View Full Version : New york new york!!
fdigital
03-29-2007, 08:19
So on monday (only a few days away), I'm leaving lovely Australia for a few week trip to New York, Vancouver and LA. It's my first time in the States/Canada and I'm following a very simple photographic style.
I'll be taking my Oly om2n with 50 1.8, and I'm hoping to find a shop that has some zuiko lenses - buy a 20-35mm lens there. Also taking my Minolta Hi-matic7s.
For digital, I'm sharing a 30d with 17-40L + a 50 1.8 + sigma 10-20.
I'm going to be shooting both colour and BW, probably fuji neopan 400+1600 (decided I REALLY don't like Tmax 400) for the BW.
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1st Question - What color film should I be using. My experience with color only extends to kodak gold (yucky) and fuji Superia 400 (pretty good)
I get the feeling I should be using Slides or something, however I've never used them before, nor do I know much about them.
Recommendations? If a slide entails the same process as c41 stuff, including getting the negs, scanning with my minolta dual IV with it set on "positive neg" mode, I will probably be keen on doing that.
I'm worried about the meter on my om2n (which is accurate for c41) not being accurate enough for e6. What do you think?
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2nd Question - Please give me some camera shop sugar! I'd like the names of some really good shops - both digital and film related. Also if anyone knows of anywhere that may stock some wide zuiko primes, I'd love them.
__________________________________________________ ________________
3rd and Last Question (for now) - What are some interesting things to do and places to go with photographic relevance in NY? I'm not talking about the general touristy statue of liberty sort of stuff, more the local stuff - get into what really makes NY buzz!
_____
I'll post up the best of the images here - I think you guys may be interested in how an Australian with a multicultural past sees NY/LA/CAN. I will be doing a lot of shooting!
Thanks so much for your help,
Gavin
I recently tried Kodak Portra. It's a professional grade colour negative film (400 ISO) that is in the fridges at a local pro-camera store. It has lovely colour and very little grain. I like it very much.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42999&d=1175185508
You're going to be in town at a bad time for used camera shopping. Most of the large camera shops - Adorama and B & H, will be closed for the week beginning April 2, for Passover. You might want to try Photo Habitat, 928 Broadway, suite #707. Last time I was there, they had a selection of OM lenses.
ibcrewin
03-29-2007, 08:28
In New York, you have to visit B&H (www.bhphotovideo.com) and/or adorama http://www.adorama.com.
Pretty much anything you need will be at either of these two places.
As for places to visit.. I'd say the west village is a must see.. Central park. Chinatown, little itally,Soho, and walk over the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn Heights.
These are my favorites.
ibcrewin
03-29-2007, 08:28
You're going to be in town at a bad time for used camera shopping. Most of the large camera shops - Adorama and B & H, will be closed for the week beginning April 2, for Passover. You might want to try Photo Habitat, 928 Broadway, suite #707. Last time I was there, they had a selection of OM lenses.
Doh.. I forgot about that! :bang:
I haven't been to NYC in ling enough that i can't offer any suggestions about that.
But, I agree with Mango about the film choice; for a big trip, take/use what you know and like. You mention that you like the Superia film, so I'd suggest that film.
Have fun!
Rob
back alley
03-29-2007, 08:39
ah new york, the place of my birth! well, actually brooklyn;)
i have a zuiko 28-48 if you're interested, could be mailed to any of your destinations.
as for what to shoot in new york, just keep the camera ready - something will happen!
fdigital
03-29-2007, 08:43
Awesome, this kind of advice can't be given by a travel agent!
I'm actually looking into FUJI NPH400 right now - looks to be an exceptional film.
I wasn't aware that early april was passover! a bit of a bummer.... I guess I may have to look for some smaller outstanding shops, otherwise, I'll just stay a little longer ;)
Ibcrewin - Thank you! I will make a note to visit all of those places!
Please more advice and opinions!
Thanks
Gavin
3rd and Last Question (for now) - What are some interesting things to do and places to go with photographic relevance in NY?
Well, with Manhattan specifically in mind...
Walk.
Pick a point on the map and walk to it. Pick a restaurant, a pub, an art exhibit; the Crumpler shop in SoHo; whatever. The farther from your lodgings, the better. Leave early in the morning and walk to it. You don't need to walk in a straight line, either.
Have your camera in your hand.
The entire dogdamned city is photographically relevant- and it's so, so dense.
fdigital
03-29-2007, 08:45
ah new york, the place of my birth! well, actually brooklyn;)
i have a zuiko 28-48 if you're interested, could be mailed to any of your destinations.
as for what to shoot in new york, just keep the camera ready - something will happen!
