Almost every corner in New York City is photo worthy- the massive skyscrapers in Midtown, the numerous city parks, the quaint cafe's in West Village, the gorgeous brownstones on the Upper East Side, the well-known cobblestone street (Greene Street) in SOHO, and let's be honest- even that $1 slice of greasy pepperoni, mushroom, and extra cheese pizza is photo worthy too. I do my best to capture as much of N.Y.C. I can through my tiny, iPhone lens. Occasionally I will bring the canon out for a day, but New York City is spontaneous- you never know where you are going to end up, who you are going to meet, or how late you will be out.
With limited time in the city (i.e. a weekend trip), it is a good idea to plan out the stops you want to make and the photos you want to take! Here is a list of my Top 5 photo locations for first-time visitors. It is definitely achievable to snag all of these fun shots in one weekend.
1. The Brooklyn Bridge
Tip: Wake up early and get to the bridge before it's crowded and the sun is in your face. This photo was take around 10am and the sun was a little harsh. Ideally, get there at 8am or 7pm (in the summer) for the best shot.
2. Top of the Mandarin Oriental
Tip: I've been to the Mandarin around 1pm in the afternoon for a cup of coffee and 6pm for a cocktail. The restaurant was empty at 1pm and made it easy to snag a great photo overlooking the Upper West Side and Central Park. Also... they have a truffle ravioli that is 10/10.
3. The Flatiron Building
Tip: Snag a photo, move on. Shop the area for cool art and other interesting street vendors. Confession, I have passed the flatiron district at least 30 times and have never been to Eataly. Sue me.
4. Top of the Empire State Building
Tip: Tickets to the Main Deck (this photo location) are $37 for adults and $65 for a VIP ticket to skip the lines. The deck is open from 8am-2am everday, so you have plenty of time to check out these amazing views. *11 minute walk from the Flatiron Building*
5. Times Square
Tip: You can capture great shots from a cab ride. The area is always so congested- so will have time to snag a couple photos. My favorite time to visit Times Square is before or after a Broadway show. Other than that, I avoid the area like the plague. Fun fact, I actually hate crowds.
See ya tomorrow,
S