunset color, bird and waterfowl shots, and minimalist landscape compositions. Easy roadside access with informal parking; expect dirt/gravel approaches and no entry fees. Visit at golden hour for color and glassy reflections; winter and cold mornings can produce mist; summer may have mosquitoes and midges.
Farmdale Reservoir Parking lot
Small public reservoir with open water, reed-lined shore and a simple parking lot — good for calm-water reflections, minimalist landscapes and birdlife at dawn/dusk. Easy vehicle access and roadside parking; no entry fee. Best at sunrise or golden hour for low-angle light and colorful skies; weekday mornings are least crowded. Windy days reduce reflections; check weather for glassy water and migrating waterfowl seasons for more wildlife action.
Bramble Acres
Bramble Acres is a rural event/farm property with wide fields, mature trees, rustic outbuildings and seasonal plantings—great for pastoral landscapes, intimate detail shots, and rustic architecture. Best visited at golden hour (sunrise or sunset) for warm side-light and long shadows; late spring–early fall offers the most color. Property is on private land—check ahead for permission and event schedules. Drive access and on-site parking available; expect uneven ground and limited public amenities