Thankyou sir, Unfortunetly I'm not a huge zoom guy, I tend to think more creatively and naturally with a fixed length lens.
Sounds like nice glass though
fdigital
03-29-2007, 08:47
Well, with Manhattan specifically in mind...
Walk.
Pick a point on the map and walk to it. Pick a restaurant, a pub, an art exhibit; the Crumpler shop in SoHo; whatever. The farther from your lodgings, the better. Leave early in the morning and walk to it. You don't need to walk in a straight line, either.
Have your camera in your hand.
The entire dogdamned city is photographically relevant- and it's so, so dense.
Point noted - I have no argument with that! Sort of what I was planning to do - Just immerse myself for a few days - shoot as much as possible with the basics of gear.
In hindsight, best preparation I did for my first trip there was to study a detail street map of Manhattan before I left. Therefore, when I found myself at such-and-such an intersection, I sometimes twigged to the fact that this-or-that bit of potential photogenicity was just around the corner. I'd then scurry over for a gawk.
Increases one's comfort level when wandering around, as well.
Josef Koudelka will be in town April 5 for a talk, hosted by Viki Goldberg, and book signing. This all will take place at Aperture at 7PM. See www.aperture.org.
To bad you will miss B&H. Their used department is a gasaholics dream. Walk around NY and just fire away. Every time you turn your head there will be something new and interesting to photograph. Your OM and new wide if you find it will do great there. Personally I would stick to B&W in NY but that is just my preferance.
2nd Question - Please give me some camera shop sugar! I'd like the names of some really good shops - both digital and film related.
B&H keeps odd hours to begin with, and will definitely be affected in some way by Passover.
Tamarkin might be open, though.
They're in an office building, and you have to sign in with photo ID(!), but if you like Leica at all, their display cases are worth the trip. They had a cubic foot of used black M6s, M7s, and MPs when I was there two weeks ago, and chances are about 75% they'll have a variant of whatever M-mount Leica lens you might name. Nice place to visit if you're a fan of the marque, or just want to have an MP and an M7 side-by-side in front of you.
Varying degrees of courtesy and friendliness, during my two trips there; one chap was a bit sly, a bit terse, and all about the money, whereas the gent who served me when I went the second time really could not have been nicer or more accommodating.
"Oh! Hey! That's- that's an M8! I've...never...seen one."
"Oh, no? Here."
He slipped it into my hand (with a 28mm Summicron on it, I think) and retreated to the back room to answer the phone. And I was red-eyed from lack of sleep, soaking wet from the slushstorm, looking like one of Avedon's Nevada drifters, unravelling fingerless gloves and all.
I gave it back, of course. Thing was minus its rewind lever.
Address is on their website: http://www.tamarkin.com. Worth adding to your frag list; you might suddenly find yourself in the Union Square area.
ChrisPlatt
03-29-2007, 13:29
back alley's wide to normal OM zoom is the ideal travel lens for your OM2n.
And surely a better deal from Joe than you'll find in a store anywhere...
Chris
Steve Bellayr
03-29-2007, 13:43
Try Photovillage and Tamarkin. They are on the web and appear to have nice stores.
Photovillage is like a museum, very nice to visit. B&H, well, it is a Super Store!!!
What to shoot in NY? Just keep your camera in your hand, not in the bag. It will know what to do.
International Center of Photography has an HCB exibit. http://www.icp.org/site/c.dnJGKJNsFqG/b.732135/k.D880/Museum.htm
Go to Greenwich Village and just walk around. If it rains go downtown and you may get to see the steam rising out of main hole covers (as seen in movies).
I was in NYC a few weeks ago. Get a street map and spend time in lower Manhattan. It is more like a village, small shops and such. Alot of NY is huge skyscrapers and all starts to look the same. I was in the area of Macy's on 8th Ave. I wanted a nice fedora hat and happened to find a hat store nearby. Bought a nice hat and asked the owner where he suggested I could get a nice leather jacket. He said I could try Macy's but would pay 3X, so he suggested a small shop nearby. Bought some clothes there and asked the owner where could I find a nice deli. He suggested 2 nice places nearby. So, the people are very friendly, especially if you spend a little money in their shops. But, lower Manhattan for me is the place to go. And walk everywhere you go. It is the main form of transportation in the city.
International Center of Photography has an HCB exibit.
Thread on the Cartier-Bresson exhibit: link (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35228&highlight=munkacsi)
you may get to see the steam rising out of main hole covers (as seen in movies).
