NYC Through My Lens: A Photographer’s Art-Fueled Adventure in the City That Never Sleeps

There are few places in the world like New York City—wait, scratch that. There’s no place in the world like it. NYC is a living, breathing canvas of color, chaos, and culture. Whether you’re into fashion, food, architecture, or art, the city truly has something for everyone. But if you’re a creative and a travel photographer, NYC doesn’t just inspire—it overwhelms in the best possible way.

I recently had the chance to attend the AIGA Design Conference, hosted just steps from Times Square. For those unfamiliar, AIGA (the American Institute of Graphic Arts) is the oldest and largest professional membership organization for design, founded in 1914. Their annual conference brings together thousands of creatives from around the world to connect, learn, and spark fresh inspiration.

While the first half of my trip was packed with deep dives into typography, branding, and all things visual storytelling alongside 5,000 fellow designers, I made sure to carve out a few extra days to explore and photograph the city itself. What followed was a whirlwind of art, food, fall weather, and magical moments.

Central Park, Oysters, and Neon Dreams

We kicked things off by renting bikes in Central Park, and if you’re a photographer visiting NYC, I can’t recommend this enough. Gliding through the park with a camera slung across your back is the perfect way to capture autumn colors, street performers, and city skylines peeking through the trees. It was pure magic.

Later, we grabbed fresh oysters at Seamore’s, a coastal-inspired seafood spot with clean flavors and great vibes. After dinner, we gave in to the gravitational pull of Times Square. Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s loud. But as a photographer, it’s a dream—light, color, and human energy colliding in every frame.

After soaking in the electric atmosphere, we capped the night with a slice of famous New York cheesecake from Junior’s—rich, creamy, and every bit as iconic as the neon lights just outside the door.

Cooper Hewitt: A Colorful Design Surprise

Later that day, we made our way uptown to the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, where we toured the exhibit “A Dark, A Light, A Bright: The Designs of Dorothy Liebes.” This was hands down the highlight of our visit. The exhibit featured a ton of her work—from colorful textiles and woven panels to furniture and fashion pieces.

Dorothy Liebes was known for her bold use of color and unconventional materials like metallic threads and synthetics. I loved learning how she collaborated with big names like Frank Lloyd Wright and Bonnie Cashin, and how much influence she had on the look and feel of modern design. It was super cool to see how her work still feels fresh and relevant today.

Guggenheim Museum: Spirals, Shapes & Unexpected Inspiration

After lunch at the cutest café—Bluestone Lane Upper East Side Café—our next stop was the Guggenheim Museum. Even if you’re not big on modern art, the building alone is worth the visit. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the iconic spiral architecture is a piece of art in itself.

The exhibits inside were bold, unexpected, and thought-provoking. I really enjoyed just wandering through the space, letting the work speak for itself. Some pieces challenged me, others pulled me in with their color or emotion. It was a reminder that sometimes, art isn’t meant to be fully understood—it’s meant to be felt.

The Met: Masterpieces & New Discoveries

We spent the better part of a day exploring The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and honestly, I could have spent a week there. One of the biggest highlights for me was seeing several Gustav Klimt pieces in person—his use of pattern and gold still feels revolutionary.

The museum is packed with works by some of the greatest artists in history, including Van Gogh, Matisse, Monet, Picasso, Degas, Seurat, and Georgia O’Keeffe. Seeing their work up close—the texture of the brushstrokes, the scale, the color—was incredibly inspiring. There’s something powerful about standing just a few feet from the art that shaped generations of creatives.

We was also introduced to the work of Cecily Brown, whose large-scale, gestural paintings blur the line between abstraction and figuration. Her canvases are wild, emotional, and layered—like a dream you can’t fully explain but totally feel.

Tucked into a quieter corner of the museum, in the American Wing’s Erving and Joyce Wolf Gallery, we came across the Art of Native America exhibit. The collection of Native American apparel and regalia was beautifully curated and deeply moving. The craftsmanship, materials, and cultural storytelling woven into each piece left a lasting impression.

