DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Out and About >> NewYork City advices
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 44, (reverse)
AuthorThread
07/03/2005 07:18:21 AM · #1
Hi there,

I'm going to NYC in 3 weeks and I'm starting to plan what I'm gonna visit there. It's been 6 months I'm saving for that trip and my girlfriend and I are really excited (first visit to the US, well for me).
The question is :
Are there any must-not-miss places ? good places to shoot ? places I don't want to go (except if I want my D70 stolen :()
I'm sure there's lucky Newyorkers among you guys.
Any hints ?

By the way, I'm planning to buy some lens at the B&H store on the 9th avenue. They are really cheap compared to France (520 euros for a Nikon nikkor 70-300G ED f/4-5.6, can you believe that ? $300 (250 euros) in the US).
However, I heard that taxes are not included in prices in the US.
Are the taxes included on the B&H website or do I have to add some ?
Will I have to declare them at the customs ? or can I just say nothing and pray ?

Thanks

Message edited by author 2005-07-03 07:21:45.
07/03/2005 07:54:08 AM · #2
yes, you have to add taxes. tax in nyc is 8.25%. dont know about the customs thing, i rarely travel. heres an old thread talking about places to visit in nyc

heres also a site listing some cool places in nyc: places to visit

Message edited by author 2005-07-03 07:56:28.
07/03/2005 08:10:29 AM · #3
I don't know about France, but most countries allow you to bring back factor X dollars duty free when you return from a trip abroad. You may want to check that out with the appropriate authorities in France before you leave.... as I would hate for your to have your newly purchased lenses confiscated by "les douaniers".

Bonne chance et bon voyage.

Ray
07/03/2005 09:04:13 AM · #4
Don't go to the Hard Rock Cafe or Planet Hollywood or Madam Tussauds Wax Museum. Nothing at all New York about any of those places.

Don't miss Central Park, the new Museum Of Modern Art, West Greenwich Village and the Circle Line Boat Tour around Manhatten is always a blast with fantastic views of just about everything(especially lower downtown).

Have fun and if you like Jazz, PM me and we could hook up for some sounds. Ca m'intrigue!

Est ce que vous avez autre questiones...demandez. L'information c'est libre. Pas de problem.

Message edited by author 2005-07-03 09:11:52.
07/03/2005 09:06:41 AM · #5
a good trick is to throw away the boxes for the stuff you buy before you travel back. this way, they know that you cannot resell them at retail.
07/03/2005 09:21:56 AM · #6
They won't ask you anything at customs until you're entering France. You should know what your own country's rules are. Or you can check. A $300 dollar lens for personal use shouldn't be any issue. (Go see a baseball game if you can. Both the Yankees and Mets are a big part of New York!)
07/03/2005 09:40:57 AM · #7
walk across the brooklyn bridge. it's free, lots of things to shoot (especially people), and it's quintessentially new york. :)
07/03/2005 12:20:30 PM · #8
Here are some threads on NYC that may be helpful.

//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=144169

//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=229728

- Jen

07/03/2005 12:23:19 PM · #9
Originally posted by k4ffy:

a good trick is to throw away the boxes for the stuff you buy before you travel back. this way, they know that you cannot resell them at retail.


Didn't you bring a couple lenses from France <wink,wink>
07/03/2005 12:43:23 PM · #10
hrmm...I'm not sure what it's like in your hometown, but just stay off the streets at night would be my guess. I get a little afraid walking the streets here in Pittsburgh alone, and I can only imagine NY would be scarier.
07/03/2005 12:48:51 PM · #11
If you shopping for lenses try Abe's of Maine
//www.abesofmaine.com/about.asp
However, it is in Brooklyn so you'll have to take a train. It is few blocks from my house.

Another place is J&R
//www.jr.com/
This one is right by Brooklyn bridge but it is more expensive.

Check prices on the web before you go and bring a print out in case price goes up.

Nick
07/03/2005 12:51:35 PM · #12
Don't know how long you will be here but here's some advice.

Go to the observation deck on the Empire state building - at night can be really stunning.

Have a pint of beer at McSorleys Ale House (7th Street between 2nd and 3rd avenues). Its about 150 years old and has all this cool history on the walls.

Go see Grand Central Station, especially the ceiling of the main building.

The Circle line is cool but its long (about 3 hours) There is a shorter trip that just covers the lower half of the island which is the more interesting stuff to see anyway. You'll also get an up close of the statue of liberty. The actual tour of the statue is probably not worth it as you cant really go up into it anymore.

Times Square is much like NY Disney World now - very sterile and commercial. Really a big tourist trap. Except its worth seeing all lit up at night.

Have a sandwich at Carnegie Deli (7th Ave. & 55th St.). The fattest sandwich you will ever have.

If you like to people watch... Bryant Prk during the week is great for that 42nd St and 6th Ave.
07/03/2005 01:24:51 PM · #13
Thanks for your precious help !
By the way, I'll be there from July 26th 1pm to August 3rd 7pm so about
8 whole days :)

I guess I'm going to visit tourist places from a few days but I was told that I'll see pretty much everything in about 4 days so that makes 4 days just to wander around.

I'd like to see the real NY, not only the Touristic NY.

So if anyone knows places only newyorkers know, please shoot ! :)

I also heard that end of July is not the best period to visit NY :(
Do you guys agree with that ? Hope to have clear blue sky anyway, I can stand the heat, Paris should not be very different ...

Oh by the way, is it true you need a permit to shoot on a tripod ?