Yes, he might just.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=43027&stc=1&d=1175216433
mich8261
03-29-2007, 17:19
Meat Packing district (west of 8th ave around 14th st.) is great for photos. During the week, the financial district is interesting, especially around 9am and 5pm (as people come and leave work). Wall St is cool, as is Stone St (small section is pedestrian only). Williamsburg can be interesting especially for B&W, but don't bother on Saturdays as no one will be out (it is a Hasidic neighborhood). Walk across the Manhattan Bridge from Manhattan and back over the Brooklyn Bridge. This way you get the best views of the Brooklyn Bridge, a short walk through DUMBO in Brooklyn and then you get to experience the majestic Brooklyn Bridge on your way back.
In Vancouver, I suggest, if you have the time, to head over to Vancouver Island for a few days. Tofino is glorious. Botanic Beach in Port Renfrew (90 minutes west of Victoria) is really amazing. Make sure you time it around low tide. The beach is covered with dozens (hundreds?) of tide pools carved out of the limestone. These are filled with sea anemone, urchins and other wonderful marine organisms.
Enjoy your trip.
I agree with Michel -- and by the way, DUMBO = "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass" -- a very neat area.
And don't forget your appetite, great food everywhere.
JT
fdigital
03-29-2007, 18:17
Ahhhh, this thread is the best resource I have had so far, many many many thanks!!!
I'm a little worried of this passover thing, how long exactly does it go for? I'll be in the US for about 2-3 weeks, and Canada for about 1. I think I definitely want to see adorama and B&H.
Kennyg - great advise - I'll definitely spend some time in lower manhattan.
Anything else? Keep it coming, this is fantastic!
I promise I'll give back to the forum with a nice big slideshow when I get back!
Thanks,
Gavin
Don't forget Top Of The Rock at Rockefeller Center...Observation deck shows off all of NYC beautifully.
Have a good time!
Don
Fuji NPH is an excellent film, shoot it at 320 for more saturation.
I just shot a roll of NPS the other day, thinking that I had loaded NPH... and therefore rated it at 400. I figured the negs were doomed and wouldnt even come out, but the latitude of that film is quite amazing. It came out slightly dull in saturation, and just a tad on the blue side, but all I did was automatic saturation enhancement after the scans and the results were AMAZING! I will probably underrate this film like that again in the future!
I'll post results later, when I am on my computer.
ah, and here is one of my favorites from the shoot, now that i'm on my computer...
http://www.nxfxstudios.com/web001.jpg
fdigital
03-29-2007, 20:59
Whoa nelly! Thats beautiful!
Just beautiful!
So that was NPH @ 400 hey?
THanks so much
I'm heading for NY next week, where should I go shopping for film (Ilford XP2) if B&H and Adorama are closed?
mich8261
03-30-2007, 05:21
this is from the B&H website. The same would apply to Adorama.
B&H Superstore, Phone Orders & Customer Service Schedule:
Monday, April 2 through Tuesday, April 10: Closed
Alternatives are: K&M Camera (Broadway near Canal and E 23rd @ 1st Ave); Calumet 22 W 22nd St (near 5th Ave). You will definitely find XP2 at these locations. I imagine Ritz Camera would also have XP2, they have several locations.
Enjoy
Whoa nelly! Thats beautiful!
Just beautiful!
So that was NPH @ 400 hey?
THanks so much
Nah, it's fuji NPS rated at 400.
Thanks for the compliment
They're in an office building, and you have to sign in with photo ID(!),
I go to Tamarkin pretty regularly. I've never had to sign in. But this is not unusual for an office building here in NYC.
Alternatives are: K&M Camera (Broadway near Canal and E 23rd @ 1st Ave); Calumet 22 W 22nd St (near 5th Ave). You will definitely find XP2 at these locations. I imagine Ritz Camera would also have XP2, they have several locations.
Sorry to correct, K&M are on 23rd street between 1st and 2nd Avenues on the north side of the street. Canal is nowhere near 23rd street. They might be closed for Passover, give'em a call. There is a Ritz Camera, they own a small shop on the upper west side in the 80's on Broadway. I believe it is called Westside Camera. I would not recommend it. It is out of the way, unless you find yourself up there for some reason.
mich8261
03-30-2007, 07:45
Keith, There are actually two K&M Camera locations. The one you mention and the Tribeca location at 385 Broadway which is near Canal. I would be very surprised if they were closed for Passover. I have to pick up some paper there today, so I'll ask. You are right about the Ritz store, kind of out of the way, but still they have a good selection of film.
ibcrewin
03-30-2007, 07:46
I'd also suggest a one-day unlimited metro card.. You can hop from station to station quickly for 7 bucks. The green market at union square is always nice too.
