Between the 8th and 15th November I am going to visit New York for professional purposes. I will be lodged in Manhattan, my evenings will be free and I would like to try to shoot some night photos. To spare my limited time it would be most helpful if you could indicate me some interesting places, be it for cityscapes or be it for street phptography. I am unexperienced in night photography and have Canon Eos 400D with its basic lens, so my expectations are quite modest. Thank you!.

I don't really have experience of night Manhattan but Broadway midtown, especially Times Square is a sure bet for night street photography. Your pictures will be probably grainy but expose for highlights on faces and you should get something worthy. Daytime in Central park is really good for street shots but I am not sure either way how safe it is in the dark. I personally would not risk it but I am a woman after all. Taking pictures in NY subways is legal and worthy but no tripods are allowed (as in many subways of the world).

 

You can take decent night architectural pictures with your camera if you use Manual mode and a tripod or a sturdy surface to put your camera on. ISO 100, 1 to say 20 sec, depending on scene lighting. Take pictures from the Empire State Building observation decks (likely no tripods are allowed).

 

You can also contact Steve, the meetup organizer here, http://www.meetup.com/Learn-Street-Photography , and see if he has plans for any night street shooting workshop at the time. He is a 1X member as well.

 

Have fun in NYC,

Anna

Hi Tibor,

Anna's suggestion for the Times Square Area is very good. I would also suggest that once you are there walk over west to where all the Broadway theaters are at about 7- 7:30 PM and you should have lights, and people gathered to go into the shows.

 

For me the best street photos would be in the East Village. To have some light...my suggestion is to go to St. Marks' Place (8th St.) on Stand on the corner of 2nd Avenue where they cross. Of course walking up and down St. Marks Place is good too. It is lit up and has very interesting looking people. The shops are unusual...as are the people. Ask anyone where St. Marks Place is. :) Right on the corner there ( if it is still there) is a place called Gem Spa....It is quite famous...and you want to go in and have a Vanilla Egg Cream. It is a NYC soda..special...Lou Reed sang about them. :)

 

Another interesting place in terms of colorful people, would be Hell's Kitchen ...lets say walk along ninth avenue - start at 35th Street and walk uptown (North)...until about 50th St...or even on 10th Avenue...

 

For a Cityscape...there was a place called the Beekman Tower..on lst avenue and About 49th St. You can google it for photos..It may not be open but it is worth checking...because there is a rooftop lounge (enclosed) which has a view of Manhattan that is spectacular. Most people had never heard of it. I lived closed by and that is how I found it. If you find a table on the West side.you can see clear al the way down lst Ave...and all across Manhattan. You will have a view of the Empire State...and all the important buildings..right in front of you. It does seem like perhaps it has changed to an Apartment complex but it might still have the rooftop lounge...It is worth a call. Also, if it is still there ...what is good is that you will not have the typical view most people have when taking photos. Bring a circular polarizer if you are concerned about shooting through glass...

 

In future - since you probably already have your hotel...if you want spectacular views...go to the UN Plaza Hotel. I have stayed there a number of times when I lived in NYC. the Windows are celing to floor and you can take amazing pictures...just ask for a room facing South West.....or West...

 

http://www.millenniumhotels.com/usa/oneunnewyork/accommodation/deluxe-room.html

 

Have a good journey.

 

Phyllis

Anna, Phyllis: thank you very much! Tibor.