New York Business trip

I am going on a business trip to New York at the end of August and I am trying

to figure out some things I should see. This is my first trip to New York as an

adult where I really can go where I would like (my last trip was as a college

student on a trip for an Art History trip).

 

I will be heading out on Monday from Baltimore either by train or plane. I'll

be at a conference Tuesday and at least part of Wednesday and I will either be

heading back Wednesday night or Thursday afternoon/night.

 

If possible I plan on heading to the Met and the Cloisters (which sadly are

closed on Mondays and close early during the week, which may make it hard for

me to visit them) as well as the Natural History Museum. What other sights

should I consider seeing? I will be staying about 4 blocks from central park. I

am thinking I will probably take a stroll of central park (should I hit the

zoo?). What is a good place to get a view of Ellis Island and the Statue of

Liberty?

 

Has anyone been to the Cloisters? Is it worth while visting them? About how

long would you guess it takes to head from midtown to the Cloisters by subway?

I ask because on Wednesday if I have to leave that day I might only be 'free'

from about 11am or noon on. So that gives me about 5hrs to get to the

cloisters, walk around and head to the Met and I would rather just go to the

Met if I am going to spend 2 of those hours just traveling between the two.

 

Anything else that I am missing? I am thinking I might want to head across to

Brooklyn one evening for dinner so that I can shoot the skyline and my wife's

cousin also lives in Brooklyn with her Fiance, so I would probably meet up with

them for dinner that night. Any good locations for this?

 

My planned kit is an OM-1n and OM-1, Sigma 24mm f/2.8, Sigma 28mm f/1.8, Zuiko

50mm f/1.4, Tamron 35-70mm f/3.5 and Vivitar 70-210mm f/3.5, this is baring the

spare change to get a Tamron 17mm f/3.5, 24mm f/2.5 or vivitar 19mm f/3.8

between now and then. I will also either take my gorilla pod or my larger

tripod for night scenes.

 

Thanks everyone.

1. Take cabs. They're not too expensive, and your time is limited.<p>

2. The Met is the single most-see museum in the City.<p>

3. Statue of Liberty. Go to Battery Park (all the way downtown) and

get on either the free Staten Island Ferry or one of the commercial tour

boats.<p>

4. You might consider cutting down (seriously) on the gear you bring.<p>

5. If weather is nice, consider walking over the Brooklyn Bridge (you

can take the subway back if you like).

2. MUST-see, that is.

New York is a walking city, you have way too much equipment, especially for the amount of time you are talking about. I go with one body and one lens, and maybe a digicam, and I'm there longer than you are going for. Don't take cabs, the subways are much better if you want to actually get somewhere on the same day. Skip the Statue of Liberty, it's a tourist attraction. I didn't go there when I lived there, and I only went to take my son, not very interesting. The Brooklyn Museum of Art is terrific and the subway stops at the museum.<p>A really different look at New York (no tourist attractions) from one of my visits is here: <a href="http://www.spirer.com/fragments/">Fragments</a>.</a>

Matthew, cut it back for sure, take the 24mm,50mm and if you must the 70-210.

You should also see ICP, MOMA and visit B&H. Take some time and walk through Central Park. It's a pretty easy walk betweeen the Met and the Natural History museums.

The Cloisters is gorgeous, but I'd only recommend it as a "must do" if you're into medieval religious art ... because that's basically all that's there. The views of the Palisades are nice, but in August, the only color will be green and in the afternoon, you'll be shooting into the sun. It would likely take about an hour each way to do the traveling; I just don't think you'd have enough time in 5 hours to do the Met and the Cloisters justice.

 

The best view of the Statue of Liberty is actually from Liberty State Park in New Jersey. But since you're going to be in Manhattan, go down to Battery Park -- you can see it from there and take a boat trip. The views are the best from the water, anyway. I'm a native NYC'er, but never actually got to the Statue of Liberty until I was in my late 30s. Unless you're really into the history of either the immigrant experience or the sculpting/construction of the statue, you can probably skip the actual islands themselves.

 

Even five hours at the Met is only enough to get either a quick run-through or to focus on a few highlights. My husband and I go a few times a year, usually just to see a couple of displays in the collection, although we always stop at the Temple of Dendur. Architecturally, the Guggenheim might be worth a stop. If you're into Impressionist art, the Frick Museum on 5th is beautiful and relatively small. It's in an old mansion and much more intimate than the Met. The Museum of Modern Art is great if you're into 20th century art, and the restaurant is very good.

