Photographing New York City: Digital Field Guide

Chapter 21. Saint Patrick's Church Cathedral

A stained glass window at Saint Patrick's Church Cathedral. Taken at ISO 1600, f/2.8, 1/80th second with a Lensbaby.

Why It's Worth a Photograph

This gorgeous Neo-Gothic-style Catholic cathedral is smack in the middle of midtown Manhattan. Construction began on this seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York with the laying of the cornerstone in 1858. After a delay during the Civil War, the building was dedicated in 1879 when it loomed over most of 19th century midtown. The cathedral, including the 330-foot tall spires, were built with brick then covered in New York and Massachusetts marble to complete the effect.

Where Can I Get the Best Shot?

You can best capture the architecture of the cathedral outside along Fifth Avenue, inside the Nave, in the cathedral's side chapels, and in the North Transept.

The best vantage points from which to photograph Saint Patrick's Cathedral: (A) outside on Fifth Avenue, (B) the Nave, (C) the side chapels, and (D) the North Transept. Other photo ops: (19) Rockefeller Center.

Outside on Fifth Avenue

The front of Saint Patrick's Cathedral along Fifth Avenue offers many compositions to capture this great subject. You can accentuate the size of the building with an ultrawide-angle lens on the ...