Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge are probably the most photographed bridges in New York City.
So I thought it would be helpful for all my fellow instagrammers looking for their next picture perfect to share my Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo photography tips.
PS: Are you planning a romantic getaway to New York City with your loved one? Check out these unforgettable things to do in New York City, especially for couples.
Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo Photography Tips
Here is my list of best photography spots for the Brooklyn Bridge, and my best tips for that perfect shot at Dumbo:
Brooklyn Bridge photography spots:
Dumbo photography tips:
Brooklyn Bridge
There are so many different options to get that picture perfect from Brooklyn Bridge. My favourite options are to shoot from the top of the bridge, and from the waterside with the bridge in the background.
Walking over the bridge
The earlier in the morning, the quieter it is on the Brooklyn Bridge. So we made sure to be there at sunrise, and we took our time taking some awesome shots from the bridge. To be precise, our first picture was shot at 7:20 am, and our last one at 8:15 am.Β
One side of the white line in the middle is for cyclists, while the other side is for pedestrians. It’s important to be aware of the bikes around you – especially early in the morning, when they are most likely on their way to work and in a rush!
Some of our best pictures on Brooklyn Bridge were taken from the middle, with the arches of the bridge in the background:
It was so quiet on the bridge, that we couldn’t resist to take some romantic pictures as well:Β
My other favourite picture spot is from the side of the bridge, with the skyline of New York City in the background:
At some point, the bridge expands into a viewing platform over the highway, with the skyline of New York City in the background.
Bonus points if you can get a yellow cab in your picture too. I obviously wasn’t ready with my pose when a yellow cab drove by :-‘).
Now that you know my favourite photo spots on the Brooklyn Bridge, it’s time to show you my favourite spots with the bridge in the background…
Travel Photography for Couples
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As a travel couple, do you ever wish to travel back to a place, just to take better pictures together? I sure know I do! Thatβs why in this book, I am sharing everything we wish we knew about taking pictures together when we first started travelling as a couple. Read more…
Manhattan waterside
The Manhattan waterside if a wonderful spot for taking pictures with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background.
We went here around sunset, for some beautiful colours in the sky. These pictures were taken at 4:30 pm in December, so it was already getting dark.
Also, we were the only one taking pictures here, so maybe we found a hidden gem in New York City?
Brooklyn side
To admire the Brooklyn Bridge from the Brooklyn side, you should walk past Dumbo, and then go left. You’ll see plenty of parks, gardens and riverside spots. All of them are perfect photo locations:
All pictures from the Dumbo side were taken in the afternoon, and it was pretty easy to find quiet spots. So no need for an early morning wake up to get these shots :).
Dumbo
Dumbo is the spot where every instagrammer visiting New York City takes their pictures of Manhattan Bridge, so it is vital to arrive here on time.
Our best pictures were taken at 7:50 am on a rainy day, when there was no one else around. Although it didn’t take long until the first photographers (after us!) arrived….
Notice that building in between the arches at the bottom of Manhattan Bridge? Believe it or not, but that’s the Empire State Building. It looks so tiny from here right?!
On another morning – after we walked from Manhattan to Brooklyn over the Brooklyn Bridge – we arrived in Dumbo at 8:35 am. It was still relatively quiet at this time, but we definitely weren’t the only ones:
If you’re good with Photoshop, you could still remove the other people from the background.
Otherwise, you could try to take pictures from the sidewalk, instead of the middle of the road. It gives you a different angle, but at least the other people are now hiding behind the cars. Just have a look at these pics for comparison:
It didn’t take long until people started to notice our little sidewalk trick, so you better use it quick and wisely ;).
Once we were surrounded by others on the sidewalk, it was time for our final trick. This is a bit of a mean one, because it only works for people with a wide-angle camera. Just walk past the buildings with the red bricks, and take your Manhattan Bridge pictures from there:
I also wanted to show you my afternoon pictures at Dumbo, just in case you need some motivation to wake up early:
These pictures were taken at 3:20 pm, and people were even queuing in the street before the buildings with the red bricks. Needless to say we didn’t join that queue, but walked towards the river to take pictures with the Brooklyn Bridge instead.
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