Travelling to the USA, NYC in two weeks, need help for locations

Good Day all,

I will be travelling to NYC , staying around 20 days.

I live in Dubai , and my brother in Rome.We are going to meet up in Italy and take the flight to the US.I haven't been to the US in nearly 18 years, and that was to the west coast.

Gear I am considering to take is:

Canon: 5DMkii, 24-105, 17-40

Sony : NEX-7 18-55, sigma 30 2.8

Fuji : XE-1 and X-T1 with 10mm-24mm F4 ,50mm-230mm and trusty 18-55

I have more lens for these cameras and especially for the Canon :sigma 35mm 1.4 A, 50mm 1.2L, 85mm 1.2 L

I would probably be using the 5d with 17-40 and Xt-1 with 10-24 for landscape (interchanging for weight reasons/location/time)

The rest would be using the other cameras for street photos. so at any one time id be carrying 2 cams with diff lens.

Considering leaving the Sony, although if there was a good enough lens i'd use that amazing sensor for landscape (10-18 lens did not quite attract me for some reason, reviews place the 10-24 fuji as better overall but 24mp vs 16 mp) it surely out-resolves the canon and the fuji.As we all know for landscape more mp is better if you want to blow it up and print.

I am guessing that with all these i have a good choice and variety.In addition my brother has the 24-70 L 2.8 canon so we can interchange.

We would be gng around NYC, street photos, landscape, architecture etc for a few days, then taking a roadtrip up north then back to NYC again.

Maybe Maine or Vermont.(or yet to decide, any help?)

I need help from those who know:

1-Best Road trip we can take in amount of 12 days starting in NYC given the total of 20 days we have knowing that Landscape /nature would be the priority.

2-Best Places in NYC itself for photos.

Any recommendations would be really helpful, as browsing pics and reviews on the net is unlike asking people who live there or have first hand knowledge.

Thank you all so much

I will be replying once i have enough answers and feedback!

Thanks Again.

I'm sure others will come along with more experience in NYC than I have, but I'll mention two things. First, check out the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn Promenade at night. Second, there are cruises that go around Manhattan and provide nice views along the way. Good luck.

I'm on my iPad but am planning a trip to Boston and along the coast to Maine in October. I'll send you a couple of book suggestions if you like to rural coastal areas. Boston is also nice. New York City is too crowded for me but I don't live in an urban area.

Later.

Kent

RamiH said:

Good Day all,

I will be travelling to NYC , staying around 20 days.

I live in Dubai , and my brother in Rome.We are going to meet up in Italy and take the flight to the US.I haven't been to the US in nearly 18 years, and that was to the west coast.

Gear I am considering to take is:

Canon: 5DMkii, 24-105, 17-40

Sony : NEX-7 18-55, sigma 30 2.8

Fuji : XE-1 and X-T1 with 10mm-24mm F4 ,50mm-230mm and trusty 18-55

I have more lens for these cameras and especially for the Canon :sigma 35mm 1.4 A, 50mm 1.2L, 85mm 1.2 L

I would probably be using the 5d with 17-40 and Xt-1 with 10-24 for landscape (interchanging for weight reasons/location/time)

The rest would be using the other cameras for street photos. so at any one time id be carrying 2 cams with diff lens.

Considering leaving the Sony, although if there was a good enough lens i'd use that amazing sensor for landscape (10-18 lens did not quite attract me for some reason, reviews place the 10-24 fuji as better overall but 24mp vs 16 mp) it surely out-resolves the canon and the fuji.As we all know for landscape more mp is better if you want to blow it up and print.

I am guessing that with all these i have a good choice and variety.In addition my brother has the 24-70 L 2.8 canon so we can interchange.

We would be gng around NYC, street photos, landscape, architecture etc for a few days, then taking a roadtrip up north then back to NYC again.

Maybe Maine or Vermont.(or yet to decide, any help?)

I need help from those who know:

1-Best Road trip we can take in amount of 12 days starting in NYC given the total of 20 days we have knowing that Landscape /nature would be the priority.

2-Best Places in NYC itself for photos.

Any recommendations would be really helpful, as browsing pics and reviews on the net is unlike asking people who live there or have first hand knowledge.

Thank you all so much

I will be replying once i have enough answers and feedback!

Thanks Again.

--
Rami.H

Click to expand...

