Photographing New York: Bushwick and Williamsburg

(This guide is part of The New York Photographer’s Travel Book, which is available as a free digital download.)

Bushwick and Williamsburg are the heart of gentrifying and hipster Brooklyn. If you love street art or street photography, these are two neighborhoods that you will not want to miss. Begin by taking the L train to the Morgan Avenue stop in Bushwick and wander in any direction to see some of the best street art and graffiti in the city. Businesses and buildings in the neighborhood give their walls away to popular street artists, many who belong to The Bushwick Collective. Since they are then legally allowed to paint, they are all able to spend a lot of time on their work, and the whole area feels like one huge gallery. Stop for some great pizza for lunch at the ultra-popular Roberta’s.

Get back on the L train and head towards Manhattan to the Bedford Avenue stop in Williamsburg. Next, head towards the waterfront to see some grand views of the Manhattan skyline.

On North 8th Street is the State of New York East River State Park, which holds Smorgasburg, a Saturday only food flea market that lasts until late October. About eight blocks south is Grand Ferry Park and the old Domino Sugar factory. But the key to photographing Williamsburg is just to wander. Walk along Bedford and people watch, get lost, and explore the side streets.

(This guide is part of The New York Photographer’s Travel Book, which is available as a free digital download.)