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

London Eye London London's skyline features a surfeit of architectural beauties, including palaces, Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. "The best view is from the London Eye," Blakeway says of the 443-foot Ferris wheel along the Thames. "At the top, you can see for miles and miles." londoneye.com

Hamilton Park Weehawken, N.J. "A 50-story building is giant, and they are everywhere in New York City," Blakeway says. Some of the best views, however, are found outside Manhattan. "There's a park (Hamilton Park) in Weehawken, N.J., on a cliff overlooking the Hudson," Blakeway says. "The sun sets behind you, so the sunset reflects off the buildings' windows like mirrors." weehawken-nj.us

Adler Planetarium Chicago Chicago's modern skyline, dominated by the Sears and John Hancock towers, lines Lake Michigan. For sweeping views of city and lake, Blakeway suggests driving out to Adler Planetarium and then walking along the water. "You're looking across the water, back at the city," he says. "The breakwaters keep the water calm, so you have a really great chance of seeing the city reflect in the water." 312-922-7827; adlerplanetarium.org

Montparnasse Tower Paris Paris boasts some of the world's most recognizable architecture, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur. "It's also not a tall city," Blakeway says. "Most of the buildings are 10 stories or less. There are pleasantly few skyscrapers in Paris." For a breathtaking view of the city, he suggests heading to the Montparnasse Tower on the Left Bank. The 689-foot tower is one of the few skyscrapers in Paris, and the rooftop terrace is open to the public. tourmontparnasse56.com/uk

StratosphereLas Vegas "Las Vegas probably isn't not for everyone," Blakeway says. "It's so loud, and I don't mean just the noise. There's no place on earth that has this incredible lighting. Into the night, every building is lit with amazing colors." Blakeway recommends taking it all in from an observation deck atop the 1,149-foot-high Stratosphere tower, hotel and casino — though any number of other rooftop bars or restaurants in the city might also do as well. 800-998-6937; stratospherehotel.com

Mount FløyenBergen, Norway This small city is an old fishing and shipping village on the shores of a Norwegian fjord, with steep hills surrounding the city center. The city preserved some of its centuries-old commercial buildings. On a clear day, which can be rare, take the Fløibanen, a funicular that rises from the city center, to the top of Mount Floyen for an amazing panoramic view, Blakeway says. "You can see the fjords, the ferries and the beautiful old buildings." floibanen.com