Michel, forgot about the downtown shop. K&M was owned by an Israeli. Haven't been there in years.
I go to Tamarkin pretty regularly. I've never had to sign in. But this is not unusual for an office building here in NYC.
Might be at the lobby-man's discretion, then. I've had to sign in both times, but I look and dress like I live in a car.
OK Gentlms, next Sept. I will be NYC.
Now I know where to come for consulting.. and B&H will be open.. may the Gods have mercy....:eek::angel:
ibcrewin
03-30-2007, 10:10
I think it depends when in September... Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur...
Rosh Hashanah begins sundown Sept. 12 and lasts two days in the Orthodox tradition so expect B&H and Adorama to close very early on the 12th and reopn Friday the 14th for half a day. Yom Kippur begins sundown Friday Sept.21 and lasts through Saturday when these stores would be closed anyway. Hope this helps.
Kurt M.
I'm a little worried of this passover thing, how long exactly does it go for? I'll be in the US for about 2-3 weeks, and Canada for about 1. I think I definitely want to see adorama and B&H.
B&H and Adorama are closed from April 2-10. I sure wouldn't change travel plans over them. B&H, while big, is a zoo, and Adorama's physical space is no bigger than that of any other camera store.
New York has a photo district which contains a high percentage of the stores and laboratories. Here are some places that are all between 17th and 30th streets. If you go to them on Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, you can catch the Union Squre Greenmarket, which is at Broadway and 17th Street. They will all be open during Passover:
Foto Care, 136 W. 21st Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, in my view far and away the best of the New York stores. Not a place to go for bargains, it is a professional operation for professionals, with knowledgeable and very helpful staff: www.fotocare.com
Lens and Repro, 33 West 17th St, 5th floor, between 5th and 6th Avebues, strong selection of second hand camera gear, including a lot of stuff that is downright quirky: www.lensandrepro.com
Calumet, 16 West 19th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, major photographic chain with a professional orientation: www.calumetphoto.com
Color Edge Visual, 127 West 30th St. at 6th Avenue, excellent lab, open 7 days a week, late hours, 4 hour turnaround on transparencies and one day turnaround on negatives, also sells film: www.coloredgevisual.com
John Stevenson Gallery, 338 West 23rd Street btwn 8th and 9th Avenues, excellent photographic gallery: http://www.johnstevenson-gallery.com/
Barnes and Noble, corner of 21st St. and 6th Ave.; this particular branch of a major US bookstore chain is strong on graphics and photography. The Barnes and Noble at Union Square is also very good. www.barnesandnoble.com
Photo Village, 1133 Broadway at 26th St, Suite 824, for rangefinder stuff: www.photovillage.com
Tamarkin, 215 Park Avenue South between 17th and 18th Streets, Suite 1914, for rangefinder stuff: www.tamarkin.com
If you are at Union Square, and you're into sports or are interested in a backpack or whatever, you might check out Paragon Sports, a big sporting goods store on about three levels. There's also a restaurant called Republic that is good if you like Asian food and want a quick, reasonably priced bite to eat.
Re New York, without repeating suggestions from others. As traditional as it sounds, it is worth taking the Staten Island Ferry. Organize yourself so that you take the trip over to Staten Island shortly before sunset and come back at sunset. The ferry is free and runs pretty much non-stop. The crossing takes about 20 minutes.
West Harlem aka Black Harlem is well worth it, especially on a Sunday.
Manhattan, although it has many virtues, is one of the worst major cities in the world for signage, and the subway system is very confusing. Make sure that you take a good plasticized map. If you plan to use the subway, you will save yourself a lot of time and aggravation if you study it before you go, taking special note of the difference between local and express trains: http://www.mta.info/index.html
Re Vancouver, I'll repeat what someone else said. Take the ferry across the Strait to Vancouver Island. Tofino is gorgeous. If you have a bit of time in Victoria, drop by the Oak Bay Beach Hotel to enjoy a glass of wine on the back deck, with a view across the Strait to Washington State.
Hope this helps
mich8261
03-30-2007, 11:42
small correction to Breeze's excellent list above, Calumet is now at 22 W 22nd St. I just came back from K&M and they confirmed that they will be open next week (closed on Sundays).
Calumet is now at 22 W 22nd St.
Thanks, I thought that I'd changed that address in my address book.
There's also a decent camera store just off Union Square on 14th, maybe 15th, west side of the square, a good place if you're at Union Square and want to pick up some film. I can never remember the name of it. Do you know?
Alkit is on the corner of 18th and Park Avenue South. A bit expensive, but ok when all the other options are closed for holidays.
fdigital
03-30-2007, 15:40
wow, thankyou so much breeze, that's incredibly helpful.
