New York City
New York City means so many things to so many people: illuminating, exhilarating, intense, intoxicating, frantic, alive. Our mission will be to capture the moving energy of the city—the people, the cars, the bridges and the rivers that surround this 8 million-person island. Within the hustle and bustle we’ll explore the inspirational architecture and quieter green spaces that can be found throughout the five boroughs. We will also focus our lenses and attention on many of the National Park Service units that will educate us on the 400 years of American history that laid the foundation of commerce, immigration and equality in our country.
Workshop Gallery
Workshop Details
New York City Workshop
September 19-24, 2021 — Completed
This is a 5-night, 6-day workshop. Your adventure begins on the morning of Sunday, September 19, and ends after a final slideshow at 1 p.m. on Friday, September 24.
$1,750 + applicable taxes. Register below.
Skill level
Open to all who have an understanding of the basic principles of photography and of their cameras.
Group size
14, with 2 instructors — 7:1 ratio
NPS Website
Add-On: Bannerman Castle
September 24-25, 2021
This is an optional overnight experience on Pollepel Island on the Hudson River, photographing Bannerman Castle. See below for more info.
$500 + applicable taxes. After registration for the main workshop, you'll receive a link to register for the add-on option.
Skill level
Advanced
Group size
8, with 2 instructors — 4:1 ratio
Location Website
Workshop Leaders
Registration
THIS EVENT HAS PASSED. THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST!
| • Deposit of $500 is required to reserve your spot at the workshop. |
| • Balance of $1,250 is due on June 21, 2021. —> Pay balance here. |
| • You may choose the “Pay in Full” ticket if you desire to pay all at once. |
| • Last day for a cancellation request is June 20, 2021 (see cancellation and refund policy). |
| • The workshop fee does not include lodging, food, airfare, transportation to and from the airport, or transportation to shoot locations. |
The New York City Experience
Gabe and Matt are very excited to share New York City, a place they have explored and photographed for many years—a place they call home.
This is guaranteed to be like no other adventure you might have had before in NYC. There will be no Broadway shows, no hop-on/off bus tours, nor museums on our itinerary. Instead, we will share our favorite photography spots, challenge you to capture iconic locations in new ways, and stay true to our NPAN roots and visit several of the 11 National Park Service units located within city limits.
This is an adventure-style workshop. While we will have a couple of days at the beginning to offer lectures and inspiration, most of this experience will be getting to know NYC from locals and photographing during the day and night.
Highlights on our to-do list are many locations that New Yorkers haven’t been to, such as the African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton, Federal Hall National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial, Governors Island National Monument and Stonewall. We will also have plenty of time to immerse ourselves in classic spots like Central Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park.
The workshop will take place during the full moon, which will be perfect for capturing it rising behind the Statue of Liberty and other epochal locations that surround the city. The full moon makes general cityscapes a lot easier to expose, and it balances nicely with the bright city lights.
NYC has a multifaceted personality. When the sun goes down and the lights flip on, a whole new metropolis is revealed. We will challenge you to capture the essence of the city and the many ways it moves.
Bannerman Castle Add-On Experience
We are very excited to offer this rare opportunity to spend a night shooting at Bannerman Castle. Located 1.5 hours north of New York City and in the middle of the Hudson River, Pollepel Island is home to the historic ruins of Bannerman Castle and the mansion residence.
A chartered bus and boat will transport us to this very special place, and we will spend the night photographing this 120-year-old castle. It will be a camping experience (there is an REI nearby if you want to rent a tent and sleeping bag), but generally we just stay up all night! On the morning of the 25th, we will return ashore for a farewell breakfast and a shuttle back to NYC.
Transportation to and from midtown Manhattan, plus the farewell breakfast, are included in the $500 ticket price.
Note: This optional add-on is available only to workshop attendees. You’ll get a link to purchase a ticket after registering for the main workshop.
What You Should Know
Participants must have at least basic photo skills, know their cameras well, and be comfortable shooting RAW in manual mode with a DSLR or high-end mirrorless camera.
If you would like to attend this workshop but are unsure whether you have adequate night photography skills, we can offer pre-workshop tutoring to get you ready for your adventure with us. Alternatively or additionally, a few of us have written books that may be productive pre-workshop reads.
What You Will Learn
We hope to push you to step outside your comfort zone—to test the limits of what you and your camera can do. You’ll go home after the workshop with a solid grasp of how to create outstanding cityscapes during twilight and night.
