11 best places for photographing the 9/11 Lights

As many of you might already know, each year, on September 11, I do go out to photograph the 9/11 Tribute Lights. It has become a ritual for me.

So because it’s September, here are a few 9/11-related images I’ve captured over the years. Check out my portfolio link.

Also, to answer some of the questions I’ve been asked over the years: here are a few great spots from where to photograph the Tribute Lights in the New York City area:

• Manhattan and Lower Manhattan (obviously)
• Lower Manhattan, right by the parking lot where the lights are located
• 9/11 Memorial and surrounding area
• The One WTC Observatory
• The top of the Empire State Building or any other high rise, if possible
• Brooklyn or Queens, including Brooklyn or Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), Roosevelt Island, etc.
• Jersey City and/or Hoboken waterfront in New Jersey (there are small memorials on the waterfront in both cities); or farther up on the Jersey waterfront
• Liberty State Park, in Jersey City, NJ
• Staten Island (by the ferry station)
• Bayonne, NJ, especially from the terminal that hosts the related Tear Tower Memorial (you might be able to include Lady Liberty in the 9/11 Tribute Light images, too, from this location)
• Places like the Sandy Hook area or South Amboy can offer farther away but still close enough views of New York City and also different vantage points for photographing the September 11 Tribute Lights

Here are more 9/11-related images. You can also find additional images here.

Never forget!

And, as always, thank you so much for stopping by,

Alina Oswald