Make sure you go to top of the rocks. They don't allow tripods but I took a u shaped aeroplane pillow which wraped around my 6D perfectly. I went up to the top level and rested my camera on a ledge with the lens sitting snugly over the top of the pillow. Worked wonders. Go at about 7:30pm so you can get day and night shots. You will have to book prior to get the desired time, otherwise you will be waiting in line, and might miss the day time / dusk shots. I also have 17-40mm L lens.

Brooklyn bridge also has great views, but unfortunately the bridge moves a lot which makes tripods almost useless. Great during the day for hand held, but harder at night. Managed to get a few night keepers.

NY is a great place for photography. The highline also offers great street shots from an elevated level. Your sigma 35mm would be a great focal length for walk around. I would definitely take that. I was using either 24-105 (which you also have) or the 40mm stm for walkaround street. Would have liked to have the sigma 35mm.

Have fun,

Tony

Thanks Tony!



Great shots by the way.

tz9pz2 said:

Have fun,

Tony

Click to expand...

--
Rami.H

Greetings,

It's been a few years since I visited New York City.

Here are the areas I recommend you see, and all good places for candid street and/or and scenic spots for photography. All safe areas, and easy to walk around day or night. Usually just a short subway or cab ride from midtown Manhattan.

• Greenwich Village. The eclectic shops and exuberant nightlife of Greenwich Village make it an interesting neighborhood to photograph. Interesting for candid street photography. Inexpensive good restaurants. Lots of interesting night clubs and bar action , hetero or gay/bi. pick up spots.
• Midtown Manhattan. This is the heart of the City and lots to photograph day and night. International Center for Photography here. http://www.icp.org/visit
• Downtown Manhattan. This is an affluent area of the city. Nice for candid street photography. Nice parks and building architecture to photograph.
• Hunts Point neighborhood in the Bronx. Lots of lovely parks and interesting architecture. Plenty of street activity day and night. Great for candid street photography.
• Brooklyn Heights in Brooklyn. Stunning views of the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty. DUMBO: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DUMBO,_Brooklyn ,http://dumbonyc.com
• High Line: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line_(New_York_City), http://www.thehighline.org
• Brownsville neighborhood in Brooklyn. Good area to walk around and shoot candid street photography. Very active street scene at night. Not far from Coney Island, if I remember. Inexpensive restaurants.
• Bedford-Stuyvesant. "Bed-Stuy". This Brooklyn neighborhood is interesting for street photography day or night. Lots of street activity.
• Flatiron District in Manhattan. There are a number of noteworthy buildings good for architecture. Good variety of restaurants.
• Hell’s Kitchen. Not too far from the Theater District/Times Square. Good for shooting neon signs at night. Use tripod if you bring one.. Very lively street activity at night.
• Clinton Hill. The upscale neighborhood of Clinton Hill is an excellent neighborhood to see mansions that date to the mid-19th century. A great area to shoot building and garden architecture.

New York City is a safe, vibrant, interesting, and fun American city. And you will find many interesting neighborhoods, and subjects to photograph.

As a tourist, I always felt very safe, day and night with my camera and tripod. I usually stayed out and walked in the mentioned areas and neighborhoods well past midnight, and enjoyed my time there.

Post some pics here when you get back.

Thanks Len,

I surely will when i get back, so excited!

Regards,

Len_Gee said:

Greetings,

It's been a few years since I visited New York City.

Here are the areas I recommend you see, and all good places for candid street and/or and scenic spots for photography. All safe areas, and easy to walk around day or night. Usually just a short subway or cab ride from midtown Manhattan.

