New York City has some of the best sightseeing and unique activities for tourists and locals to enjoy. The iconic views and architectural masterpieces in the city make it ideal for taking gorgeous one-of-a-kind photographs. The colorful characters and culturally diverse people you’ll find mean that your photos will be peppered with interesting stories too. 

The city provides the perfect backdrop for budding photography enthusiasts. While touring NYC’s sights and sounds, you can try out some new photography techniques to broaden your skills and make your photos look stunning. This article will give you a few ideas to try and locations to explore your creativity. 

Take Unique Photos Doing Fun Activities for Adults in NYC 

New York is one of the most vibrant and engaging cities in the world. There are a plethora of marvelous adventures you can go on when in this sprawling metropolis. From sailing down the Hudson at Pier 26 to catching a Broadway show, there are tons of Fun activities in NYC for adults according to a Harlem World Magazine blog article which lists 11 of the most popular sightseeing attractions. 

Use Leading Lines at the Vessel at Hudson Yards

Lead lines are any lines in a photograph that direct the viewer’s eyes toward the focal point of the image. Lead lines can be naturally occurring lines like pathways, roads, rivers, or a line of trees that direct the viewer’s attention, or they can be man-made structures like buildings, telephone lines, or bridges. 

Lead lines narrow with perspective in an image so you can frame your photograph so that the main focus intersects where the lead lines converge. This will create a striking photo with an intentional and bold composition. You can use lead line composition at the Vessel at Hudson Yards by positioning the structure with its spiral staircase at the center of the frame and enough of the walkway leading to it to give the image a sense of movement. 

Experiment With Different Angles at Times Square

Don’t feel afraid to try different angles and perspectives that can help capture the excitement and activity in Times Square. You can crouch down and place the camera close to the ground to get a great shot of the magnitude and bustle of NYC’s most popular attraction. Or you could take a photo from one of the rooftops and shoot images of the grid patterns of the streets below. 

If you’re shooting at night in Times Square, you’ll probably want a wide aperture to capture low-light images— a low f-stop number, such as f/1.8 or f/2.8 will be fine. If you want to capture the light streaks from cars then use a slow shutter speed—like a 1/15 or 1/30 second setting. 

Frame Your Shots With the Archways in DUMBO

DUMBO stands for “Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass” which has gorgeous cobblestone streets lined with red-brick buildings and tons of fantastic angles and features with which to frame your photographs. Framing your shots through the archways and using different focal lengths will allow you to create some truly amazing images. 

There are many unique archways in DUMBO. Try framing the shot with the archway in the foreground and the bridge in the background to capture a sense of whimsy, or angle the lens to capture an archway that is reflected in a puddle of water for a mystical feel. 

Play With Light at Central Park During Different Times of the Day

Central Park offers incredible photo opportunities during any season and at any time of the day. During spring, you’ll have magical images of new blooms and budding leaves, along with the returning chirps of the birds returning from their migration. And in Fall, you’ll have gorgeous golden backdrops that frame the city’s skyline. 

But no matter the time of year, you can play with light every day in Central Park. Mornings are perfect to capture the details of the trees and foliage during sunrise, at midday you can use the bright light to cast harsh and interesting shadows, and as evening falls, you can capture the romantic atmosphere in the park. 

Use a Tripod at One World Observatory

Whether you’re an old hand at photography or just starting out as a photographer, you probably instinctively understand that the quality of your photos depends largely on using the right equipment for the right situation. Because the viewing deck at One World Observatory is so high up there is a lot of vibration, so a tripod will ensure you get a crisp image. Just be sure to confirm whether tripods are allowed when you go, as they are prohibited during certain times. 

Use a Wide-Angle Lens at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The MET has several exhibitions of panoramic artworks that are hundreds of feet wide and several feet high, so you’ll need a high-quality wide-angle lens to capture the entire painting. One of the most famous panoramic artworks is The Thomas Cole Mural which depicts the history of the American continent across five wide portraits and measures 120 feet wide and 12 feet high. Another amazing artwork at the MET is The Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo which is a 360-degree painting depicting the final battle of the Napoleonic Wars that is 350 feet in circumference and 40 feet wide. 

Conclusion 

New York has a character and charm all of its own. Whether you’re pointing your camera from above the cityscape or crouching down to capture the city’s allure in a reflection in a puddle, you’re sure to get tons of unique images when you visit. When exploring NYC, you always want to have your camera specialty lenses at the ready. The wonderful moments you’ll capture and the interesting techniques you can learn when out and about make New York a photographer’s paradise.