How to Photograph a New York City Summer Vacation

Times Square

Summer is a great time to visit New York City. Sure it's hot, but it's hot everywhere, and prices tend to be lower in the summer. You may also have a better chance of getting tickets to the hottest Broadway shows. Certain venues like the South Street Seaport come alive in the summer with street performers and special concerts. No matter where you are from in the world, New York City is special and unique. It is one of the world's largest cultural, financial and commercial centers. There is too much to see and do in New York to cover it in one trip or write about it in one article. I have had the good fortune to live in the Metropolitan Area for over 20 years and the opportunity to visit New York City many times. Periodically, my wife and I will stay in a New York hotel for a couple of nights just so we can explore new parts of the city. This has given us a lot of time to develop some favorites. New York is an excellent place for photography with great public places and people who are generally very tolerant of tourists-and not camera shy at all! However, it does pay to do some advance planning, which you can start by visiting the links in Resources below. In this article we will provide some tips for taking great pictures on your first visit to the "Big Apple. "

Things You'll Need

• A camera
• Enough money to spend some time in NYC
• Hotel Reservations

Instructions

1. 

   One of the first things to do is to go to the top of the Empire State Building or 30 Rockefeller Center to get your bearings. Manhattan is a fun city to walk in, but it is huge, and to see the view from the top provides some real scale to your tourist map. From this photo you can get some idea of the size of Central Park. Central Park is a great place to go after taking in the scene at 30 Rockefeller Center, but it's 843 acres, so don't think you will walk through the whole park in one visit. And FYI, at 30 Rockefeller Center you may want to work in an NBC Studio Tour.

2. 

   It's fun to take pictures on the street, but you have to keep in mind you are in a major city and tourists are often targets of crime. Don't carry your camera hanging off your shoulder; carry it around your neck. Experiment in taking pictures without looking through the viewfinder. This picture was taken with a wide-angle lens while walking down the street. You don't have to be confrontational to take street pictures. Take pictures of street performers; you don't need to have a model release, although they may tell you that you do.

3. 

   The city has a variety of unique people and life events that are constantly played out in front of you. It is a great time for trying out your photojournalistic photography skills. If you have read my article: "How to Become a Photojournalist" you will know that for me that means usually switching to black and white photography. Look for images that tell a story. What is the story with this picture? Only one person has eye contact with the camera, but is that the subject? The young girl is really posing for the camera without looking at the lens, while everyone else is trying to avoid looking at the camera. It captures human interaction at a moment in time, which is the essence of photojournalism.

4. 

   New York has some of the best restaurants in the world. Try to eat at one of the landmark restaurants like Tavern on The Green or Club 21 and take some pictures of your experience. Brunch at the Rainbow Room is not just a meal; it is an event, and can be finished by taking in the great view at 30 Rockefeller Center. The brunch has everything from sushi to rack of lamb and a dessert table that is worth the $80 per person price.

5. 

   There are about 80 Museums in New York City, most of which are in Manhattan. Some of the museums are quite large, like the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and take more then one day to see. Others are small and can be visited in a half a day or less. New York also has really unique museums like the Museum of Natural History, Ellis Island and the Jewish Museum. In addition to the museums, there are lots of really interesting public buildings that are worth seeing, like the New York Public Library, St. Patrick's Cathedral and the United Nations Building. You can buy a New York pass for a set price, which gives you free admission to MOMA and other NYC attractions (see links in Resources below).

6. 

   Don't forget to take your camera when you step out at night. You will certainly want to visit some clubs, take in a play or go to a concert. You are usually not allowed to use flash photography at plays and indoor concerts; however, you can use high speed film or a high ISO on your digital camera to capture the moments without flash. This is a shot of 92-year-old Les Paul playing with his trio at the Iridium in 2005. He still plays two shows every Monday night at the Iridium (see link in Resources below).

7. 

   During your trip to New York City you have to ride the subway. It really is the best way to get around town and pretty easy to understand. If you are a sports fan you can take the subway to Yankee Stadium or Shea Stadium/Citi Field to see a ball game. Even if you stick to cabs, rather then subways, Grand Central Station has been beautifully restored and is worth a photography trip.

Tips & Warnings

• Develop a plan with first and second choice of things you want to do, shows you want to see and places you want to visit.

• The TKTS booths in the theater district and the South Street Seaport sell day-of-show tickets for theater events at discounts of 25, 35 and 50 percent. Get there early for the hottest shows, or use the online link in Resources below.

• New York is a big city, so use all your "big city skills" while being a tourist. If you need to gawk, don't stand in the middle of the sidewalk with your purse dangling off your arm.

Resources

• New York Pass
• Tourist Information
• Discount Tickets
• Irdidium Jazz Club
• The Rainbow Room
• Tavern on The Green
• The 21 Club