Photographing New York: East River Ferry, Water Taxis, Tour Boats, and Staten Island Ferry

(This guide is part of The New York Photographer’s Travel Book, which is available as a free digital download.)

By water is the only way to see New York! Hire a Circle Line cruise around Manhattan, either during the day or at sunset. Take the East River Ferry at the pier at 35th Street and FDR as it makes stops south all the way to Dumbo. Take the Water Taxi from Pier 79 on west 39th Street and the Hudson River and head towards Dumbo, or if you are in need of furniture, stop at the IKEA stop in Red Hook Brooklyn. If you are really ambitious, get a water housing for your camera, and rent some jet skis!

Take the free Staten Island Ferry back and forth, with views of the Statue of Liberty. The trip is especially nice at sunset. The ferry runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week and travels between the Whitehall Ferry Terminal (also known as South Ferry) in Manhattan and the St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island. It is best to skip rush hour times for your trip as the boat will be packed with commuters.

(This guide is part of The New York Photographer’s Travel Book, which is available as a free digital download.)