The New York skyline may very well be one of the most photographed views in the world, but every street and corner in The Big Apple is ripe for the taking. If you're a photo buff, you'll be in seventh heaven here. The city has several museums with excellent photography collections and numerous galleries specialize in fine art photography. If you'd like to improve your shutterbug skills, take a workshop, attend a lecture or hit the streets accompanied by a professional photographer.
Museums
International Center of Photography (79 Essex St.; tel. 212/857-0000; www.icp.org). The ICP is one of the world's premier photography museums, founded by photographer Cornell Capa to honor the work of his brother Robert Capa and his colleagues. Fabulous exhibits and a shop with terrific photography books and photo-related gadgets.
Alice Austen House Museum (2 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY; tel. 718/816-4506; www.aliceausten.org). Photographer Alice Austen lived on Staten Island and captured life during the Victorian era.
Museums with Great Photography Collections: Museum of the City of New York (1220 Fifth Ave.; tel. 212/534-1672; www.mcny.org/collections/67.html); Museum of Modern Art (11 W. 53 St.; tel. 212/708-9400; www.moma.org/explore/collection/photography); New York Historical Society (170 Central Park West; tel. 212/873-3400; www.nyhistory.org); New York Public Library (Fifth Ave. at 42nd St., Rm 308; tel. 212/930-0837; www.nypl.org/research/chss/spe/art/photo/photo.html; by appt. only); Whitney Museum of American Art (945 Mad Ave.; tel. 212/570-3600; www.whitney.org)
Galleries
Aperture Foundation (547 West 27th St., 4th fl.; tel. 212/505-5555; www.aperture.org). Exhibits, panel discussions, artists' talks and an outstanding photography bookstore.
Howard Greenberg Gallery (41 East 57th St., #1406; tel. 212/334-0010; www.howardgreenberg.com). Specializes in phenomenal photographers: Berenice Abbott, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Weegee and my favorite, Marc Riboud.
Alan Klotz Gallery (511 West 25th St., #701; tel. 212/741-4764; www.klotzgallery.com). Showcases 19th- & 20th-century vintage photography and contemporary work.
The Morrison Hotel Gallery (124 Prince St.; tel. 212/941-8770; www.morrisonhotelgallery.com). Fine-art, music photography.
111 Front St. Galleries, Brooklyn (www.safetgallery.com/FrontStreetGalleries). Several photography galleries in this building in DUMBO.
Shows
AIPAD Photography Show -- Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD; tel. 212/673-5855; www.aipad.com). The 30th annual show, about 70 top photography galleries from around the world, at The Park Avenue Armory at 67th St., March 18-21, 2010.
The New York Photo Festival (www.nyphotofestival.com). The show highlights new trends in contemporary photography. This year, Lou Reed is one of the curators, so how bad could it be? May 12-16, 2010 in DUMBO.
Take Better Photos
Tour NYC with a Photographer: Jon Simon Photography (tel. 212/744-6896; www.jonsimonphotography.com). If you'd like your vacation snaps to look more professional, nothing beats touring around Manhattan with Jon Simon, former UPI news & entertainment photographer. Get photo-taking tips along the way.
Personal Paparazzo: New York City Travel Photography (tel. 718/974-3797; www.nyctravelphoto.com). Get the celebrity treatment. Travel & portrait photographer Douglas Ljungkvist will shoot your vacation photos for you. Of course, you'll be prominently featured in every shot.
Take a Class
Classes & Lectures: Camera Club of New York (336 West 37th St., #206; tel. 212/260-9927; www.cameraclubny.org). Photographers have developed their craft at CCNY since 1884 -- Alfred Stieglitz was a member! Classes, private lessons and lectures (Thursdays at 7pm; $10).
Classes & Workshops: ICP School (1114 6th Ave. at 43rd St.; tel. 212/857-0001; www.icp.org). Classes and weekend workshops on everything from darkroom techniques to digital media.
Collector's Seminars (Alan Klotz Gallery, 511 West 25th St., tel. 212/741-4764; www.klotzgallery.com). Advice for new collectors: How to recognize different photographic processes (i.e., albumen, gravures, platinum, salt), how to identify vintage prints, what questions to ask before you buy.
Digital Photography Workshops (www.caroldragon.com). Carol teaches at the ICP and gives private workshops in digital imaging.
Take Some Equipment
B&H Photo Video (420 9th Ave. at 34th St.; tel. 800/606-6969; www.bhphotovideo.com). This is where professional photographers go to buy camera equipment and photo accessories.
Talk with other Frommer's travelers in our New York Forum today.
