Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is still one of my favorite things to do in New York. The bridge is about a mile and a quarter long (it was, by far, the world’s longest suspension bridge when it was completed in 1883) with a wide pedestrian walkway above traffic. More than 4,000 pedestrians and 3,000 bicyclists cross the bridge each day, although I’ve been on the bridge on some nice-weather weekend days when it seems like all 7,000 walkers/cyclists are on it at the same time.
But I didn’t realize until a couple of years ago how many photos I’ve taken on, of or from the Brooklyn Bridge. For some reason my mind had always separated the photos into three separate categories: photos of the Brooklyn Bridge architecture taken while on the bridge, photos of the Brooklyn Bridge taken from either the Brooklyn side or Manhattan side of the East River, and New York City skyline photos taken while standing on the bridge.
It turns out that the bridge is a great subject for photographs as well as a great base from which to photograph.
When photographing the bridge while standing on the bridge I tend of focus on the limestone and granite towers and the suspension cables. The two towers stand approximately 275 feet tall, providing great subjects for architectural photographs.
The view looking north from the bridge features the Empire State Building standing above the midtown skyline. Look to the south of the bridge and you see the tall buildings of the Financial District, Pier 17 and the Statue of Liberty. Turn slightly to the west and you see the new One World Trade Center tower.
Brooklyn Bridge Park on the Brooklyn side of the East River provides excellent views of the bridge with the Manhattan skyline in the background.
Walking the bridge and the surrounding area is a fun way to spend part of a day in New York City, with or without a camera.