Message edited by author 2005-07-03 13:28:51.
07/03/2005 01:28:10 PM · #14
Originally posted by Neurowork:



By the way, I'm planning to buy some lens at the B&H store on the 9th avenue.


Remember that it's a Jewish store and may observe different hours then other stores. Check hours before you go there.
07/03/2005 01:29:57 PM · #15
Also if you want to you can also walk around lower manhattan, there are alot of photo ops there. There is a nice park between bbrooklyn and the manhattan bridge on the brooklyn side. Also prospect park, brooklyn botanical gardens. Well if I have time and you have time we can always meet up some where I am always taking pictures.
07/03/2005 01:35:11 PM · #16
Two of the many great things in NYC: Broadway shows and Carmines italian restaurant (a great atmosphere and unusual family style of serving where people share from a 2/3/4 person plate). Try it you won't be sorry!
07/03/2005 01:41:50 PM · #17
Originally posted by Neurowork:

Oh by the way, is it true you need a permit to shoot on a tripod ?


Yes, there are some places where you "are suppose to" have a tripod. Mostly the parks - South Street Seaport, Bryant Park, etc. etc. I called the parks one day to confirm and they said yes you need a permit for tripod use. For Central Park, the lady told me that I could use a tripod without a permit but had to stay of the lawns. Last time I was down I used my tripod on South Street Seaport to shoot the bridges and was never approached by anyone. I would just take your chances and forget the permits. jmho
07/03/2005 01:59:52 PM · #18
I would highly recommend Yankee stadium tour. And if you want to see "REAL" New York get yourself a good cab driver and hire him for the day. My bestfriend and I hired a cab driver for the day and we seen stuff that I think even the New Yorkers miss out on. The driver would take us to a spot and we would spend a couple hours there then call the driver and he would come back and pick us up. We had to wait a few times because he had other fairs but hey your in New York and EVERYTHING happens in a New York minute. You MUST also take the L train ( Subway ) or any subway for that matter. Man what an experience. BE VERY CAREFUL where you get off though. Following is a list of my favorite sites to see.

China Town
Little Italy
Empire state
Ellis Island
Statue of Liberty
Time Square (at night)
Precinct where they film NYPD Blues
Ground Zero 911
Grand Central
NYSE (if you like money)
Brooklyn Prominade (at night)
Brooklyn Bridge
Yankee Stadium
Bronx Zoo A MUST for pics
Museum of Art

If you have the time I would recommend a drive out to Montauc Point. The drive alone is amazing. You can go through the Hamptons. and the scenery is breath taking.
Anyway these are just some of the places I found to be very New York. My wife is from there and doesn't much care for it now that she lives here in San Diego Ca. but, I can never stay long enough to see my fill. I always leave trying to figure a way to cancell my flight for just one more day. As far as your lens goes that is the lens you brought with you. Just toss the boxes everyone else was right. No one will say anything because you already have equipment.

Message edited by author 2005-07-03 14:01:28.
07/03/2005 02:04:21 PM · #19
Originally posted by digitalpins:

Well if I have time and you have time we can always meet up some where I am always taking pictures.


Sure ! Well, email me so that we can talk a little bit.
It would be great to meet someone who actually lives there, I'm always happy to practice my english, well except if it's only to say "Excuse me sir, do you know where the 9th avenue is ?"
It would be even cooler for my girlfriend who is gonna teach english starting next year :)
07/03/2005 02:09:51 PM · #20
check www.fodor.com

it gives you an outline to use for 5 days to see the best in the city
07/03/2005 11:22:05 PM · #21
Originally posted by Neurowork:

Originally posted by digitalpins:

Well if I have time and you have time we can always meet up some where I am always taking pictures.


Sure ! Well, email me so that we can talk a little bit.
It would be great to meet someone who actually lives there, I'm always happy to practice my english, well except if it's only to say "Excuse me sir, do you know where the 9th avenue is ?"
It would be even cooler for my girlfriend who is gonna teach english starting next year :)


Start a thread maybe more New Yorkers will be interested.
07/04/2005 12:08:47 AM · #22

South Street Seaport (smells like fish though)
Times Square at night is amazing
Ground Zero (if you wanna get emotional)
Central Park (just walk around, you'll get a good feel of NYC there; dont ride the horse carriages)
Take the subway (if you're brave, in the morning rush hour 7-10 AM)
Goto a baseball game (its a very 'American' activity)
Empire State Building observation tower.

To tell you the truth, aside from the obvious tourist attractions, all there is to do here is eat, drink, watch shows, and go clubbing; much like any other city. Four days really isn't enough to get a good feel of this city, so just see as much as you can.


07/04/2005 12:48:12 PM · #23
Thanks for you answers

I tried to book tickets for a Yankees game but I only managed to get Bleacher seats or Tier Boxes seats.
They seem to be really far from the game and I don't know if they are worth it.

What do you think ?
07/04/2005 12:51:33 PM · #24
hey bleacher seats.... hmm are kind of where the crazy, loud fans sit. They call them self "the bleacher creatures". Just to warn you they are fun but just crazy and loud especially if you sit there and you are not a yankee fan. I sat there before fun but wont do it again.

Message edited by author 2005-07-04 12:51:54.
07/04/2005 01:55:51 PM · #25

Mets tickets are a little easier to get than Yankees ones. They aren't as famous but it's still a great baseball experience; besides, it will give you a reason to go far outside Manhattan and see what the city is REALLY like.

Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 04:33:13 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 04:33:13 AM EDT.