First trip to NYC - Photo Op Suggestions Welcomed
May 13th, 2009, 08:52 AM
#1
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First trip to NYC - Photo Op Suggestions Welcomed
My husband and I are traveling to New York City for the first time in October; we're flying in on a Friday and leaving on a Tuesday. Since we have only 3-1/2 days, we want to make the most of our time. If time permits, we would love to visit (and possibly go up into) the Statue of Liberty. After doing some research on the travel boards, we are thinking that we may skip it due to time constraints. If we decide to not go this trip, my husband would still love to get some beautiful photographs of the statue. He is an extremely talented amateur photographer. I would love to get some suggestions of where he can get some great shots of the statue. Thank you for your assistance!
May 13th, 2009, 09:21 AM
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You can ride the Staten Island Ferry (free) which passes by the statue. You can also go to parts of Jersey City, NJ and get some pictures, but that probably would not work if you have time constraints to begin with.
Enjoy NYC!
Enjoy NYC!
May 13th, 2009, 09:37 AM
#3
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Liberty Island is in the middle of the (large) harbor. You can get distant shots from the Staten Island ferry (free, runs every 15 minutes during the day and a RT takes about an hour and a quater). Th eonly way to get close-ups is to take the ferry there and visis - for which you need to get advance tickets and allow aobut 5 hours.
May 13th, 2009, 11:09 AM
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In addition to the SI Ferry, you can get some great shots of the Statue in the harbor from the Brooklyn Bridge. Wide angle shots are great, but a good telephoto lens and a tripod will get great shots, too.
May 13th, 2009, 12:01 PM
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As a fellow serious amateur photographer, I can assure your husband that he'll have no shortage of photo ops in New York.
The suggestion about the Staten Island Ferry is a good one. I assume he has zoom lens, so he'll be okay with the Statue of Liberty. The ferry also offers a wonderful view of the lower Manhattan Skyline.
Other photos ops:
*Central Park, especially from 60th to about 72nd Street.
*Times Square area at night.
*Inside the major museums. (Just remember, no flash allowed!)
*From atop the Top of the Rock, both day and night.
Etc., etc., etc. Hey, every corner you turn is a photo op!
The suggestion about the Staten Island Ferry is a good one. I assume he has zoom lens, so he'll be okay with the Statue of Liberty. The ferry also offers a wonderful view of the lower Manhattan Skyline.
Other photos ops:
*Central Park, especially from 60th to about 72nd Street.
*Times Square area at night.
*Inside the major museums. (Just remember, no flash allowed!)
*From atop the Top of the Rock, both day and night.
Etc., etc., etc. Hey, every corner you turn is a photo op!
May 13th, 2009, 12:34 PM
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gb944 and HowardR -- He definitely will be toting both the telephoto and wide angle lenses, as well as the tripod. We will be having dinner at the River Cafe in Brooklyn one evening while we are there and definitely plan to get some shots of Manhattan from there. Great suggestions!
May 13th, 2009, 01:27 PM
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When visiting other cities - e.g. Paris - I look for the small picture rather than the big one. A table setting at an outdoor cafe - close up. a traffic cop on a busy corner, flowers and a bench at Rockefeller Center. These small pictures add up to - New York City. although we all want pictures of the SOL - Empire State Building etc. - you can get great postcards of that stuff. The small picture is you and your impression of the city.
May 13th, 2009, 01:53 PM
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jroth, you've made a very good point. My most successful sets of photographs are those that combine both--the expected shots of the sites and the "little" things. As for taking shots of the "expected" sites, my feeling is, "Sure you can buy an postcard, but the picture I'm taking is MY moment, MY experience!"
May 13th, 2009, 02:11 PM
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There are a few reasons for travel photography;
One is a presonal record.
Amaze and awe friends and relatives
The other is to take pictures that are unique or aesthetically pleasing, that may not be crowd pleasers but are yours.