 

From Brooklym, you can get a view from the Promenade of lower Manhattan. If you want to see the city illuminated by the setting sun, Jersey's the ticket. Take the PATH train from 33rd St (6th Ave) and go to the Pavonia/Newport stop or Hoboken OR you can go from the World Trade Center stop to either Hoboken or Exchange Place in Jersey City.

 

Have fun!

Thanks everyone. I am huge into medieval art and architecture, so I'll have to see if I can fit in the cloisters. I guess if I am stuck with just 5 hours I'll only go to the Met though.

 

I'll have to take a peak at the Brooklyn museum of art (thanks Jeff!). I am not terribly interested in actually getting out to Ellis island or the Statue this trip, but I would like to maybe do some photography of them, so I'll check out Battery park (thanks various).

 

Hmm, Mark you might have something there. I'll see if I have the time to stop into B&H.

 

As for gear, I have a lowepro Nova 2 AW satchel bag that fits all of that gear (other then the extra body) in it just fine. Total weight is only about 6lbs. I generally stuff the lowepro bag into a back pack for walking between places and then pull it out for wandering museums or shooting (LL Bean Continental rucksack, awesome backpack). I want the low light abilites of the 28/1.8 and 50/1.4 for in museums and at night and the 24/2.8, 35-70/3.5 and 70-210/3.5 for outdoor photography. The extra body is so that I can shoot B&W and color at the same time if I would like (and heck at 1lb with only a body cap on it doesn't weigh me down much). I actually took a slightly heavier outfit (well, no extra body) with me to Chicago last summer and it worked out okay...though I should have bought new shoes before that trip. I ended up with a few blisters because of my old worn out sneakers (walking 50+ blocks each day not so good in worn out shoes).

 

Any other suggestions? Any good locations to shoot the NYC skyline from Brooklyn and/or locations for shooting the Brooklyn bridge (and which side is better to shoot from, Manhattan or Brooklyn)?

 

Thanks!

I'd go to Hoboken, as suggested above, for the skyline. The PATH takes about 15 minutes from midtown, less from downtown.

Oh, I missed that bit about Hoboken. Thanks Jeff and Jennifer.

If you get to be around Brooklyn at night - there's a spot between Brooklyn bridge and Manhattan bridge that is well known for classic skyline shot with Brooklyn bridge. I think if you try finding area near Plymouth St between these two bridges on Google Map you should be able to get an idea.

 

I havent myself been there but read it somewhere and certainly desire to hit that place soon!

The Manhattan skyline looks best at twilight from the Brooklyn Bridge Park, when the buildings and the bridge begin to lit up.

 

Good luck,

Mary

To amend one of the suggestions above regarding seeing the skyline from the Jersey side.

I would actually head straight to Exchange Place since it offers the best views. If you want,

you can also stop at Pavonia/Newport and work your way along the Hudson until you

reach Exchange Place.

 

You can also venture into Central Park. The northern end of Sheep Meadows offers nice

views as well. While you are at it, visit Bethesda Fountain and Belvedere Castle as well.

 

If you are going up to the cloisters, perhaps you are also interested in the Little Red

Lighthouse that sits right under the George Washington Bridge - depending on your

creativity, some very nice shots can be had...

Two places next door to each other where New Yorkers like to go but tourists don't: Grant's Tomb and the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. The cathedral has been under construction off and on for over 100 years, just like the old Medieval ones. If it ever gets finished it will be the largest one in the world. Also, Columbia University and the cathedral sized Riverside Church are right there. And no tourists.

 

Oh, and if you're lucky you'll be there when Sakura Park is in bloom. Also right in the area. All cherry trees and totally bland 51 weeks out of the year, then a riot of color.

Thanks for the suggestion about the little red light house. That is a pretty close walk from the cloisters. Maybe I'll try to do the Cloisters Wed afternoon and hit the red light house around closing of the Cloisters. Hopefully getting some nice evening light around 6-7pm, though I guess the lighting could be tricky since it would be mostly backlighting...hmmm. Maybe I could do it Thrusday morning early before the Cloisters open.

 

Anyway, thanks for the suggestion. I might also try to check out the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine.

 

So much to do, so little time. *sigh*