Expedition Details
Brimming with towering skyscrapers, historic parks, vibrant ethnic enclaves, and the colorful bustle of street life, New York City presents photographers with an endless array of subjects. Photograph Battery City Park with its views of the Statue of Liberty, capture the diverse architecture of fabled Fifth Avenue and the sights of Central Park, and complete a portrait assignment in the lively neighborhoods of Chinatown or Little Italy. Photograph the sunset from the top of Rockefeller Center, the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, and the new High Line Park in the early morning light.
This workshop is led by a National Geographic photographer and a professional instructor and is designed for amateurs who are interested in improving their digital photography. All participants must bring a digital SLR camera, a laptop computer, and software for organizing and presenting images. The workshop is limited to 25 participants.
The following is our planned itinerary; however, our schedule is flexible to allow for spontaneous photographic opportunities.
Itinerary - 4 Days
Day 1 — Thursday: New York City
Settle into the Cosmopolitan Hotel*, located in the heart of the lively Tribeca neighborhood, or stay in accommodations of your choice. Gather for a welcome reception and orientation with your instructors and fellow students, followed by dinner at Tulsi, a Michelin Star-rated Indian restaurant.
Optional Accommodations: Cosmopolitan Hotel
(D)
Day 2 — Friday: Central Park/Fifth Avenue
Meet early this morning in Lower Manhattan to photograph Battery Park and Ground Zero. Then head to our state-of-the art classroom at the Poets House in Battery Park City for a session with our expert on photo technique, focusing on storytelling and composition. On our afternoon photo assignment, capture the diverse architecture of fabled Fifth Avenue and the sights of Central Park—an oasis of green amid a high-rise landscape. Later, photograph the sunset from the top of Rockefeller Center.
Optional Accommodations: Cosmopolitan Hotel
Day 3 — Saturday: Chinatown/Little Italy
This morning’s assignment takes us to some of the city's most legendary ethnic neighborhoods. Meander through the maze-like streets of Chinatown or Little Italy before returning to our classroom for an edit-and-critique session of this morning's images. If you choose, head out to an optional afternoon photo assignment on the Brooklyn Bridge and capture the majestic city skyline. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner and a presentation of the workshop's best images.
Optional Accommodations: Cosmopolitan Hotel
(D)
Day 4 — Sunday: New York City/Home
Meet this morning for our onsite class at High Line Park. Featured in the April 2011 issue of National Geographic magazine, this abandoned rail line-turned-elevated park offers new and often unexpected views of the city and the Hudson River. The workshop concludes at noon after a final question-and-answer session with your instructors.
For questions on this workshop, please call 1-866-797-4686.
Related Trips
National Geographic Expert
Joe McNally
Joe McNally is an internationally acclaimed photographer whose career has spanned 30 years and included assignments in more than 50 countries. A contributor to National Geographic magazine for more than two decades, Joe has published numerous cover stories, including "The Future of Flying" (December 2003). His assignments have taken him from the heart of India's Diwali celebrations to the deserts of the Middle East to China's Great Wall. American Photo magazine has described Joe as "perhaps the most versatile photojournalist working today" and listed him as one of their 100 Most Important People in Photography. Among his many awards, Joe has been honored as a member of Kodak-PDN Legends Online, and was named a Nikon Legend Behind the Lens. In 2010, he was voted one of the 30 most influential photographers of the decade by Photo District News.
Joe will join the following departures:
Jun 07 - 10, 2012 • Jun 14 - 17, 2012Oct 18 - 21, 2012
Expedition Dates 
*For the May and June workshops, we will stay at the New York Marriott Downtown instead of the Cosmopolitan Hotel.
Expedition Costs
Airfare from/to your home city is not included in the expedition cost.
What To Expect
This workshop is led by a National Geographic photographer and a professional instructor and is designed for amateurs who are interested in improving their digital photography. All participants must bring a digital SLR camera, a laptop computer, and software for organizing and presenting images. The workshop is limited to 25 participants.
