Iconic NYC photo spots
New York City’s skyline has been photographed endlessly. Tom Wolfe once quoted ‘One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years’, and it is so true. With all the gazillion times its skyline has appeared in pop culture and movies, there is a feeling of familiarity with each of these photos, and a creative take on them takes quite a bit of patience and resourcefulness.
With Pankaja living in NYC when we were dating, I have had multiple opportunities to visit NYC and explore it like an insider. I have an obsession of shooting the NYC skyline in every angle imaginable and have dragged her along in many such shoots. She despises these kind of skyline photos and labels them “postcard photos absolutely lacking creativity”! This has not stopped me so far from craving more such spots. I now have a friend in Brooklyn that shares this hobby, and has been a partner in crime in my recent shoots. I have compiled a list of what I think are the best views of the NYC skyline I have come across so far. I would love to hear from you folks on any places that offer great views of the NYC skyline.
Some of these photo spots are from places that are eminently walkable, whereas others are harder to reach places. Hope y’all enjoy them.
1. Top of the Rock
The Rockefeller center offers some of the best views of the NYC skyline, especially those of Central Park from high above. All things NYC requires patience, however, it has lesser crowds than Empire State and in my opinion, the payoff is much better. Tripods are not allowed inside. For details on booking the tickets for your view, click here.
View of Central Park from “Top of the Rock”
View from the “Top of the Rock”
2. Exchange Place in New Jersey
A friend of mine was up visiting me in Albany, and wanted to spend a weekend in NYC. Since it was a last minute trip, we booked an AirBnB location in exchange place just a block away from the NJ PATH station to World Trade Center (WTC). We arrived at night and woke up to this brilliant sunrise view of the NYC skyline.
From Exchange Place, New Jersey
3. Hotels in NYC
There are quite a few hotels in NYC that offer up amazing views of the skyline. I happened to be staying at the Club Quarters at the WTC. Knackered after a day long outing at NYC, we went up to their terrace at the 20th floor to unwind & have a few drinks. This beautiful view of lower Manhattan presented itself and was just asking to be photographed. Ever since, if I am going to be spending a night at a hotel in NYC, I now pick mine by doing a bit of googling to see if I can snare a photo with a skyline I have not yet seen.
Club Quarters, World Trade Center, NYC
4. From Bayonne, New Jersey
The waterfront in Bayonne, New Jersey is one of the rare few places where you can see the Statue of Liberty juxtaposed against the NYC skyline. Sadly, the place seems to be in a high security zone due to the important port and dockyard that lines the place. It is constantly manned by NYPD, and they do not appreciate photographers parking in a high security area and walking around with tripods.
I was out at Bayonne looking for parking space to go out and shoot the skyline when within minutes I had two NYPD cars surround me and ask me what I was doing here. After a lot of imploring, the officers allowed me to stay for 10 minutes to get my shot and head out of the high security area. Here’s the result of the hurried shoot:
Statue of Liberty juxtaposed against the NYC Skyline
5. From the Hoboken waterfront
The Hoboken waterfront offers excellent opportunities to shoot the Manhattan skyline from across the Hoboken river. Parking is also easier to find here, and the waterfront is lined with bars and eats. The best view point in my opinion is right across from the NJ Hoboken PATH station, near Pier A and Pier C.
Manhattan skyline from Hoboken PATH Station
6. Rooftop Bars in NYC
Quite a few rooftop bars are very forgiving and will allow people to carry in their bags and cameras, and encourage shooting from their rooftop decks. It makes sound business sense – NYC is one of the most visited cities in the planet, and none of these bars want to miss out on attracting a tourist as a potential customer.
A while back, Pankaja used to work at the 230 Fifth Avenue highrise. Her friends and colleagues used to hang out after work at the rooftop bar right at this building & it was an easy way for us to meet up as well. Here’s a pic from one of those visits.
Rooftop bar @ 230 Fifth Avenue
7. Brooklyn Bridge Park
My favorite park in NYC, the park offers splendid views of the Manhattan skyline, and is a must-do in a visit to NYC.
8. Liberty State Park
Located in Jersey City, most of this park is built on landfill from two defunct railway lines – Lehigh Valley Railroad and Central Railroad of New Jersey. The park has dramatic views of the Manhattan skyline in the background with the Statue of Liberty in the foreground.
Optical illusion: Statue of Liberty shot with a telephoto, and the NYC skyline shot with a wide angle
9. Empire State Building
My least favorite place for a NYC skyline pic. The lines are absolutely atrocious, the security checks are nuts & by the time you actually get to the top deck, you will be swearing never to do this again!
View of Chrysler building from Empire State Building
10. Empire state framed by Manhattan bridge in Dumbo
What’s not to like in this time tested classic shot of the Empire State Building framed by the Manhattan bridge in Dumbo. Beware though, this view might not last long. There is talk of new waterfront highrises coming up soon that might completely block this view.
Iconic shot of Manhattan bridge framing the Empire State building in Dumbo
11. Smith-9th St Subway Station, Brooklyn
My friend introduced me to this beautiful view of the above ground subway station with a view of the NYC skyline in the background. This station serves the F and G trains.
F-Train rolling into the Smith-9th St Subway Station in Brooklyn
12. Times Square NYC
Tourist trap nevertheless, but can a trip to NYC be complete without the cheesy Times Square shot?
Times Square NYC
13. ‘Oculus’ at Wall Street
Dubbed a ‘glorious boondoggle’, the ‘Oculus’ is probably the world’s most expensive transit hub station, costing the taxpayers a whopping $4 billion. Nevertheless, it’s impressive architecture makes for some great photos.
The gleaming mezzanine of the ‘Oculus’ at Wall Street
14. Grand Central
Built by railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1869, the majestic Grand Central Terminal station should be on every NYC first timers list. Tripods are not allowed inside and it’s low light conditions make it a little hard to photograph – a high ISO is a must here.
15. High line at the Hudson Yards
One of NYC’s best ideas, the High Line at the Hudson Yards is an urban revitalization project that converted an abandoned railway line into a green plant lined parkway.
16. Manhattan bridge
While the Brooklyn bridge corners all the attention, the Manhattan bridge has some great views as well. It also has the added advantage of being less crowded and you do not need to share the path with bikers as well.
17. From the Weehawken waterfront
Hamilton Park in Weehawken is one of my favorite places to view the NYC skyline. Street Parking is available, but regulations do apply for non-residents. A ferry runs all day 7 days a week from Port Imperial in Weehawken, NJ and Midtown/W. 39 St.