I know JRoth has exhibited his photos and I have had over two dozen photographic exhibits including two at the Alice Austen House.
Here are a few hints:
Why take the same picture as everyone else?
Change the perspective, angle, position, try asymetry, different use of space, light, color. etc
As JRoth suggested take details or go larger.
Change lenses, settings, filters, etc.
Take many photos and decide which is what you are trying to accomplish later.
If you are looking for "photo ops' you will shoot what others have already done. If you change your concept of a shot my be, you will capture different moments.
One is a presonal record.
Amaze and awe friends and relatives
The other is to take pictures that are unique or aesthetically pleasing, that may not be crowd pleasers but are yours.
I know JRoth has exhibited his photos and I have had over two dozen photographic exhibits including two at the Alice Austen House.
Here are a few hints:
Why take the same picture as everyone else?
Change the perspective, angle, position, try asymetry, different use of space, light, color. etc
As JRoth suggested take details or go larger.
Change lenses, settings, filters, etc.
Take many photos and decide which is what you are trying to accomplish later.
If you are looking for "photo ops' you will shoot what others have already done. If you change your concept of a shot my be, you will capture different moments.
May 13th, 2009, 02:18 PM
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Don't forget to keep your eyes open just walking Manhattan streets. The natives are exciting and make good photo ops.
And enjoy your trip. There is nothing like NYC. Hope you are attending a Broadway show, too.
And enjoy your trip. There is nothing like NYC. Hope you are attending a Broadway show, too.
May 13th, 2009, 07:06 PM
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No one ever mentions the views from the Roosevelt Island Tram, going to Manhattan. It's cheap, and awesome views, especially at night. For the same price as ESB, TOTR, etc..., you can take ten trips on the Tram. Of course, you can walk across the QBB too.
Before 9/11, if you could brave the scary height, you could walk up the span to the top of the BB, but not anymore. Awesome views there.
Some of the best views of Manhattan are from Brooklyn and Queens.
Before 9/11, if you could brave the scary height, you could walk up the span to the top of the BB, but not anymore. Awesome views there.
Some of the best views of Manhattan are from Brooklyn and Queens.
May 14th, 2009, 05:35 AM
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I haven't done it, but I've heard of all the boat cruises, nywaterway.com harbor 90 min. harbor cruise offers the best bang for the buck in terms of seeing the most (gets much closer to the statue than the Staten Island ferry) for the shortest time. http://www.nywaterway.com/Home/Takea...4/Default.aspx
What I have done is take the hop on/off nywatertaxi.com which gives you both some great views from the water and an opportunity to explore some of the parks and small streets around some of the stops. It only runs thru Oct. 11 though so you might miss it. http://www.nywatertaxi.com/hop/
What I have done is take the hop on/off nywatertaxi.com which gives you both some great views from the water and an opportunity to explore some of the parks and small streets around some of the stops. It only runs thru Oct. 11 though so you might miss it. http://www.nywatertaxi.com/hop/
May 14th, 2009, 06:17 AM
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I got a good shot of SOL from a tour boat and an excellent Manhattan shot from the ferry going to Ellis Island.
If you have time to go to the Madison Square market (OP help clarify here) and the street with all the flower shops you might find some local color. China Town also has some interesting possibilities.
I use an Olympus 4 megapixel point and shoot with 18 optical zoom btw-fits in my purse. You can see some Italy/France shots taken with that camera by clicking on my name.
If you have time to go to the Madison Square market (OP help clarify here) and the street with all the flower shops you might find some local color. China Town also has some interesting possibilities.
I use an Olympus 4 megapixel point and shoot with 18 optical zoom btw-fits in my purse. You can see some Italy/France shots taken with that camera by clicking on my name.
May 14th, 2009, 11:02 AM
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This is the first chance I have had today to get on the boards, and these are all such great ideas. I would like to thank you all for your kind words and suggestions. I'm really excited by our upcoming trip.
