George Washington Bridge, New Jersey, night skies

The George Washington Bridge

The George Washington Bridge is a suspension bridge over the Hudson River that connects part of New York City, New York, to Fort Lee, New Jersey. It is 4,750 feet (1584 meters) long and was designed by Othmar H. Ammann. The building began on October 21, 1927, and it was opened on October 25, 1931, at the cost of $59 million. A second level was added below the main level and opened to traffic on August 29, 1962. There are also walkways for pedestrians and bicyclists on the north and south sides of the bridge.

The bridge’s main span is 3,500 ft (1,067 m) long and 119 ft (36 m) wide. Four cables suspend it, each cable weighing 28,450 tons and made from 26,474 individual wires. The total length of all the wires in the four cables is 107,000 mi (172,200 km).

Ammann chose the site for the bridge because the river was narrower at this point. The banks on either side were high, which meant the bridge could be tall enough for ships to pass underneath without having to build long-rising bridge approaches.

USE camera information photography

GWB Photography Information

George Washinton Bridge Photography Hot Spot. This is a great place to stop and take photos. Vibrant colors can sometimes appear during sunrise and sunset. This is an excellent location for winter when the leaves have fallen off the trees and photography locations are scarce. Bridge photography over water can always be dynamic. You can shoot long exposures here, and if you are lucky, some boats might go by.

ROSS DOCK PARK

his is a familiar spot for us, one we frequent often. It’s a versatile destination that can be visited year-round. Our photos were taken in the midst of winter, capturing the stark beauty of the season. Ross Dock Park offers a serene escape from the bustling city life, located beneath the massive George Washington Bridge on the New Jersey side in Fort Lee. The park closes at dusk as evening falls, and visitors are promptly ushered out with gates closed and locked. But don’t panic like we did; there is a back road up the hill out of the park after they close the gates. We thought we were locked in.

The winding path to the park is over a mile long, making it a peaceful journey surrounded by nature. However, parking is limited along the main road leading to the park. From this vantage point, you can also capture stunning shots of the bridge from across the water in New York.

On our recent visit, temperatures dropped to just ten degrees Fahrenheit, dissuading us from venturing to the opposite side of the water. Instead, we focused on capturing images of ice floating in the river, seeking out unique and unconventional shots that set us apart from others. Though some may have photographed this location before, our perspective was fresh and new.

PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR TO BRING

A few birds fluttered by during our time there, but they were scarce. When visiting Ross Dock Park, be sure to bring your widest-angle lens, circular polarizing filters, ND filters, tripod, and shutter release. Use aperture priority mode to capture the maximum depth of field in your photos. If you need a refresher on this setting, check out our Aperture Priority photography techniques page.

If you photograph moving waters with a long exposure, you will get dynamic images. See our Waterfall Photography Simplified page for assistance setting up your camera for milky water shots.

KOREAN BBQ

After a day exploring Ross Dock Park, we stumbled upon a nearby Korean area with many barbecue options. While American restaurants may be scarce in this neighborhood, we enjoyed Korean cuisine and were pleasantly surprised. Our meal was entirely vegetable-based, offering a unique twist on traditional barbecuing. With food and photography combined, Ross Dock Park makes for an unforgettable day or night excursion!

WHEN TO GO

Any time of year. It gets a lot of human visitors, so midweek is the best offseason.

LOCATION

Here is a link to the map that opens us to the bridge. If you are not from New Jersey or New York and are unfamiliar with the traffic at the George Washington Bridge, you should know that it is best to travel here on off-peak days and hours.

SOME PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS

Shutter Speed—Learn how to shoot in shutter priority, mainly for moving subjects, to avoid motion blur.

Aperture — Shooting in aperture priority allows you to focus on your depth of field. It is mainly used for still subjects.

ISO —This controls how much light is let into your camera when exposing your picture.

White Balance — This is your color temperature setting. Cloud, shade, sun, and custom settings are also available.

The best hotels while doing photography

HOTELS

Hyatt Place Fort Lee / George Washington Bridge

2167 Route 4 East, Fort Lee, New Jersey, United States, 07024+1 201 849 5900
We do not go into NYC for any reason.  Stay on the New Jersey side.  Head north of the GWB, according to the crime map, is a much safer neighborhood than south of the GWB, where the map is red and marked F.
OUR EXPEDIA PICK:
An entire cozy apartment with a queen-size bed, full bathroom, and kitchenette is available for an affordable stay. LINK HERE We haven’t been here before; however, it looks pleasant and affordable.

Add Your hotel here! We will put pictures, all the details, and links to your website.

Would you like to be a featured hotel like this article or this one?  Please send us an email.  You will be surprised at how affordable our prices can be.

area information - photography

AREA

INFORMATION

Entrance Fees: There is no entrance fee.

Ross Dock Park Area Information.

There is a parking fee from May through September CASH ONLY – $5.00 on weekdays and $10 on the weekends.

Ross Dock Picnic Area features picnic tables, some grills (visitors are permitted to bring their own), a large children’s playground, restrooms, water, and waste receptacles. It also offers access to fishing and crabbing, our trail system and Henry Hudson Drive, and a boat launching ramp for trailered boats under 24 feet and car-top boats (canoe and kayak) at Hazard’s Dock.

A refreshment stand, with drinks, snacks, ice cream, and picnic and barbecue supplies, is open on weekends in the summer.

Where is the George Washington Bridge?

Here is a link to the map that opens us to the bridge. If you are not from New Jersey or New York and you are not familiar with the traffic at the George Washington Bridge you should be aware that it is best to travel here on off-peak days and hours.

FOOD & DINING

FOOD & DINING

Chart House

Great Food and a Great Photography Hot Spot

1700 Harbor Blvd., Weehawken, N.J.

Located right on the Hudson River and directly across from Manhattan, Chart House Weehawken at Lincoln Harbor offers gorgeous panoramic views of the glittering New York skyline – from the Empire State Building to Wall Street. An unforgettable seafood restaurant, Chart House thrills diners not only with its views and million-dollar remodel.

Step outside to do some incredible photography here too!!

WEATHER

 WEATHER

 

What the weather is near the location.

Don’t forget that you can use a rain sleeve on your camera if it is raining. If it is bright and sunny, you want to use a low ISO such as 100.

If you are doing photography along with your ghost hunting on cloudy days, you can do running water or waterfall photography to avoid the glaring sun. You can also use an ND filter to get long exposure for dramatic effects, even in the sunshine. If you ghost hunt indoors in abandoned places, be careful.

More New Jersey Photography Locations
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