rickberk wrote:
You guys are ridiculous. I spend several days a month in NYC and Brooklyn, with gear, including big white lenses, and have yet to have a problem. Just don't be stupid about it, but that's true of anywhere. Go take pictures and have fun.
The 70-200 is an awesome lens to use in the city, but if you don't feel like carrying it, then don't. Definitely have a wide angle choice at hand. And may I suggest a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to give your camera a stretch... its a different view...
i have to agreee with you....i live here in ny and make my living as a photographer. i shoot with a digital back, a 1ds3 and a nikon camera as well. i, like many other photographers shoot all over the city. i take the same precautions with my gear whether i'm shooting on madison avenue at 60th street in front of the swanky east side retail establishments as i do shooting on madison ave and 116th street in harlem in front of a vacant building.
this is a city where lots of photographers work and live....big ole white lenses attached to cameras here on the streets of new york as well as cameras that are more expensive than the 1d3 or d3, are not as foreign as some people on the internet forums seem to beleive.
as for the police....i routinely travel around the city on particularly on weekend mornings scouting locations for future shoots; sometimes i'm on foot, sometimes i have a lens pointed out of a car window, and i have yet to be stopped or "hasseled" by law enforcement.....
my advice to the op is to come and enjoy! the lens i would consider over a 50 prime would be the 24-105L.....this is the lens that is most often attached to my camera when i am out scoouting and cataloging locations.
M Vers wrote:
You need a permit to use a tripod on the streets/bridges of NYC, you may not be approached about it but you could be. Either way its against NYS law.
your comment regarding a pernit is not entirely true: this is an excerpt from the summary on the permit rules that were adopted in august/september:
"A permit is not required for filming that uses hand-held cameras or tripods and does not assert exclusive use of City property. Standing on a street, walkway of a bridge, sidewalk, or other pedestrian passageway while using a hand-held device and not otherwise asserting exclusive use of City property is not an activity that requires a permit.
In addition, activity that involves the filming of a parade, rally, protest or demonstration does not require a permit except when equipment or vehicles are used."
if you would like to read further here is the link: http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/news/070108_moftb_adopts_rules.shtml
I assume that "exclusive use of CIty property" means not getting in the way of other people?
I'm not sure what that "equipment" means though. How are we going to take photograph or film something without using some sort of photography equipment?
i would think its like alot of laws that are brought in for geeod reason and then taken too far. I think its intention is for film crews and movie makers and not for your average jo wanting to take a snapshot.
jaypod wrote:
thanks for your clarification BKA20d
the 24-105L is a good lnes i believe, why do you only use it for scouting and not for your final shots?
i spoke of the 24-105 in terms of scouting activities because this activity is closest to a tourist walking around the city....the 24-105-- at least my copy is simply stellar , and it is the zoom lens that i use most often in the studio when i shoot canon ... i do use it for location shoots, but a lot of times i am partial to primes as i want a shallower dof.
n0b0 wrote:
I assume that "exclusive use of CIty property" means not getting in the way of other people?
I'm not sure what that "equipment" means though. How are we going to take photograph or film something without using some sort of photography equipment?
think of the "non assertion of exclusive use " language as not significantly blocking the sidewalk so that the only way people can get around you is to cross the street or not blocking ingress or egress to establishments...
as for what constitutes equipment, they are not talking about hand held cameras and tripods, but rather lights, dolly tracks, microphones, booms. electrical and grip equipment, and other production related items which impact access to sidewalks and streets... the rules in nyc not only cover still photography, but video and filming as well....
When I lived in the City I had been told several times that I couldn't use a tripod without a permit, twice by NYPD and another time by a door man. If you can avoid the use of a tripod it would be best...and who wants to carry one around sight seeing anyhow?
I don't think you'll have any problems taking pictures in NYC as long as you aren't doing something really silly. I would pack light though because there's a lot of walking involved and to lug around a 2 or 3 pound lens that you barely use... it'll ruin your day.
