10 great places to study skylines of the world

— -- After nearly 20 years photographing skylines, James Blakeway, author of Skylines of the World, remains fascinated by how a "collection of unique buildings comes together to create a city." He shares his list of favorite viewing spots with Kelly DiNardo for USA TODAY.

Duquesne Incline Pittsburgh One of the city's more interesting architectural elements is the plethora of bridges, which span the city's three rivers: the Allegheny and the Monongahela rivers, which meet to form the Ohio River. "They're not your usual flat-deck bridges, but these beautiful older bridges that have been rebuilt," Blakeway says. "There's a lot of ironwork to them." Take the Duquesne Incline up Mount Washington for a sweeping view of the city, rivers and bridges, he says. 412-381-1665; incline.pghfree.net

Sydney ferries Australia Sydney Harbor is ringed with some of the most recognizable architecture in the world, including the uniquely designed Opera House. The distinctive architecture, the natural beauty of the water and the abundance of boats create an impressive skyline, Blakeway says. He suggests taking a ferry ride away from the city and enjoying the city views from the boat's deck. sydneyferries.info

Kerry Park Seattle "You see it all here," Blakeway says. "You go from the snowcapped Cascade Mountains to Puget Sound with the city right in the middle of it." Head to Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill, a steep hill on the north side of downtown. "If the air is clear, you can see Mount Rainier." 206-684-4075;seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=342

Point Bonita Marin County, Calif. "The real unique features of the San Francisco skyline are the two massive bridges, the Golden Gate and the Oakland Bay Bridge, which shoot out from opposite ends of the city," Blakeway says. For great views, head toward Point Bonita, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in nearby Marin County, across the Golden Gate. "It's a fantastic area to watch the sunset as the fog rolls into the Bay. Often, you'll see just the top of the Golden Gate Bridge peeking out of the fog." 415-331-1540; nps.gov/goga/pobo.htm