• Greenwich Village. The eclectic shops and exuberant nightlife of Greenwich Village make it an interesting neighborhood to photograph. Interesting for candid street photography. Inexpensive good restaurants. Lots of interesting night clubs and bar action , hetero or gay/bi. pick up spots.
• Midtown Manhattan. This is the heart of the City and lots to photograph day and night. International Center for Photography here. http://www.icp.org/visit
• Downtown Manhattan. This is an affluent area of the city. Nice for candid street photography. Nice parks and building architecture to photograph.
• Hunts Point neighborhood in the Bronx. Lots of lovely parks and interesting architecture. Plenty of street activity day and night. Great for candid street photography.
• Brooklyn Heights in Brooklyn. Stunning views of the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty. DUMBO: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DUMBO,_Brooklyn ,http://dumbonyc.com
• High Line: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line_(New_York_City), http://www.thehighline.org
• Brownsville neighborhood in Brooklyn. Good area to walk around and shoot candid street photography. Very active street scene at night. Not far from Coney Island, if I remember. Inexpensive restaurants.
• Bedford-Stuyvesant. "Bed-Stuy". This Brooklyn neighborhood is interesting for street photography day or night. Lots of street activity.
• Flatiron District in Manhattan. There are a number of noteworthy buildings good for architecture. Good variety of restaurants.
• Hell’s Kitchen. Not too far from the Theater District/Times Square. Good for shooting neon signs at night. Use tripod if you bring one.. Very lively street activity at night.
• Clinton Hill. The upscale neighborhood of Clinton Hill is an excellent neighborhood to see mansions that date to the mid-19th century. A great area to shoot building and garden architecture.

New York City is a safe, vibrant, interesting, and fun American city. And you will find many interesting neighborhoods, and subjects to photograph.

As a tourist, I always felt very safe, day and night with my camera and tripod. I usually stayed out and walked in the mentioned areas and neighborhoods well past midnight, and enjoyed my time there.

Post some pics here when you get back.

Click to expand...

You also don't need to go far out of the city for some great landscapes. You could head North to Bear Mountain or East on to Long Island. How about some aerial shots, you can do the "city tour" up the Hudson by either light aircraft or helicopter, light aircraft would be cheaper from Farmingdale, Westchester, MacArthur as well as others. You fly just higher than the bridges but lower than the skyscrapers due to the close proximity go Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark airports.

If it were me, I'd just take the Fuji since you have several lenses and those two bodies. I think that it'll be more than good enough to get the detail you want for landscapes as I've seen plenty of really gorgeous landscape photos taken with small than full frame.

Many great places to go, but in NYC I really like this place called High Line Park... Also Central Park and Inwood Park (all on Manhattan) are great. Go to MOMA or perhaps look up what's in some of the galleries there for inspiration... that's waht I ususally do when I'm there.

To the OP:

GEAR: You are contemplating way way way too much gear. Settle on one main system of your three and then take some sort of point-and-shoot. Of the combos you list, it is too bad that Fuji does not have a longer-FL midrange zoom. You would then have 2 bodies. The 50-230 is way too bulky and you do not need the long end. So I'd take the Canon w/24-105 and UWA zoom, as well as a P&S, perhaps the Lumix LX-7. Forget the Sony.

LOCATIONS: Manhattan Island only. Go to any and all of the usual tourist spots. Avoid some of the personal, quirky gems which have been suggested above. Above all, do not go to Brooklyn, there is nothing there except a chance to shoot the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan island from afar. Inwood? Omigosh, just another decrepit residential neighborhood gaining panache because real estate is too expensive in desirable locations. Bear Mountain? This is a not very high mound north of NYC which citified New Yorkers consider the equivalent of Mount Everest. Don't waste your time. See the Empire State Bldg, Circle Line boat tour around Manhattan, Wall Street, St Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, MOMA, Metropolitan Museum of Art, B&H retail camera store (just kidding! ),Greenwich Village, Times Square, Central Park, and on and on and on. Enough for a thousand lifetimes. Get the idea? Don't waste your time!

LANDSCAPES/ROAD TRIPS: If you insist on this phase, you should not expect anything as breathtaking or spectacular as "the West Coast." I would rate only Cape Cod as relatively unique. If it is still summer when you visit, do not attempt to get on or off the Cape on the weekends. It takes hours to go only a few miles. Other scenic areas are the Maine coast, including its national and state parks, the White Mountains, and perhaps the Adirondacks. Boston's cultural and historical attractions are worth a couple of days if you are in the area.

Thanks alot PSCL1.

Once i land in Rome and discuss things with my brother i think ill get a better picture as to how to proceed as we both have diff agendas hes more into shopping and i'm more into photos .

PSCL1 said:

To the OP:

GEAR: You are contemplating way way way too much gear. Settle on one main system of your three and then take some sort of point-and-shoot. Of the combos you list, it is too bad that Fuji does not have a longer-FL midrange zoom. You would then have 2 bodies. The 50-230 is way too bulky and you do not need the long end. So I'd take the Canon w/24-105 and UWA zoom, as well as a P&S, perhaps the Lumix LX-7. Forget the Sony.

