Explore the many faces of the City That Never Sleeps
Start spreading the news, cause we’re New York City bound! Throbbing with electrifying energy, the birthplace of the skyscraper and metropolitan junction of ethnicities and delish foods offers some pretty amazing ever-changing cityscapes that give all photographers a serious itch to capture its unique atmosphere.
Topped up by superb dining and urban wandering, this photo tour will be the real shutterbug’s delight delivered by the golden hours and sunsets over the panoramas that are about to flood your lens. All it takes is to suck in the eye-candy of the city so nice they named it twice... You know, New York, New York, the true capital of the world :-)
Tour Itinerary
Scenic panoramas lying in wait for us
Day 1
Hotel meet
Once done unpacking and rested, we’ll bring it in for a brief chat about the tour, go over the upcoming day plans and swap some personal info to get to know each other a little.
Day 2
Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn
All about the iconic Lower Manhattan skyline, day two will see us craving some skyscrapers first things first at daybreak. A real early wake-up call will be followed by a sunrise session to take in the best views of Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn.
Day 2
The heart of Lower Manhattan
The day photo shoot will belong to the heart of Lower Manhattan, Ground Zero. Surrounded by skyscrapers, we’ll be in pursuit of the impressive reflections offered by vast glass windows, we’ll also admire the intricate shapes of the WTC Transportation Hub dubbed the Oculus. Another can’t miss on our list will be the famous bronze statue of the Charging Bull in the Financial District, whose streets and corners we will take by storm for some great shots.
Day 2
Lower Manhattan from New Jersey
The evening will be all about diving again into the magnificent panorama of Lower Manhattan, this time, however, we will treat our cameras to its view from New Jersey.
Day 3
Central park and Bow bridge
No visit to New York is complete without taking a stroll through its green heart and capturing its fall foliage, cause this time of the year it will be bursting with colors, literally. And there’s no better setting to wait out the sunrise for this display other than Central Park’s Bow Bridge. With stillness as our company, we’ll catch the light slowly crawling down the skyscrapers and let the reflections glittering in the lake sink into the lenses of our trigger-happy cameras.
Day 3
Chelsea Market and The High Line
Later on, we’ll take a trip into the neighborhood to explore the historical charms of the Chelsea Market, famous for its wide range of eateries - definitely one of the best food halls in the city that will have us covered in terms of food. Right next door is The High Line, a revolutionary public park hovering above the streets below on a mile and a half of a disused elevated railway, offering some great views of the streets of Chelsea.
Day 3
B&H Photo Video
Last but not least, we’ll venture into the B&H Photo Video store carrying the largest array of photo and video equipment in the States, so you better restrain yourself with the spending :-)
Day 3
Lower Manhattan & Brooklyn Bridge from the Manhattan Bridge
When wanting to tap into the spirit of the City, it’s always good to get some distance when you are taking pictures - and that’s why the sunset session will belong to Lower Manhattan & Brooklyn Bridge from the Manhattan Bridge, one of the most graceful bridges in New York City. You simply can’t get a better vantage point than this…
Day 4
Brooklyn Bridge
Only the early birds can catch the candy of a sunrise, which in this case will be New York’s most beloved and most packed bridge - the Brooklyn Bridge. Although constantly clogged with crowds of people, only a few joggers and photographers will be sharing the sweeping views of New York skyline and the light hitting Lower Manhattan panorama with us this early in the morning. You better believe it...
Day 4
Top of the Rock
A photographer’s delight, our sunset location will take us to catch some supreme views of NYC from the Top of the Rock, the observation deck at the famous Rockefeller Center. Once way up there, we’ll have all the city’s landmarks lying in the open - from the Chrysler Building to the two magnificent towers guarding the city - the Empire State Building and 1WTC, and from Central Park to the Hudson and East Rivers.
Day 5
Top of the Rock
Taking up where we left off, we’ll make it atop the Top of the Rock again, chasing some great morning shots and exploring the play of light over The City.
Day 5
Times Square
There is no way we can turn a blind lens to the other gems of Manhattan, so we’ll be starting the day portion of our program with the intoxicating Times Square - a neon spectacle full of energy, swarming with enormous billboards, yellow cabs, golden arches, naked cowboys and soaring skyscrapers - simply put, America in a nutshell.
Day 5
Grand Central Terminal and Tudor Bridge
With the many faces of the city at hand, we cannot pass up on the chance to explore the breathtaking Grand Central Terminal, about a 10-minute walk from the Times Square. A true beaux-arts beauty, its glorious main hall and the ever-rushing commuters is a perfect promise of capturing the buzz of the city.
From there, it’s just within a stone’s throw to the Tudor City Bridge, a famous overpass on the 42nd Street. We won’t make the Manhattanhenge this time, but no need to despair, this place offers one of the most classical views of one of New York’s best known symbols - the Chrysler Building. Great shots guaranteed here, that’s for sure!
Day 5
Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn
Our last sunset photo shoot will be spent with the Lower Manhattan skyline captured from Brooklyn. A sight you won’t be able to take your eyes off…
Day 6
Lower Manhattan from New Jersey
On the last morning, we’ll wrap up the tour from the New Jersey shore, looking out for an alpine glow sweeping across the Lower Manhattan silhouette. A perfect scenic adieu before we all part ways and head back home in the afternoon.
Meet Your Tutors
Take a Big Apple bite with the real adventurers
Vojta Herout
Versatile, award-winning photographer with passion for turning moments into a rich reality.
Tour Details
Check out price, accommodation, and other details about the tour
5 nights
up to 7 attendees
intermediate photographers
moderate hiking involved
Included in the price
- Professional photography instructor
who will make you familiar with the area, show you the best photo locations to capture New York’s amazing cityscapes and guide you through the whole workflow and subtleties of cityscape photography (choosing the right gear, scene selection, composition, post production). - 5 nights of accommodation
single room - Transport
in the city (arrival to the hotel excluded) - Meals
breakfast
Excluded from the price
- Flight tickets
or any other form of transportation to and from New York - Airport pick-up / drop-off
to give you some time to soak up the City on your own - Travel insurance
please note that travel insurance is compulsory - Alcoholic beverages
whatever suits you, you carry the can - Additional snacks & meals
not knowing what you might be into, we leave this up to you - Any visa fees
when applicable
Recommended Gear
We want you to make the best of the tour, so we advise you to bring the following:
- Digital camera
meaning DSLR - Good tripod
Preferably a light one, and a remote shutter release, of course, for tack sharp pictures - Lens filters
neutral density and polarizer filters (if you have any) - Wide angle lenses
always a good choice when going for cityscape photos - Telephoto lens
comes in real handy, especially when you wish to get some details into the picture
- Warm gear!!!
And we cannot stress this enough - make sure to step up your wardrobe. Though magical, the fall weather here can get freezing-cold and chill you to the bone. The thing with New York is that thanks to its grid city plan, some streets go dead straight for miles and can turn into wind tunnels; tunnels filled with cold winds blowing from the Hudson River. So staying warm is the way to go to New York in the fall.
Accommodation
The Gatsby Hotel is set in the Lower East Side of New York City. Free WiFi is offered. At the hotel, each room features a work desk, flat-screen cable TV and coffee maker. You will find a 24-hour front desk and concierge services at the property. This is the favourite part of New York, according to independent reviews.
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- Is the tour itinerary fixed?
- What photo gear shall I take with me?
- What clothes and footwear do you recommend to bring along?
Thomas Rosenthal, System Engineer, Germany“The days with Vojta have been really fun and participating in his knowledge and experience definitely made me a better photographer.”