TOPICS COVERED WILL INCLUDE:
how to scout urban locations and use PhotoPills to align the moon against iconic subjects
how to take advantage of twilight to balance the city lights in an exposure
how to create car trails and emphasize other movement in the city
how to use neutral density filters during the day and night for creative effect
how to reinterpret the city with the tools you have
and more …
This workshop will have both field and classroom instruction. We will be in the field at different locations each night. Participants can stay out shooting as long as they, or their camera batteries, hold out. While in the field, the instructors will demonstrate their own techniques and will work with participants one-on-one to make sure everyone gets the most out of the workshop. During classroom sessions, there will be presentations by the instructors, but we will focus on developing your images and sharing everyone's work and ideas with each other.
The primary emphasis of the workshop will be on creating images and trying out new techniques in the city. If you are relatively inexperienced, we will provide you with field instruction, and, as time permits, impromptu image reviews. We’ll give room to explore, but not leave you on your own. Each participant will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with Gabe and Matt in the field.
We do not tell our attendees what to photograph, and won’t line you up in a row to all shoot the same thing. Instead, we encourage you to use what you have learned to create your own unique images, and to let us guide you through the process should you desire. We aim to teach you how to develop your own NYC vision.
Night Conditions
Travel
We do not advise renting a car for this workshop as parking alone in New York City could be more expensive than the rest of your trip combined! Instead we will be using a combination of public transportation, cabs and walking to our locations. You are responsible for arranging and paying for your airfare, as well as transportation to and from Manhattan.
Nearby Airports:
La Guardia (LGA) — typically 30 to 45 minutes to midtown Manhattan, but current construction makes timing unpredictable
John F. Kennedy (JFK) — 45 to 75 minutes
Newark (EWR) — closest to Manhattan, which is easy to reach via AirTram and train.
Food & Lodging
We will be basing our operations out of midtown Manhattan. You are not required to stay in the group hotel, but we do recommend that you stay in either Chelsea or midtown, as these are vibrant neighborhoods and centrally located, making it easy to get anywhere.
Lodging info and group code will be sent after registering. If you are interested in sharing accommodations, let us know and we will try to connect you with someone like-minded in the group.
There are plenty of local food options. When on the night shoots, it is OK to break off for a quick slice, but do bring your water bottle so you can stay hydrated.
You are responsible for arranging and paying for your own meals and accommodations.
Weather
September is one of our favorite times of year in NYC. Temperatures are comfortable, and while rain will probably fall, this isn’t one of the rainiest months. Expect daytime highs in the 70s F, lows in the 60s.
Recommended Attire
Light layers will be the key for this workshop. When not in the classroom, we will be out exploring during the day and will keep shooting well into the night. Light pants and long-sleeve shirts are adequate after dark. A sweatshirt and medium-weight jacket will likely be useful, and a base layer might not be a waste of packing space. Bring a rain jacket, just in case a storm passes through. Comfortable and protective shoes are recommended for pounding the pavement.
Considerations
No vigorous activity will be required during the workshop, but please consider your physical abilities prior to registering. There won’t be any long hikes, but we will be on our feet for most of the day, and you should be comfortable carrying your own equipment.
Please read our FAQs section for more information about skill and gear requirements, and other information that pertains to all our workshops.
If you have questions, please contact us—we're happy to talk it over with you.
Welcome to my home ...
“I became obsessed with the history of the city and my lens searched for the many locations that blended the old with the new.”
I moved to New York City in February 2001. My priority on my first weekend was a trip to Coney Island. I had these wonderfully nostalgic thoughts of Coney Island and Brighton Beach when I used to visit family and play stickball as a child. Then when I started living here, as a budding photographer, NYC—the energy of the streets, subway, neighborhoods, bridges, parks, people and architecture—became constant inspiration.
I thrived on the 24/7 pulse of the illuminated city. My photography evolved as I pushed myself to explore the always fascinating five boroughs that make NYC the great melting pot of the world.
The first few years were a heavy vision of the subway life shot with a wide-angle lens. It was a fun way for me to interpret such a mass of movement that I had never experienced before. But through this, I realized I’m not a street photographer.
What I really enjoyed was taking a slower approach, analyzing the scene and finding my own interpretation with long exposures. NYC was the perfect subject. I became obsessed with the history of the city and my lens searched for the many locations that blended the old with the new. Brooklyn Bridge was the ultimate symbol of our history, the old bridge still standing tall over the ever-changing modern skyline. I photograph there a lot.
I’ve always loved playing tour guide to visiting families and friends. We get lost in Central and Prospect Parks, gain new perspectives of the city and many bridges from a boat, and of course we’ve walked over the Brooklyn Bridge numerous times.
This has led to a now 20-year romance with New York City. Both Matt and I hope to share many of these adventures with you as we play host in the Big Apple.
