Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Hello guys

I hope you guys can help a member out. Its my first time visiting New york city. i wanted to ask if you have any pointers for a novice photography like me when taking photo's?

Also any good site to start off my photograph safari in the urban jungle.

Google. LAWLS.

What kind of photos do you want to take?

An ultra-wide lens comes in handy.

I haven't been in years myself but I've heard recently, on photography podcasts mostly, that anything resembling pro-gear(aka an SLR with a tripod) gets you accosted by cops/security in the name of some homeland security nonsense. I can't speak to the veracity of that firsthand but it's something to consider.

get a leica?

That's rule number 1 in photography.

I didn't like my shots taken on a 16-35 f/2.8L. Its probably a thing of preference but I preferred my 24-70 or my 24-105 for a bit of reach. I was there 2 weeks ago for 5 days, if you're going to be there for a few days I recommend buying a 7-day metrocard so you can hop on the subway for unlimited rides. A New York City Pass was $80 but included 6 attractions (MoMA, Gugenheim, Empire State Building, 2-hr boat tour around lower Manhatten, Metropolitan Museum of Art and Museum of Natural History). Walking across the Brooklyn bridge was cool.

When are you going to the Big Apple?

Beyond the urban eye candy, I always stop in on my favorite camera store on the planet* - B&H (it's close to Madison Square Garden)
If you are going over a weekend be aware that they close early on Friday afternoon and are closed on Saturday, but they are open on Sunday.

Just like Toronto there are things going on all the time, but it doesn't look like gothamist covers it the same way as torontoist... Timeout NY (newyork.timeout.com) may be a better bet.

It would help to see some of your photos so we know what to suggest.

Regardless, have fun.

*my second favorite is probably Michaels in Melbourne - just for the camera museum upstairs at that store...

***Walking across the Brooklyn bridge was cool.****

^^^Ditto^^ - great views of lower Manhattan. Also the Staten Island ferry is a cheap excellent "cruise".

What type of shots do you want? Sunset/rise cityscapes? urban grit of lower eastside/Harlem? Central Park candids? architectural shots? there is Coney Island beach for wierd/wacky/whimsical shots.

google and find out what buildings have observation decks.

thanks for the tips!

I will check out that camera store i need to get a leica because i dont have one lol!

I'm using a D90 with a Kit lens 18-105mm and 50mm 1.8 with tripod and Speedlight if needed.

i don't have a wide angle lens but i have CS5 with Photomerge saving to get one.

you pretty much sum it up something that we dont see often in toronto

that happen to me in Buffalo in all places...

damn! i don't have one

i'm setting up my Flickr account i need to pay for it to get the unlimited uploads. i dislike the limits...

Do visit Central Park too. You can get loads of people/candids there.

Time square,Museums,Brooklyn Bridge,Staten Island Ferry....Ughhh!! I love NYC and miss it like crazy

If you want those skyline pics I would suggest go up the Rockefeller Center Observatory coz then you can get the skyline with Empire State Building. I loved that view more than the common view from ESB.

HAVE FUN!!! Its a great place to be.

Ohhh....Don't forget to catch a Broadway show if you have time. It is GRAND

now? well, a portable fridge big 'nuff to get yer @ss inside every now and then...

Check meetup.org to see when the NYC meetup group is gathering. Join them and be among other photographers who will share their love of the city with a visitor.

thanks i will check that site out!!

best place for candids is Washington Square - a rather eclectic crowd gather there. many New york amateurs go there to photograph so people are used to photographers going there to take candids.

Check out Coney Island if you can, it's a little out of the way but a really cool place to visit. It's got a beach and usually music playing on the board walk, in addition to a skating rink, an aquarium, and carnival rides.

What might help the OP might be wonderful and SAFE spots to shoot the sunsetting/rising over Manhattan's skyline.


Sorry but I don't know any.

Stay out of Aphabet City.

I havent seen it with my own eyes, but I heard a lot about the Cloisters and would love to see it one day.

http://www.metmuseum.org/cloisters/

Yikes! 190th St.

I've seen the Cloisters - it is VERY nice. I used to frequent NYC several times a summer in the late 80's and 90's when I had a friend that lived in the Lower East Side. I had a couch to sleep on - She had a large frame bike that I used to ride around Manhattan a lot (not the bike-friendliest city). The Cloisters was easily accessible along a bike path along the west side of the island (and can be easily accessed in car/taxi). So though it is at West 190th St, it is on the western extremity and you don't have to venture in to the less desirable areas east of it. It is a pleasant place to spend a summer afternoon as (well at least in the 80's) it is surrounded by flowered landscaped gardens. i remember the Cloisters visit well. I had to bicycle ride crosstown in rush hour traffic as I had a train to catch. I followed a bike courier. We took Broadway because it basically cut diagonally across Manhattan. We rode in the spaces between the cars in the middle lanes stuck in grid lock - the solid yellow line in the middle of the street. It was clear sailing the whole way. We flew threw the rush hour gridlock. Police were unconcerned - even if they wanted to stop us, traffic was not moving and there was no way they could catch us to give us a ticket.