This trip wasn’t always going to be New York. At first it was Texas, then California, a bunch of other states, and of course, finally, New York. My brother and I decided to take a three day photography trip to Manhattan, New York. We bought tickets that had us waking up at 3:30 A.M. if we wanted to make it on time. We got to the airport, and on to our flight on time. One which was very rocky, and stopped anyone who wanted to sleep from doing so. Once we got to New York with nothing but our cameras in our hands and our 20 pound back packs on our back, we started our journey.
DAY 1
Jose and I trying to warm ourselves with cups of coffee.
Day 2 and 3 were perfect travel days, it was warm and we didn’t have our entire carriage on our backs. We were also layered to shield us from the freezing temp. But the first day was something hard, we walked up to 8 miles with one layer of clothes in 20 degree temperatures, 20 pounds on our backs, and nothing but 2 McDonald McGriddles in our stomaches. Of course, the toughest situations bring out the best of photos.
(Click on the right or left side of the photos to look through them when seeing a gallery like above.)
Starting our day with McDonalds in the subway to try our best to hide from the cold. (Didn’t work)
Telling the street performers I didn’t have cash with me after already taking my photo.
Being new to New York, we fell for the tourist bus scam. It ended up being 100 dollars. It was cheaper and faster then uber, but slower and more expensive than taking the subway, which we haven’t tried to tackle yet.
We sat all the way in the back where there were no windows between our camera lenses and the city, of course, being 20 degrees we could barley move from the freezing cold. So we decided to get off at one of the stops to go walk on the Brooklyn bridge.
Of course, we decided to wander off and we ended up getting a little lost, we luckily walked right into chinatown.
China Town
Little Italy
After we crossed little Italy, we decided to call it a day around 5, since the temp was dropping as was our energy levels. We found our way to our hotel and rested for another day of travel.
Finally eating another meal after our McDonalds in the morning. We tried watching IT 2 but couldn’t get past the first 45 minutes.
DAY 2
Starting off day 2, with Dunkin breakfast sandwiches and coffee.
We decided day 2 would be reserved for visiting New York comic book movie filming spots. We started off at the flatiron building, most of you may recognize it as the Daily Bugle from spider-man.
Our first time, trying the subway and the city bus for the first time. Way cheaper option than the tourist bus from day 1. It didn’t take long for us to become pro subway riders.
We stopped in Harlem, trying to make our way to the Bronx where the infamous joker stairs are. You know the stairs. We walked 25 minutes crossing a bridge that connected the two places.
We found our way to the stairs which was arguably our favorite spot to visit the entire trip. We retook shots from the film as well as recording ourselves dancing down them.
When leaving the location and back to a train we found ourselves to the same train station Arthur Fleck ran up when being chased by the agents.
Our last film location was also from the spider-man movies with Toby. Joe’s Pizza was where he worked as a delivery driver, which lead to the famous saying “Pizza time”.
Jose and I enjoying the pizza, which tasted way better then we expected.
Before calling it a day, we decided to check out a close by comic shop called The Forbidden Planet. Inside they sold tons of comics, figures, Funko pops, and manga at low prices.
It started to get chilly once again, and with the sun setting we decided to end day 2, by heading back to our hotel with, yes chipotle again, and the dark knight for entertainment while we recharged our cameras and edited some of our photos.
DAY 3
Before going to bed the night before we planned on waking up at 5 a.m. to go out and take sunrise photography in the city. One look at the weather and we both rolled over back into bed and waited till later in the morning to leave. 20 degrees was too cold.
Dunkin once again for our last day in New York.
Our only plan for the final day was to find ourselves at the top of any skyscraper, so we landed on the Empire State Building and went to China town once again to kill time till 11 a.m.
Jose and I enjoying boba tea as we waited for the Empire State buildings opening. Once the clock hit 11:00 we left for the skyscraper to enjoy our last final moments in New York City.
Ending our day in little Italy before leaving for the airport.
With a rocky plane ride to New York, we also had a rocky flight back, one so bad they had us to a Simon says to distract us.
Overal, New York was a fun trip, even though I woudln’t do it again is such harsh conditions, I definitely would go back sometime in the summer, when corona is done and over.