In Boston area next month - Photo Ops?

Hey POTNrs,

I'll be attending a training class for work in early February in the Waltham, MA area... about 10 miles or so outside of Boston. Luckily I'll have one free day available during my trip, so I'd really like to get out and around in Boston & nearby areas of interest for some sight-seeing and photography (weather permitting).

I've never been in Boston before though, and was hoping some of you that know the area might suggest some locations that would be worth while to visit. I'll probably just be bringing my 20D, 17-40 and 24-70.

Any suggestions/comments?

Thanks in advance!
William

Just got back from that area....

But, yet to shoot Boston I'm going back up in April and I think we'll be shooting the big city then...

Any of the coastal towns will be able to provide wonderous landscape views...Salisbury, Salem, Rockport, Gloucester, Manchester, Marblehead, et al..

I took 2 day trips...one hitting Manchester/Gloucester and the other hitting Rockport......lots lof scenery to shoot as well as points along the way....

Salisbury Beach provides some great seal viewing if it's sunny....there's a pretty cool lighthouse in Marblehead Neck and one in Marblehead, itself...

Although lighthouses are cool, they're not my thing...but, did some research when in MA:

http://lighthouse.cc/

I can't provide any insight on Boston/urban shooting

Have fun!

Tom D

I spent a week in Boston during the 2005 Marathon (not a runner).

Boston has many beautiful old churches if you're interested in architectural stuff. Many within easy walking distance of each other.

And at night "Little Italy" (not sure what the locals call it, but it's near Boston Gardens) is really quite colourful.

If you a a "street photog", the subway stations vary considerably from the very old to the new and modern (as do the trains). But that might pose a security risk.

The easiest way to get around is via the subway, which for convenience, economy, and interest, really impressed me.

Which reminds me, both Harvard and MIT are just across the river, a short ride by subway, and the train rises up and goes OVER the river so shots are available during the trip.

I would say that Boston is a very cool city.

To see most of the city by foot, you can follow the "Freedom Trail". It takes you past most of the historical sites in the city. There is usually a lot going on at the Common or Boston Public Gardens, although the gardens aren't as nice this time of year as they are in the spring and summer. If it's really cold and nasty, there's always the New England Aquarium.

What are you interested in?

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=127576

Do you use Google Earth?
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=219139

Fenway Park

Thanks to everyone for the good info/links/suggestions​/etc... I look forward to investigating a few of these possibilities, if I ever can find any time to plan my free day during the visit.

Scottes, yes, I have used google earth before, perhaps not to its fullest capabilities I suppose. Why, will it tell me things I might want to see? I figured that I could probably google and then sift through tons of web data to come up with a few good options, but I felt the opinions of POTNrs and their experience/knowledge with the given area might be a better play to start with.

Thanks again,
WT

William Taylor wrote in post #2515745
Scottes, yes, I have used google earth before, perhaps not to its fullest capabilities I suppose. Why, will it tell me things I might want to see? I figured that I could probably google and then sift through tons of web data to come up with a few good options, but I felt the opinions of POTNrs and their experience/knowledge with the given area might be a better play to start with.

The link that Scott posted was a link for a Google Earth tour of his favorite shooting sites in Boston. He is a terrific resource for information on the Boston area, so you might want to take a look at the link. Good stuff! I've got it bookmarked now for my next trip into the city!

Thanks, Scott!

LOL, I realize that now. darn, I was thinking google earth was some other google thing I had used before but when I clicked on it, I realized I had NEVER used it before. Sorry about that Scottes... will be seeing what I need to do this weekend to view that. Looking forward to it.

I've just spent 35 minutes reading through a lot of the Boston POTN thread and related photo thread. Excellent stuff, you folks had me laughing.

Appreciate the help!
William

Yeah, there's a lot of info (and great pics) in that thread. If you see anything that looks interesting just ask. And if there's some type of subject you're interested in, just speak up. There's so much to shoot in Boston that it's tough to just name a few without knowing what you like.

However, if you install Google Earth and poke through that file you will find enough to fill a day. (Or 3 - lol!)

Thanks much Sir.

Sorry I wasn't more specific in my initial request. Skyline/landscape would be at least one thing I wanted to shoot, but beyond that, I hadn't given it much thought since I really didn't know what the area had to offer. I'm sure it has a bit of everything, so I'll take some more time this weekend to narrow down my interests.

Appreciate the help!
William

For a skyline shot my preferred location is the Hyatt Hotel at the airport.
http://www.itsanadvent​ure.com/postimages/Bos​ton_62069.jpg

There's also the view from Piers Park in East Boston:
http://www.itsanadvent​ure.com …omPiersParkNtPa​no800w.jpg

Or a slightly different view from LoPresti Park (a place you might not want to visit alone)
http://www.itsanadvent​ure.com …mages/BostonNig​ht22_1.jpg

And then there's the "side view" from Memorial Drive, just across the Charles River.
http://www.itsanadvent​ure.com …mages/BostonSky​line17.jpg

And don't forget Boston's tallest buildings, the Hancock Tower and the Prudential:
http://www.itsanadvent​ure.com …mages/BostonSky​line12.jpg

For "true" landscapes you've got the Boston Common and the Public Garden, but they're not so great in the winter unless you hit them right after a snow-storm. Oh, there's still shots in both places, but nothing like the shots you'd get on a nice summer day where you'll get flowers and trees with leaves.

For "cityscape" shots there are *many* places. Becca's recommendation of the Freedom Trail is probably the easiest to research and follow, and you'll be plenty busy shooting. You'll get a lot of stuff like all the shots at the beginning of that Boston thread. (And that will take you by the Common and Public Garden, too.)

You can cheat and take a Duck Tour (http://www.bostonduckt​ours.com/index.html) but they don't run until the end of March.