MoMA: A Starry Night Surprise

During our visit to The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in fall 2022, we were lucky to experience an incredible lineup of iconic artworks that left a lasting impression. Here were some of the highlights for me:

Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night (1889) – Experiencing this swirling, emotive depiction of the night sky in person was absolutely mesmerizing.
Claude Monet, Water Lilies (1914–26) – A serene triptych capturing the tranquil beauty of Monet’s garden at Giverny in soft, layered strokes.
Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907) – A bold, genre-defying piece that helped usher in Cubism and completely redefined modern art.
Jackson Pollock, One: Number 31, 1950 – A massive, energetic canvas filled with motion and chaos—signature Pollock.
T.C. Cannon, Two Guns Arikara (1973/1977) – A powerful, contemporary portrait blending bold color, Native identity, and political commentary.
James Rosenquist, F-111 – A striking, mural-sized work combining advertising imagery and military symbolism, commenting on consumerism and war.
Gustav Klimt, Hope II – Rich in pattern and symbolism, this piece stood out with its emotional depth and intricate gold detailing.
Georgia O’Keeffe, Abstraction Blue – A soft, almost meditative piece that draws you in with its flowing, organic shapes and cool palette.

These masterpieces—and so many others—made our MoMA visit an unforgettable journey through the evolution of modern art.

Dumpling Dreams at Kung Fu Kitchen

After a long day of taking in incredible art, we had worked up a serious appetite—and nothing hits quite like savory, delicious soup dumplings. We made our way to Kung Fu Kitchen near Times Square, and let me tell you, it absolutely delivered. Steaming baskets, rich broth, and perfectly chewy dough—comfort food perfection that warmed us up from the inside out.

Reflection, Skyline, and a 9-Course Masterpiece

We began the next afternoon at the 9/11 Memorial site, a place that commands quiet and reflection. The last time I visited New York was in 2008, when the memorial was still under construction—so to stand there now, surrounded by the sound of water and the names etched in stone, was incredibly moving. The design of the space is powerful in its simplicity, and it gave us a moment to pause and reflect on the resilience of this city and its people.

From there, we headed uptown to Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center just in time for sunset. As the golden hour washed over the skyline and the city lights flickered on one by one, the view was absolutely breathtaking. Looking out over Central Park, the Empire State Building, and the ever-expanding skyline, it was one of those pinch-me moments that make New York feel as big and magical as the movies.

To top off the day—literally and figuratively—we treated ourselves to a once-in-a-lifetime dinner at The Modern, a Michelin-starred restaurant at MoMA. We indulged in a nine-course tasting menu that was nothing short of art on a plate. Each dish was more surprising and thoughtful than the last, and the pacing, presentation, and flavor combinations were flawless. Neither of us had ever experienced anything like it—and at that price, we probably won’t again anytime soon—but it was worth every bite.

Brooklyn Mornings & Broadway Nights

We started our morning with a ferry ride to Brooklyn, grabbing coffee at %Arabica under the Brooklyn Bridge before heading off to explore DUMBO—short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. This neighborhood is a photographer’s dream: cobblestone streets, red brick warehouses, and jaw-dropping views of the Manhattan Bridge framed perfectly between buildings.

After a few hours of wandering, we stopped for some authentic New York pizza at Juliana’s off Old Fulton Street—absolutely worth the hype—before hopping back on the ferry.

That night, we capped the day with front-row seats to Moulin Rouge on Broadway. From the set design and costumes to the powerhouse performances, it was a full-on sensory experience. I had chills from start to finish.

Final Day: High Line Views & Little Island Escape

On our final morning, we wandered through the High Line, one of NYC’s most unique public parks built on an elevated rail line. From here, we made our way to Little Island, a striking park floating above the Hudson on stilts. The futuristic design and plant-covered terraces offered a quiet escape from the city noise—a lush oasis suspended in the skyline.

As the sun set and the skyline turned golden, I couldn’t help but reflect on how New York is both a challenge and a gift to photograph. It doesn’t wait for you, doesn’t pose, and doesn’t stop moving. But if you’re patient, curious, and ready to chase the light, it offers up moments of true magic.

Final Thoughts: Why New York City Is a Dream for Travel Photographers

From classic icons like Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge to unexpected gems like Little Island, New York City is one of the most visually rewarding places on earth for a travel photographer. Add to that the richness of its museums, the power of its memorials, the diversity of its food, and the electricity of Broadway—and you’ve got a destination that delivers on every level.

I came for a design conference, but I left with memory cards full of stories—and a renewed creative spark. I already can’t wait to go back.