Street photography in New York

<p>Are there any particular places? I find images exist just about everywhere but usally like it when there are lots of people around. 5th Avenue I know. With this economic depression are there places which one should avoid in NY? I don't usually photograph at night because by then the feet have had it.</p>

 

<p>Anywhere, any place, any time. Relax. At night, find a sidewalk cafe and sit.</p>

<p>:)) good thinking. </p>

<p>I find photographing the interaction between people and exhibits and people and architecture in the Museum of Modern Art quite absorbing. Also to a lesser extent in the Met. Its warm & dry too.</p>

<p>You'll find crowds of people in Time Square.The Bryant Park area also has lots of people. Grand Central Station, Wall Street - especially during the weekdays at lunch time. Just wandering around the city will provide plenty of opportunities.</p>

I was in Greenich Village a year or so ago on a Saturday and there was a several blocks long street fair going on with lots of photo ops. I don't know if it's a regular thing or not.

<p>David thanks, I agree and have them on my list.<br>

Jenna thanks for Bryant Park and a Wall Street lunchtime. Will add them.<br>

Charles thanks for the Greenwich Village Market.</p>

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<p>Union Square on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and weekends has a farmers market as well as artists and vendors selling their work.....usually attracts crowds. I walk through there every night around 6 and musicians and dancers perform in the square.....you certainly see some characters.</p>

<p>Shannon thanks. </p>

<p>Al,</p>

<p>It all depends on what type of people you wish to photograph. Times Square is full of people, but it is mostly tourists. The Wall St area is good to photograph those who work in the area. Be sure to check out Federal Hall at lunchtime, caty corner to the Stock Exchange on Wall Street. <br>

You may also want to visit the ethnic neighborhoods. For that, head out to Queens. The Asian neighborhood in Flushing is more "authentic" than that in lower Manhattan. You also have the Greek neighborhood in Astoria, Indian neighborhood in Richmond Hill, South American neighborhood in Corona, Russian neighborhood in Brighton Beach (the last one is in Brooklyn). Head to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx for a more authentic Italian neighborhood. Little Italy in Manhattan is for toursits only.<br>

I agree with the previous posters noting the Union Square Greenmarket and Greenwich Village. True new Yorkers outnumber the tourists here. If the weather is nice, get yourself to Central Park and the Great Lawn. </p>

<p>James thanks for all these tips. Coming from London I understand what you mean about tourists and Times Square being full of visitors. Central park and Great lawn I'll head for along with the previously mentioned Union Sq markets. Coming from London I have a fairly good idea where not to go there with an expensive camera so I'm a little wary about that in NY being pretty green about it. But maybe I'll have a reccy around Queens and the Bronx in the locations you suggest. Thanks again for taking the time and trouble to comment. </p>

<p>I would suggest trying a shoot at Gramercy Park. You won;t be able to get into the park because the residents of the town houses around the square have the keys. but you can shoot into the park, and shoot the town houses. It's on lower 5th Ave. but north of Washington Square.</p>

 

<p>All good suggestions. If you haven't had your trip yet, I would only quibble with one point above. Flushing's Chinatown is not necessarily more "authentic" than Lower Manhattan's Chinatown, and it's much more of a pain to get to. The two neighborhoods are different in cultural makeup, but both are equally "authentic" IMHO, in the sense that both are functional Chinese communities first and foremost. Manhattan's Chinatown <em>will</em> be more crowded with tourists, however. But the further East you go the fewer tourists you will see.</p>

<p>[if you care: Manhattan's Chinatown is culturally largely Cantonese (i.e. from Southern China & Hong Kong), while Flushing's Chinatown is culturally more a mix of Northern Chinese and Taiwanese. So if you want the best of regional Chinese food, I'd eat pork buns in Flushing and dim sum in Lower Manhattan (or Brooklyn's small Chinatown).]</p>

<p>Manhattan's Chinatown has an added advantage as a tourist destination over Flushing: it is in the thick of the courthouse/City Hall/Brooklyn Bridge area, which is an excellent place for photographing people in its own right. Go on a weekday during business hours.</p>

<p>One suggestion is to avoid Little Italy. At this point it has mostly been overtaken by Chinatown, and the little bit that remains is just a tourist trap of crappy Italian restaurants.</p>