I'm in New York for the next few week and I'm looking for some advice on good places to go to take pictures. I've been to New York several times but photography is a new hobby for me and I've never had the time to really explore the city with my camera. I'm interested in photographing architecture, and really almost anything else except people.

I'm planning on going to the Brooklyn Bridge, and Central Park. Can someone recommend a good spot in Brooklyn to take a picture of the Manhattan skyline? Any tips on where to go in Central Park or elsewhere in Manhattan?

I'll be photographing during the day only. Thank you!

The best place to take photographs of the Manhattan skyline including the Brooklyn Bridge is from the Staten Island Ferry. Do this at night for fabulous shots of the city lit up.

Thanks, GoTravel. That sounds like a great idea. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get out at night to take pictures this trip, but I'll try. Does the movement from the boat not interfere with pictures though? What's the minimum speed the shutter should be? Like I said, I'm just a beginner! Thanks!

Good places for shots of the skyline? From the Brooklyn Bridge itself, from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade(fabulous), which is just a short walk from the bridge, and Fulton Park (great shots of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan together).

Other good locations for non-people oriented shots - Times Square and surroundings (best at dusk when you have some light in the sky but can capture the city lights as well); 5th Avenue; some interesting sculpture outside the UN; Chinatown and Soho offer some interesting shots of fire escapes, restaurant windows. Certainly agree with going to Central Park, but do try to include some people; they don't care, and NYC isn't NYC without lots of people.

I am an avid photographer and have included lots of photos from NYC on my Web site at www.oneeyed.homestead.com. These might give you a few ideas. You can see lots more NYC photos at www.danheller.com.

Since you are in NYC for a while, you might also want to take a trip on the 2 or 3-hr Circleline boat tour. The 2-hr version takes you from around Times Square on one side to the UN and back. The 3-hr. one circles the island. Also with that much time, you might want to visit the Cloisters or the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Certainly the museums offer lots of opportunities too.

No, the movement of the boat does not effect the photos. I'm not sure you would want to fast a shutter speed since the city lights are so bright but I'd ask an expert.

I discovered a great angle for a skyscraper photo while heading the the Fodors GTG: the ferry to Port Imperial in Weehawken, NJ.

It leaves Manhattan from 38th St and the Hudson River. It costs about $11 round trip. Great midtown skyline views from the ferry as well as the ferry landing in NJ.

In regards to shutter speed and the skyline, I would opt for dusk, when you have some light to get the shutter speed up to a number that won't blur. If you are shooting digital, it is easy to change settings on the camera. If not, I would opt for 800 film. If you are going away from the skyline, you should be able to get away with lower shutter speeds than if passing it. How about coming back on the return trip just after dark and giving it a try that way too. You get the best of both worlds.

Thanks for all of the tips. I mistyped in my original post...I'll be in New York only for another week, but I'll be back again!

I looked at your website Dan. Great pictures! I'll try to take the Staten Island ferry at dusk/dark as you suggested, but that might be right at rush hour. I'm not sure if it would be too crowded then. I do have a few questions about your pictures if you don't mind...

On the NYC Family Trip part one, where were you to get those shots of the Flatiron Building and the top of the Chrysler Building?

On part two, where did you stand to get that reflection of St Pat's? I walked by today and didn't see it, but I didn't have the time to stop really. Perhaps the sun was too low or high when I was there?

What time of day would you suggest to go to the Brooklyn Bridge? Early morning? I was planning on walking over the bridge from Manhattan, then walking to the Brooklyn Heights Promanade. Is Fulton Park within walking distance too? I really want pics of the bridge with the skyline in the background.

One more question...do you have any reccomendations on where in Central Park to go? Picturesque bridges, etc. I'm not very familiar with the park and don't want to get lost!

Thanks so much for all of the help, and if you have any other suggestions, I'm always looking for tips!

Thanks!

The shots of the Chrysler Bldg and Flat Iron were from atop the Empire St. Bldg at dusk. The reflection of St. Patricks, I think, was late day (not positive). It is the building located just to the left of the cathedral, if you are looking from across the street.

For the Brooklyn Bridge, I really liked early morning. I love getting out and about before a lot of people. It was on a weekend, so not sure if the same during the week. I would think dusk would also be great for that. I always try to plan based on light direction, and I don't think you would have to worry about much backlight for the skyline late in the day, but it might be more of an issue than in morning. Do walk from the Brooklyn side if possible because you get views all the way across. There is a subway stop not too far from Brooklyn Heights Promenade and another near Fulton Park. I started out at Fulton and walked to the promenade. It was not a short walk but tolerable (maybe 20 minutes). I am pretty sure I used the York St. stop for Fulton. It is not a bad walk at all from the promenade to the bridge. Several of the building shots from my fall photos were taken from the bridge.

