Mississippi in Pictures: 16 Beautiful Places to Photograph

The Mississippi River is the main attraction in the state, with so many vantage points from which to capture it in photos. Mississippi is the last stretch of the 2,320-mile river as it makes its way into the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River snakes its way through the landscape, so you will find beautiful riverscape scenery and wildlife along every stretch of it.

The 1848 Biloxi Lighthouse is one of the most photographed locations on Mississippi's Gulf Coast. It has a grand presence, especially since it is located in the middle of a highway. The evening light on the lighthouse with the Gulf Coast in the background is one of the most beautiful images to capture in the state.

The Vicksburg National Military Park is an area with a protected battlefield and the gravesites of 18,000 Civil War soldiers. The Siege of Vicksburg was an important battle in American Civil War history, and the artifacts, like the cannons housed within the area, are not only historic but visually beautiful.

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The swampy areas of Moss Point are great locations to find local wildlife to photograph. Alligators are camouflaged in the green swamps of this southern Mississippi region. Moss Point is located close to the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which is another area that has plenty of wildlife to photograph.

Deep within the Natchez Trace forest trail in Mississippi are majestic cypress swamps with green, monochromatic scenery. A section of the 440-mile trail goes through Mississippi and connects to other sections throughout the United States.

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It is worth driving along the backroads in rural Mississippi just to see what unique images await. From historic barns and green fields to rusted out vehicles that seem to lend themselves artistically to the landscape, each direction is sure to turn up unexpected imagery.

The beautiful Lake Lamar Bruce near Saltillo is a pristine 300-acre lake that is popular with fisherman and photographers. The thick woods that border the lake frame the calm water. Catching the sunrise or sunset over the lake enables vibrant colors and clouds to be brilliantly reflected in the water.

The waters in Biloxi Bay are a nice place to capture seaside images like commercial shrimping boats that have docked for the day. Days with puffy clouds in the sky add to the maritime imagery. Sunset is also a nice time to photograph at Biloxi Bay.

Fort Massachusetts is a uniquely designed fort on the Mississippi Gulf Coast on West Ship Island. The historic brick fort dates back to the mid 1800s and is now a part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The view of the military fort against the sandy beaches of the Gulf Coast is an appealing image with contrasting subjects.

The paddleboats that cruise down the Mississippi River are always an elegant sight to see if you catch them as they go by, but there is one in the state that you can photograph anytime. The black and white, double-decker paddleboat in Greenville, Mississippi serves as the local visitor center. The boat is on the water, and it is beautifully restored to reflect charming Southern elegance.

Midway Marina in Fulton, Mississippi is the stopping point for small boats and yachts. It has many docks and moorings that make for stunning photographs, especially at sunset, when the rich colors are cast onto the wooden planks and water.

The Tishomingo State Park is where many archaeological excavations have occurred, confirming the presence of Paleo Indians on the land as far back as 7000 BC. The park has tremendous natural beauty and historical imagery, including a pioneer cabin and footbridge tucked away among the hillsides of the park.

The state capitol along the skyline of Jackson, Mississippi is a beautiful photograph to capture, especially during the early evening hours when the rotunda is lit with a golden hue. Photograph the capitol building from different angles and get the statues and other historic items in the shots, like the cannon on one side of the complex.

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Historic train stations are always ripe with great shots for photos. Union Station in Meridian facilitated passenger rail transportation since the early 1900s. While the depot is now used for more modern transportation, there are many remnants of its historic significance, like old passenger train cars that you can find around the facility to photograph.

The Pearl River runs through Mississippi and Louisiana and has a diverse wildlife and ecosystem. This is a prime location for nature photographs, as it attracts many species of birds and other rare water animals. The beautiful landscape around this natural area is especially stunning during the sunset hours, when golden hues of color bring out the details of the landscape.

The Gulf Coast shoreline in Biloxi Beach conjures all the imagery needed to inspire an ocean getaway. While the beachfront is busy during the day with sun worshipers, evening is when photographers can catch the best shots over the water, with the beach chairs ready for another day of activity.