LOCATIONS: Manhattan Island only. Go to any and all of the usual tourist spots. Avoid some of the personal, quirky gems which have been suggested above. Above all, do not go to Brooklyn, there is nothing there except a chance to shoot the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan island from afar. Inwood? Omigosh, just another decrepit residential neighborhood gaining panache because real estate is too expensive in desirable locations. Bear Mountain? This is a not very high mound north of NYC which citified New Yorkers consider the equivalent of Mount Everest. Don't waste your time. See the Empire State Bldg, Circle Line boat tour around Manhattan, Wall Street, St Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, MOMA, Metropolitan Museum of Art, B&H retail camera store (just kidding! ),Greenwich Village, Times Square, Central Park, and on and on and on. Enough for a thousand lifetimes. Get the idea? Don't waste your time!

Click to expand...

PSCL1 said:

To the OP:

GEAR: You are contemplating way way way too much gear. Settle on one main system of your three and then take some sort of point-and-shoot. Of the combos you list, it is too bad that Fuji does not have a longer-FL midrange zoom. You would then have 2 bodies. The 50-230 is way too bulky and you do not need the long end. So I'd take the Canon w/24-105 and UWA zoom, as well as a P&S, perhaps the Lumix LX-7. Forget the Sony.

LOCATIONS: Manhattan Island only. Go to any and all of the usual tourist spots. Avoid some of the personal, quirky gems which have been suggested above. Above all, do not go to Brooklyn, there is nothing there except a chance to shoot the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan island from afar. Inwood? Omigosh, just another decrepit residential neighborhood gaining panache because real estate is too expensive in desirable locations. Bear Mountain? This is a not very high mound north of NYC which citified New Yorkers consider the equivalent of Mount Everest. Don't waste your time. See the Empire State Bldg, Circle Line boat tour around Manhattan, Wall Street, St Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, MOMA, Metropolitan Museum of Art, B&H retail camera store (just kidding! ),Greenwich Village, Times Square, Central Park, and on and on and on. Enough for a thousand lifetimes. Get the idea? Don't waste your time!

Click to expand...

I don't know.... the OP says that he's got 20 days and if more than a couple of them are in NYC, then I'd say that it's worthwhile to spend some time in some places that aren't big tourist attractions. I'm not totally against seeing stuff that falls into the "tourist trap" category when I travel, but I don't like to spend all of my time seeing that kind of thing. I'm really just as interested in seeing the neighborhoods and the range of how folks live than I am into hopping on a train, bus, cab, whatever and looking at a landmark, getting into that train, bus, cab, whatever again and repeating the process. When I go to a new city I like to spend at least part of the time in neighborhoods that have some real character (like some in Brooklyn) and spend some time just getting lost on the side streets. Especially in a place like NYC there's enough going on that even the out of the way places might have things that will surprise you... and that's what's really compelling to me about traveling to a place like that.
I know that when I look at photographs of a particular place, I'm much more interested in those that show little details, rather than the stereotypical "this is the shot I took off of that really high building that everyone else seems to take."

I do agree with you about gear. I'd think that you have a much better chance of grabbing good photos if you aren't weighed down by a huge bag with lots of gear. For me a small range of lenses from wide to mid-telephoto length would be plenty and I could probably even skip that mid-telephoto for what I like to do. So often when I travel I see so many folks with really big lenses that are pointed at the tops of buildings and it just seems like they're more about playing with their telescope-toys than they really are about capturing the character of the city... which mostly happens on the ground and close in. I feel like very, very few of the really iconic photos that I've seen of cities were taken with long lenses. I'd take the Fuji gear because that seems like the most complete system you have, they're very good cameras and lenses and the fact that you don't have some kind of crazy super-zoom wouldn't matter a bit... at least not to me.

Have a great trip - one place you may consider is across the Lincoln Tunnel - is Weehawken, New Jersey - that is where (night or day) you can get a great shot of the entire skyline. Also one post mentioned state or national parks in Maine. More specifically - Acadia National Park in Maine is a great and scenic place to visit. I think the entire coast line Maine is one of the most beautiful in the U.S. Also while in route there you may also checkout the Gloucester - Rockport area of Massachusetts, north of Boston - many phot opportunities in this region including Bearskin Neck.

RGF