Guide to taking photos in New York

I�m traveling to Manhattan with my family next week and I�ve really

had a hard time researching locations, times, and other info that

will help me get the best photos possible. Previously, I�ve been

able to read/buy guides that offered a good deal of info of secrets

and things to avoid. I have a couple dozen ideas of photos I�ll try

to get, but I fear that I�ll come back with a bunch of similar-

looking gray-cast images. Any pointers or references would be

greatly appreciated by this amateur who knows he needs as much help

as he can get. Thanks.

In general, I think that with creativity, interesting photos can be made at any time of day. What are some of the ideas that you were thinking of? It would help to know what kind of shots do you want. Sorry, I don't know of any books. Regardless of what kind of photos you want, bring a tripod for the city that never sleeps.

<p>I was stuck in manhattan mid blizzard in february and had no cameras with me. I went out and bought an $85 stylus epic and spent 6 hours in the streets with it.

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<p>you can see some images I made that day on <a href="http://www.danielsweet.com/ny2.htm">my website</a> and i have included one on this post.

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<p>Not travel per se--maybe more street and portraitish than you want--but still in Manhattan and quite characterisitic of what you may find there.

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<img src="http://www.danielsweet.com/photos/ny8.jpg">

That's some nice work, Dan. It should be required reading for all of those 'Which is better, Nikon or Canon?' posters. The best camera is the one you have with you, used in an intelligent way.

If you plan to go to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, please don't miss <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/artists_view/manhatta_main.html">

Manhatta</a>, a six-minute film spans an imaginary day in the life of New York City, made by Charles Sheeler and Paul Strand in 1920. I plan to go there next weekend.

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Being a New Yorker, my advice to taking photos in New York is not to use a tripod, not to shoot homeless.

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The most photogenic part of New York City is the light. Think about how it would look like in the final image before you shoot. The best time to shoot is evening, a few hours before and after sunset.

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I have some images of New York City in my homepage: <a href="/users/SLIU">photo.net/users/SLIU</a>.

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P.S.

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Another must go place to photographers is International Center of Photography (<a href="http://www.icp.org">www.icp.org</a>).

 

...these two articles from the "New York Institute of Photography" are elementary but might be of some help

 

* Photographing New York City - Part 1:

 

http://www.nyip.com/tips/topic_nyc0798.html

 

* Photographing New York City - Part 2:

 

http://www.nyip.com/tips/topic_nyc0998.html

 

Enjoy your visit

If you want to take pictures of local people, go to Soho (weekend), Greewich Village and East Village (evening before dark), Chinatown, Central Park (sunny weekend), Wall Street (Lunch Time), Fifth Avenus. Check the events at the official site of New York City: http://www.nycvisit.com/home/index.cfm

Mark, this is my advise:

 

As soon as you get there, take the upper Manhattan and lower Manhattan

bus guided tours offered by Gray Line Tours. If you are staying at a hotel, they will have information on these tours at their front counter, where you can also purchase the tickets. If not, just go down to Times Square or Grand Central Station where Gray Line Tours have ticket boots.

 

Again, they have two tours, one that covers upper Manhattan and one that covers lower Manhattan, both are very nice since they take you to every interesting place in both areas and give you all the information you need to know.

 

It is better to take them early in the morning, because you will be able to get off the bus at any place you like, walk around and get on the next bus to continue your tour.

 

This way you'll learn a good deal about New York City, and after that you will be able to select the places that interested you, come back on your own and do more photography.

 

For more information on these tours, you can check Gray Line's website at: http://www.grayline.com/index.cfm