In regards to Central Park, I have not been everywhere, but the following are particularly interesting of what I have seen: skyline shots from around Wollman Rink (actually there are big rocks you can climb for overhead shots), Bow Bridge, Belvedere Castle, and The Ramble (wooded - some pretty scenery). I found that by entering in the middle of Central Park South I was able to hit these spots pretty effectively in about 2-3 hours, give or take.

KCGirl-
I am lucky to have a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge & downtown from my apartment in Brooklyn. The best time to take photos would be literally as the sun comes up, from Brooklyn Bridge Park (someone else called it Fulton Park here...its old name is Empire Fulton Ferry State Park). The buildings downtown absolutely glow in the morning! Too bad you won't be here in the summer when you can watch the sun set between the buildings (it's setting too far south now).

The view from the Brooklyn Heights promenade is kind of boring photography-wise...you won't get the bridge in the background, just the newer, less architecturally interesting buildings on the downtown waterfront.

I also suggest you walk around downtown near City Hall & Wall street if you want to photograph architecture. The Woolworth Building, a gorgeous example of gothic architecture and once the tallest building in the world (& one of my personal favorites) is just west of City Hall Park and would photograph well in the morning & evening.

Thanks Dan and Suzanne! I'll plan on going out early in the morning to take pictures of Brooklyn Bridge. I'll go first to the Fulton Park/Brooklyn Bridge Park and then walk across the bridge from the Brooklyn side to Manhattan.

Suzanne, what train and stop will get me to the Brooklyn Bridge Park? (I'll be taking the 6 train and then can transfer if I need to.) From the park would it be quicker to walk or take the subway to the bridge? I want to make the most of the good light!

I'm sure I'll be back in the summer (My sister and her family live here), so I can take the pics of the sun setting behind the buildings then! Thanks for the tip!

As long as I'm in lower Manhattan I'll go to the Woolworth bldg and explore that area. I'll try to do Central Park tomorrow afternoon or later this week.

Thanks so much for the help everyone, and keep the tips coming. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes tomororw!

I would certainly agree with Suzanne. If you pick one, skip the promenade.

From the 6 train, transfer to the F train at Bleecker St. Take it to York St, the 1st stop in Brooklyn.

Take a right upon exiting and head down the hill (Jay St). Take a left on Front Street, which you'll walk for about 3 blocks, going under the Manhattan Bridge. When you get to Washington Street, look to your right for an amazing view of the Empire State building silhouetted by the arch of the Manhattan Bridge. Go one block further along Front Street, and take a right on Main Street (my street!). You'll see the park straight ahead.

There may also be good photo opportunities on Water Street. This lies between Front Street and the water. There are some cool brick Civil War-era warehouses here, between Main St and the Brooklyn Bridge.

To get to the bridge walkway, backtrack to Washington Street and walk up the hill. Under the 2nd overpass you'll see a stairway going up to the right which takes you right to the walkway.

Thanks Dan, Suzanne, and everyone for the help. I made it to the Brooklyn Bridge, Union Square/Flatiron/Gramercy Park area, and Central Park. Central Park was beautiful this time of year, and I'm looking forward to getting my pictures developed. Unfortunately, I had my 1 year old nephew with me in his stroller as he was napping, so I couldn't explore the park as much as I would have liked. I also took a few photographs of the marathon on Sunday, including pictures of my brother-in-law running in it! I wish I had had more time, but I'm in New York a few times a years, so I'll be sure to visit some other areas next time. And I would love to get a wide angle lens before I visit next time. Thanks again for the help!

PS - Dan, I've really enjoyed viewing your website. You've taken some great pictures, and I was really impressed with some of your DC pictures. The trip sounded like a lot of fun...I'll have to plan a trip around photography some day!

Thanks. Glad to hear you got out and got a few good shots. It really is hard to do photography with kids along, asleep or not. I usually try to get out in the mornings alone for a couple of hours here and there when on family trips. Everyone else enjoys the extra rest in the hotel, and I enjoy the photography. Actually on my spring trip to NYC with the family I headed out to the bridge on the last day in town. As I walked out the door, I found out it was raining. I said forget it and really regretted not getting there. I was thrilled to get a chance to go back on a part work/part pleasure trip that fall.