Photography In Manhattan, New York - My Experience

Scope

I’ve been coming to New York on an almost annual basis since 2019. Apart from a brief pause when we were all locked indoors, I haven’t skipped a year. I’ve visited during different seasons, for varying lengths of time, and at different stages of my photography journey.

In this blog, I will share my experience of travelling around Manhattan. I am being very, very specific with the wording here because 95% of my time was spent in Manhattan, and as I’m sure we all know, New York is much bigger than its most famous borough.

Why not venture farther afield? I did briefly, but I still feel drawn to Manhattan. This isn’t a travel guide, although it can certainly be used as a source of information. New York is the sort of city you need to live in for a long time before compiling a proper travel guide. However, if you happen to be coming to London, my travel guide, which you can find here, will 100% help you.

Seasons

I’ve visited in both summer and winter to experience the two extremes. All the locals tell me to visit in spring or autumn for the most comfortable temperatures, but because I like to make things difficult for myself, I pick the extremes instead.

Winter is utterly brutal. I’ve been to Antarctica, and I distinctly remember it feeling less cold than being beside the Hudson in January. The main reason to visit in winter is to try to catch the crazy snow. Sadly, I can’t tell you how to predict it, and I failed every time. Of course, if you like shooting at night, winter is your best option. Having visited in winter three times, I don’t think I will do it again.

For me, summer is when New York shines. The weather is outstanding, the light is amazing, people’s spirits are high, and there is so much life everywhere. From kids running beneath the spray of fire hydrants to dudes playing basketball, everywhere you look, the city is alive. Sure, it can get extremely hot, but for me, summer is where it’s at.

Duration

I’ve stayed for anywhere between one and four weeks, and in my opinion, around ten days is the sweet spot, especially if you’re out shooting every day. Any less and you won’t get into the rhythm. Any more and you will burn out.

Where I Stayed

I always stay in the same area, just south of Grand Central Terminal. It’s very central, making it easy to walk to any part of town without the journey taking too long. It’s also extremely well connected.

Getting Around

I use only two modes of transport: my feet and the subway. I walk about 80% of the time and take the subway only if I am going somewhere time-sensitive. I use a taxi only when it’s late at night.

Gear I Used

I’ve used just about every type of camera and lens in NYC. I would say a 40mm prime is ideal, but a 24–70mm zoom is the best choice if you’re unsure. You don’t need to go much beyond 70mm unless you specifically want that look.

My ideal NYC lens is the Sony 24–50mm. If in doubt, you can’t go wrong with a 35mm prime. These are all full-frame focal lengths.

My Experience Shooting Here

My experience of shooting in New York has been nothing but positive. As in any other major city, such as London or Tokyo, people generally won’t care as long as you are respectful.

I would say New York is easier to shoot in because people are more open to cameras, but it’s also much more interactive. In London or Tokyo, people tend to keep themselves to themselves. In New York, people will start conversations with you.

Food and Drink

I am not a foodie, which I know is a shame given where I am. My go-to spot is Whole Foods, a supermarket with a section selling cooked, healthy food. Of course, I will grab burgers, pizza, and tacos if I walk past them, but Whole Foods is good for a quick, healthy meal.

I like Juice Generation in the summer for a refreshing juice, and if I am about to demolish 30,000 steps, Utopia Bagels will give me all the calories I need. As for coffee, any place that looks like a nice coffee shop usually serves very nice coffee. At least, that has been my experience.

Other Travel Notes

Although cards are accepted everywhere, I found having some cash very helpful, especially when buying fruit from street vendors on a hot summer’s day.

One thing I struggled with was the lack of public toilets. Although there are some, they are few and far between. This resulted in frequent stops for tea, coffee, and snacks just so I could use the loo. I’m not complaining; it’s merely an observation.

Overall, I found Manhattan pretty safe and haven’t encountered any issues. Of course, I had interactions with people on the street who were clearly on something, but a smile and an extra-strong British accent made them wish they had never bothered talking to me.

Favourite Spots

Usually, when I write these kinds of blogs, I find it easy to separate the different areas of a city clearly. In London, for example, there is an obvious, slap-you-in-the-face difference between Bank and Soho.

Although there are clear differences between Midtown, the Lower East Side, and Chelsea, I struggle to define exactly where I most enjoyed shooting because I found all of it equally interesting. For me, it’s much easier to separate Manhattan from Brighton Beach. When I look at the different parts of Manhattan, however, they all seem to roll into one.

Having looked through my photos, I found them to be spread fairly evenly across Manhattan, with an abrupt stop when I reached Central Park. I am not sure why, but I suspect it is because every time I visited Central Park, I went there not to shoot but to escape the chaos for a while.

My approach to shooting here is simple: pick a street and keep walking until something catches your eye. Go towards it, then repeat the process until your legs give out.

I would often walk from Grand Central Terminal all the way down to One World Trade Center, then turn around, choose a different street, and walk back. I would apply the same “method” when going from the East Side to the West Side.

Outside Manhattan

I must admit, I haven’t ventured outside Manhattan very much. I find it so overwhelming and vast that I can’t even comprehend looking beyond it.

That said, I’ve spent a fair amount of time in parts of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Coney Island, and Brighton Beach. They are all very different areas with distinct atmospheres, and they make for a nice change from Manhattan.

Staten Island Ferry

If you’re a New Yorker, you probably rolled your eyes the moment you saw this heading. However, as a non-American, my fascination with this movie-like orange ferry is cemented for good.

I don’t know why I love this ferry so much. Maybe it’s the light pouring into the old vessel. Maybe it’s the feeling of being on a movie set. Or perhaps it’s the view of the city skyline.

Either way, every time I visit the city, I spend at least a few hours going back and forth, shooting and taking it all in. I love it.

A Place I Will Keep Returning To

I’ve been very lucky to travel extensively throughout my life, and I often find that once I’ve seen a place, I am happy to close that chapter and move on.

Two years ago, we drove across Morocco. It was a beautiful experience that we will cherish for our whole lives. Despite that, I have no burning desire to return. If an opportunity arises to visit Marrakech, of course I will go, but it isn’t somewhere I am actively wishing to revisit.

New York, on the other hand, is firmly on my annual travel rotation. It’s a place I plan to visit once a year for as long as life allows me. It’s a city that is always changing and evolving, and there is always something new to discover.

Furthermore, this city is a world-class street photography gym. The day I lose interest in visiting New York is probably the day I lose interest in photography.

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