I can't wait for this trip, it really is going to be fantastic!
I've been playing around with fuji 160c and the new 400h so far - both awesome
Hi fdigital,
Now let me give you the short version.
If you go to all these photo shops, you will kill a good part of a day. If you are a photography freak, fine, but otherwise, there are better ways to spend time in New York.
If you like markets, Union Square is worth visiting. If you decide to go there, have a look at the web sites for the photography stores that I listed, and a map, and decide which ones, if any, that you really want to go to. Just realize that none of them is going to be a revelation. If someone said to me, which store would you suggest that I go to on this entire list, my answer would be John Stevenson Gallery. The space is very nice, and they always have an interesting exhibit. In addition to whatever the current exhibit is, if you study their site to know what they have, and call in advance or just show up knowing what they have, you might be able to arrange to see some pretty amazing prints. Walking in, it can seem a bit proper and intimidating, but if you know what you want to see, the people there are likely to be very accomodating.
There are great ways to spend time in New York. Hanging around photo stores is not one of them :)
mich8261
03-30-2007, 19:25
whether or not you are a Leica person, their gallery is worth a visit. It is free.
http://www.leica-camera.us/culture/galeries/gallery_new_york/
So on monday (only a few days away), I'm leaving lovely Australia for a few week trip to New York, Vancouver and LA. It's my first time in the States/Canada and I'm following a very simple photographic style.
I'll be taking my Oly om2n with 50 1.8, and I'm hoping to find a shop that has some zuiko lenses - buy a 20-35mm lens there. Also taking my Minolta Hi-matic7s.
For digital, I'm sharing a 30d with 17-40L + a 50 1.8 + sigma 10-20.
I'm going to be shooting both colour and BW, probably fuji neopan 400+1600 (decided I REALLY don't like Tmax 400) for the BW.
__________________________________________________ ________________
1st Question - What color film should I be using. My experience with color only extends to kodak gold (yucky) and fuji Superia 400 (pretty good)
I get the feeling I should be using Slides or something, however I've never used them before, nor do I know much about them.
Recommendations? If a slide entails the same process as c41 stuff, including getting the negs, scanning with my minolta dual IV with it set on "positive neg" mode, I will probably be keen on doing that.
I'm worried about the meter on my om2n (which is accurate for c41) not being accurate enough for e6. What do you think?
__________________________________________________ ________________
2nd Question - Please give me some camera shop sugar! I'd like the names of some really good shops - both digital and film related. Also if anyone knows of anywhere that may stock some wide zuiko primes, I'd love them.
__________________________________________________ ________________
3rd and Last Question (for now) - What are some interesting things to do and places to go with photographic relevance in NY? I'm not talking about the general touristy statue of liberty sort of stuff, more the local stuff - get into what really makes NY buzz!
_____
I'll post up the best of the images here - I think you guys may be interested in how an Australian with a multicultural past sees NY/LA/CAN. I will be doing a lot of shooting!
Thanks so much for your help,
Gavin
OMG :eek:
Another photo tourist "hits" NYC and wants the inside "skinny".
Did you ever stop to think that if we locals told you the real good places it would ruin them?
Camera stuff is pretty obvious - but if you're coming in the next week or so - be advised that it is Passover and B&H and Adorama are likely to be closed. Anyway, the former is now more of an applicance store and both of them are an unpleasant shopping experience (unless you like to be treated like....).
As to things to shoot that are not "touristy" - visit Sunset Park in Brooklyn and Flushing in Queens for a good overview of the Asian-American communities. Ditto East Flatbush, Brooklyn for West Indian (particularly Haitian). Go to real "uptown" Mahnattan in the 160's to 190's for current day Hispanic-American culture (espescially from the Dominican Republic).
You might want to check out both Besonhurst and Borough Park in Brooklyn which are transitional neighborhoods with Asian and Middle Easterner immigrants (and families thereof). For Russian, you could go down to Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn.
"Hip" life can be found in what is called "Lower Manhattan" but getting very "pricey". As is Williamsburg over in Brooklyn. Still some "edge" artists over in Long Island City, Queens - but the condo developers have "arrived" there too.
For a bit of Greek and increasingly Middle Eastern, you could check out Astoria in Queens (north of LIC).
At the end of the day, you don't have enough time to "learn" NYC given your time frame. So maybe, since Spring is arriving - you should just spend a day or two wandering around Central Park?
Good luck, have fun and spend lots of money in NYC because we locals (ahem, choke, gag, cough) really do love tourists! ;)
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