Parque Simon Bolivar Lake

The lake at Parque Simon Bolivar lies in the Teusaquillo district of Bogota, Colombia, near Calle 63 and Carrera 60. Bogota's central park is larger than New York's Central Park and wraps an artificial lake that mirrors eucalyptus stands, the towers of the Salitre business area and the eastern ridge of the Cerros Orientales. The frame is mostly about reflection and foreground: still water, reeds, rowing boats and pedestrian paths in front, and the skyline and mountains behind. The best light comes at sunrise to about 8:00 a.m., when the water is often mirror-still and mist can hang over the lake, and in the hour before sunset when warm light falls on the Cerros behind the skyline. Sunrise is shot with the sun behind the eastern ridge, so the sky is bright while the lake reflects a soft glow, and a graduated filter or bracketing helps. Midday sun produces glare on the water, so a polariser is useful. The park is photogenic year round, though July and August bring the strongest winds and kite flying on the lawns, which offers colourful subjects but ruffles the water surface. Afternoon storms are common in the wetter months and can produce dramatic skies. The park is very busy on Sundays and holidays, when cyclists, joggers, families and event crowds fill the paths, and quiet dawn on a weekday is the best time for a tripod position on the lakeshore. Tripods are generally permitted in the park when they do not block paths. Drone flights are restricted in Bogota and event areas, so authorisation should be checked before flying. Entry to the park is free, though rowing boats and some facilities charge fees, and the Rock al Parque festival brings large crowds and its own restrictions. Restrooms and water are available at facilities around the park.