Obviously, if you are going to bring a tripod, use some common sense, and don't be obvious about it. Don't stand in the middle of time square during prime time with and use a tripod. If an officer gives you grief, then be agreeable and put it away and walk away.
You don't need a permit to use a tripod in NYC. Let's not get carried away here. There are specific area where it's not permitted, but it's not illegal to use it.
You can bring the 70-200L and you'll certainly find uses for it, especially if you are into street candids, etc. However if you are on vacation, I am guess you'd stick with the 16-35L. It really depends on what you want to shoot here. I've lugged around my 70-200L plenty of times only to end up not using it or only taking a few shots with it.
I live in NYC, and I haven't used my 70-200L yet. (well excepts zoos, sports, etc.) I usually stick with my primes.
Yeah, the smart thing to do is to put it away and move on.
But there are plenty of stuff to shoot with a tripod, especially during nighttime.
Typical thing would be Brooklyn bridge during the night...
M Vers wrote:
When I lived in the City I had been told several times that I couldn't use a tripod without a permit, twice by NYPD and another time by a door man. If you can avoid the use of a tripod it would be best...and who wants to carry one around sight seeing anyhow?
Sorry to resurrecting this thread, but i am worried about what to shoot and what not to shoot in New York, also if using tripod is not allowed in many places or just some certain places, also until what time is allowed to be out shooting.
I am not worry much about what gear i use as i think New York is full of photographers with expensive gear, so i will not be a special one with these pro gear anyway, i was in Geneva[Switzerland] and Paris before and i didn't have any problems taking photos here and there with tripod, also i use tripod only at night and very low light, but really i want to know the rules there before i go there, in fact i am an arabic guy which i look like someone who may be on target foe lots of people, so i don't want to make it more difficult with my pro gear and heavy load, i will use backpack ofcourse when i go out with dozen of gear including the tripod at night, but let's say, are there places with less people maybe and still not allowed to take photos there or not using tripods? i can understand if it is so crowded like a famous street in Paris then i will not use tripod, but at many places at night i can use tripod with no problem.
Also i want to ask about, how can i get to the highest floors to take top city views? are there rules and conditions for that? also where can someone use tripod on those roof or top buildings?
To be honest, i was not looking to visit New York as i am a landscape photographer, but a friend there wanting me [so badly] to visit him, so i accepted and i will go to visit him, and ofcourse i will do photography at best anywhere i travel if the life and rules are easy going [as nature and landscape].
I just spent Father's Day in Manhattan, from mid-town to in-and-around SoHo, and it was amazing to me just how many folks are out-and-about shooting with DSLRs these days! Everything from entry level to pro bodies, über-zooms to primo* lenses...it's not just a P&S world in Manhattan!
FWIW, Manhattan has always been a photo-friendly town in my experience (I've been going there since the 70s). Pack smartly (like you were going to any other city), don't leave your stuff unattended for even a moment, and go have some fun!
Be careful of muggers in NYC at night - especially at lonely places - its one of the most dangerous cities in the world - so dont get mugged when shooting with such an expensive camera. Also - better carry some pepper spray, just in case.....
You didn't say what interests you, but you may want a long lens for some architectural details. You'll want a WA lens for street level (perhaps the park), the 24-105 as a general walk around, and if you could get away with a longer zoom I'd take that too, but the use may be limited. I used to work in the WTC (south tower) and only wish I could have gotten some large lenses up there. It would have been fantastic, but that's another story...
laupi wrote:
Be careful of muggers in NYC at night - especially at lonely places - its one of the most dangerous cities in the world - so dont get mugged when shooting with such an expensive camera. Also - better carry some pepper spray, just in case.....
And all this from Korea?
Prudence and caution are warranted any where, all the time, but since many of us do, or have lived there, one can't help but wonder "where did you hang out"?
?? permit.