Boston - DPChallenge Forums

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11/08/2010 08:31:34 AM · #1

So I'm going to Boston this week. I'm going to be in seminars all day everyday so my exploring is going to be limited to downtown (the Copley square area?). I'll be free in the evenings and maybe have time during one day. Any suggestions on the must-see things to photograph?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

11/08/2010 08:44:20 AM · #2

Cape Cod? But I guess that's out of the question? If you like architecture, head over to MIT. There's a new bridge over the Charles River on the NE side of town that's unusual. Inside at Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market if the weather's bad. A really fine aquarium on the waterfront in middle of downtown, if you like that kind of thing. REALLY fine. Brand-new wing on the MFA, I haven't been yet but it's got a lot of glass and is very luminous. Pics allowed without tripod or flash. Boston Arboretum. Boston Commons. Copley Square, where you're at, is very wanderable. USS Constitution. Boston Public Garden (where they have the swan boats, though they may be put away for the winter now...

Let us know if you can squeeze in the Cape.

R.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

11/08/2010 09:10:19 AM · #3

The USS Constitution would be on my list. I was disappointed that I didn't get a chance to see it when I was there in '99.

11/08/2010 06:56:09 PM · #4

Robert - thanks for the info. I sent you a PM too.

Steve - I'm not really street smart about getting around unfamiliar cities. The USS Constitution looks to be a ways from where I'll be. However, I'm going to keep that in mind. Looks like something beautiful to check out. Thanks!

11/08/2010 07:01:40 PM · #5

The street where Paul Revere's house is located is quite nice, and I would recommend the view from Mamma Maria's at the end of the block, simply superb last time I was there.

Honestly? The entire city is just superb for photography, I think you'll find the street photography to be particularly good.. Although, you are arriving just a little later than I was there in the season, so things might not look quite as nicely dappled in red and yellow...

11/08/2010 07:03:40 PM · #6

Originally posted by coryboehne:

Thanks for the info Cory. I'm looking forward to going - just not sure what to expect because I really don't know that much about Boston. I'll probably only get to see the city at night on Thursday and Friday and am hoping to get around during the day on Saturday.

11/08/2010 07:04:46 PM · #7

Originally posted by colorcarnival:

Originally posted by coryboehne:
The street where Paul Revere's house is located is quite nice, and I would recommend the view from Mamma Maria's at the end of the block, simply superb last time I was there.

Honestly? The entire city is just superb for photography, I think you'll find the street photography to be particularly good.. Although, you are arriving just a little later than I was there in the season, so things might not look quite as nicely dappled in red and yellow...

Thanks for the info Cory. I'm looking forward to going - just not sure what to expect because I really don't know that much about Boston. I'll probably only get to see the city at night on Thursday and Friday and am hoping to get around during the day on Saturday.

I'm sure that you won't be disappointed no matter where you go...

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/08/2010 07:06:47 PM · #8

Originally posted by coryboehne:

I'm sure that you won't be disappointed no matter where you go...

I get to go to a city new to me. That right there is pretty exciting for me.

Here's a question: Cheers bar - worth the visit or not?

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

11/08/2010 07:14:34 PM · #9

From memory so please check on google or a map since I do do explicit directions well at times..... You got some decent ideas but thought I would go just in the local area your in for the short stuff....

One side of Copley square is Boylston st.... Cross streets are alphabetical down the back bay (ignore the names)... So on the A end is the garden & common and down the H end is close-ish to the citco sign, Kenmore sq, lots of university type of stuff..... certainly worth a walk either end and easy when you only have an hr or two between stuff. The best way to walk along there is go down to Commonwealth av (cross Boylston and down a few blocks) and walk down the greenway (lots of nice old buildings & stuff as well)... If you go another few blocks you hit the river and that is nice along there as well.

If you hit near the prudential building (big square thing) there is the Christian science centre that has a great reflecting pool & attached buildings. There is a map room there that has an amazing glass globe if that peaks your interest (no photos though in there) but just that area is pretty cool.

The library & church in Copley square is pretty cool.

Originally posted by colorcarnival:

Here's a question: Cheers bar - worth the visit or not?

NOT!!

Message edited by author 2010-11-08 19:15:14.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/08/2010 07:33:10 PM · #10

Originally posted by colorcarnival:

Here's a question: Cheers bar - worth the visit or not?

It used to be the Bull and Finch, and then is was a nice pub, now its more of a tee shirt and photo op spot, not a worthy visit. If you want a good drink in the area the bar at the Ritz or the Four Seasons are both around the edge of the Garden and have great bars, or the Parker House on Tremont has a great bar in the basement.

In Copley square one of my favorite shots is the comparison Trinity Church's Richarsonian Romanesque style and the sleek glass of I M Pie's Hancock building. Then either turn down Newbury street for chic shopping and the back bay, or go up Boylston to the Park and the Commons and the Park Street Church on Tremont street. Then back track to Beacon hill and see Lewisburg square and walk back to the Charles River down the Esplanade to Dartmouth street back to the hotel. Thats about an hour walk.

Harvard square is 15 minuets away on the MTA and worth a visit for either the Fogg museum or my favorite, the Harvard natural history museum and the collection of glass flowers.

Message edited by author 2010-11-08 20:05:14.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/08/2010 07:44:06 PM · #11

Originally posted by coryboehne:

I'm sure that you won't be disappointed no matter where you go...

Southy, some parts of Charlestown, Roxbury, bits of Medford....I can think of several places I might be disappointed to end up at the wrong time of day.

Movies like "the town" "mystic river" and "the departed" are set in Boston for a reason, some parts are much less cute than others.

Message edited by author 2010-11-08 19:44:29.

11/08/2010 08:00:08 PM · #12

Originally posted by colorcarnival:

Originally posted by coryboehne:
I'm sure that you won't be disappointed no matter where you go...

I get to go to a city new to me. That right there is pretty exciting for me.

Here's a question: Cheers bar - worth the visit or not?

Total waste. There are a shitload of places with charm, that's not one of them :)

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/08/2010 08:02:22 PM · #13

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

Originally posted by coryboehne:

I'm sure that you won't be disappointed no matter where you go...

Southy, some parts of Charlestown, Roxbury, bits of Medford....I can think of several places I might be disappointed to end up at the wrong time of day.

Movies like "the town" "mystic river" and "the departed" are set in Boston for a reason, some parts are much less cute than others.

And those areas will make for GREAT photos... Although I agree, night would not be a great time to be poking around in those areas.

PGerst

Canon EOS-20D

11/08/2010 11:04:06 PM · #14

I'd walk the freedom trail starting at the Constitution. There are a lot of great stops along the way and once you get to Quincy Market, you'll have ample opportunity to get some very cool street shots. Absolutely head to the Common as well, but don't go alone at night.

alohadave

Pentax K-5

Pentax DA 16-45mm f/4.0 ED AL AF

11/08/2010 11:57:49 PM · #15

Originally posted by PGerst:

I wouldn't walk through Charlestown alone at night either.