Skylines have a unique appeal that can't be replicated by anything else. Being able to gaze upon the unique profile of a city is something that leaves most people in awe and is also one of the places where some truly breathtaking pictures are taken. And while every city has a skyline there are some which are so iconic that you could tell them from a million other cities.
The New York City skyline is perhaps the best-known in the world. Many people who've never set foot in the city (or never even visited the United States for that matter) are still able to identify it. Its iconic architectural masterpieces and the unique geographical shape have made it unique. Add to that the fact that the city is directly associated with ambition and making any dream come true through sheer will and determination and you'll have a very good idea of why New York occupies such a large spot in the mental collective.
If you want your photos to be one of a kind make sure to get a professional service such as Smiler.co to help. They know the layout of the city and the best spot for photographs, from Times Square to the Brooklyn Bridge, and from Central Park to the Grand Central Terminal. New York still features its legendary, 20th-century feats of engineering like the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building and has been shaped by 1916 zoning laws that required designs that allow sunlight to reach the streets. The buildings are supported by bedrock, which supports the massive weight of the buildings.
The effect between the tall skyscrapers and lower buildings can be observed from above and the constraints of the water have also meant that the city had no choice but to move upward instead of outward.
The capital of Japan blends the ultra-modern towers with earthquake-proof engineering and iconic landmarks like the Tokyo Tower. It is one of the favorite places in the world for millions of tourists and tens of millions call it home. The Tokyo Skytree is the highest tower in all of Japan, more than 630 meters tall and one of the most recognizable spots in the bustling city. It is a broadcasting and observation tower that was built using inner concrete pillars known as shinbashira, a method inspired by traditional pagodas in order to counter the effects of seismic shocks. The neon and steel grids contrast with Mount Fuji which can be spotted on the horizon, to the southwest.
Germany's Frankfurt is the only city in the country with a skyscraper skyline. It is known by its nickname, "Mainhattan" for this very reason, hinting at its location on the Main River. Its glass-and-steel structures located in the financial district live side by side with the rich medieval and imperial heritage of the city that has been in place for centuries. The Commerzbank Tower is particularly noteworthy, being the tallest building in all of Germany. The tower is known for being eco-friendly, having winter gardens as well as natural air circulation and lighting. Large sky gardens are also integrated in the design.
San Francisco's dramatic skyline is a merge of natural geography and striking architecture. The bay, rolling hills, and Golden Gate Bridge nestle the dense clusters of high-rise buildings. Several professional photographers from Smiler are available here too, with the Theatre District being one of the most popular spots for photographs. A session lasts about 45 minutes and you'll benefit from the best posing and angles so that no second is wasted. One of the most iconic landmarks of the city is the Transamerica Pyramid, 48 stories high and the eighth-tallest building in the world when it was completed in the early 1970s.
Kuala Lumpur's supertall structures co-exist with the traditional, geometric design that are common in Malaysia as well as the historic colonial architecture. Together, they create the unique design that makes all cities that are world-renowned for their skylines so special. The Petronas Towers, also known colloquially as the KLCC Twin Towers, are some of the most emblematic. They're interlinked and used to be the tallest buildings in the world between 1998 and 2004. Being a major landmark, the towers are also a popular spot for tourist photographs, something Smiler knows. Since the area is busy, a session only lasts half an hour but it still yields about 25 photos.
You can't mention and talk about skylines without talking about Dubai. For many people they're pretty much synonymous at this point. Its architecture is downright record-breaking, including the tallest man-made structure on Earth, the Burj Khalifa which dominates the landscape from all sides. 30 other skyscrapers, all of them over 300 meters tall, are located nearby. There's the avant-garde Cayan Tower that looks like it's spiraling, and the Museum of the Future, a ring-shaped building with seven floors, all of which are dedicated to science and technology. The Dubai Frame bridges the more historic parts of the city with the modern ones.
If there's a city that feels 100% vertical, it's Hong Kong. It's packed and dense, breached by the Victoria Harbour and lush, rugged mountain backdrops, both of which only serve to enhance the urban core. The International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon is the tallest in Hong Kong and the 13th tallest on the planet. The Central Plaza stands at 374 meters and for four years between 1992 and 1996 it was the tallest building in Asia. At the top is a neon clock that indicates the time by displaying different colors for 15-minute periods.
Toronto's CN Tower is a signature feature of the city's skyline, drawing over 2 million international visitors every year all on its own. It is home to numerous observation decks, a restaurant where you can dine at nearly 400 meters above ground and its own entertainment complex. The CN Tower was the tallest free-standing building in the world for more than three decades. Toronto has a multi-node layout that mixes high-rise areas with transit lines and the shores of Lake Ontario. Make sure to spot the Rogers Centre and its retractable roof as well as other unique architectural landmarks from up high, like the gold-tinted Royal Bank Plaza or the bronze Scotia Plaza.
London is one of the prime examples of a city that blends historic landmarks such as St. Paul's Cathedral with quirky modern spots. The English capital operates based on strict preservation cap buildings heights and have led to creative designs springing all around the city. Many structures are carved or angled to slide under invisible sightline planes. The Tower of London and Houses of Parliament are right next to steel and glass while the Thames creates an organic horizontal flow. 20 Fenchurch Street (also called The Walkie-Talkie), the Shard, and the London Eye are some of the best-known structures towering above their surroundings.
Melbourne is a sleek, elegant city that combines the Victorian era with dozens of modernizing groups of buildings. The Australia 108, a residential skyscraper from Southbank and the tallest building in the country as well as the Eureka Tower are located close to the curving Yarra River and the street-level tram network. Alongside the riverbank, you will find sweeping promenades, street art, cafes and landmarks such as the Arts Centre Melbourne, hosting theatres and concert halls.
Skylines remain popular with people because they offer a unique glimpse into human creativity, chutzpah, and ingenuity.
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