Photo Suggestions for Newport, RI?

[Harry Lavo]

I'm spending a week down in Newport RI starting on May 11, and I'm planning to make it "photography week".

Anybody have any specific suggestions based on their own time there of places to shoot?

 

[AISBLE]

Harry, there are quite a few nice places to shoot in Newport. Ocean drive is very nice, also called Brenton Point State Park. In the summer ocean drive will be packed with people flying hundreds of colorful kites.

Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge is also a nice hike along the water, you can spot seals here in the winter but I'm guessing they're gone by now.http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=53543

On the way to Sachuest Point is the famous cliff walk, it's a 3.5 mile walk with the ocean on one side and Newports famous mansions on the other side. The cliff walk is nice but if you can leave a car at the end you'll save yourself from having to walk back to the start of the walk, we usually leave our bikes locked up somewhere near the end and ride them back to the car.http://www.cliffwalk.com/

Then there are the mansions you can visit if you're into history, some of these places are pretty amazing. Just walking along in downtown Newport can also be a blast. Have fun! This picture is from ocean drive.
http://newportri.com/pages/maps.html

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[Harry Lavo]

Thanks, Tony -

You know I have lived in New England almost my entire adult life, yet I haven't been back to Newport since I was 22 years old. I don't remember much in reality, but I have certainly heard enough to be excited about the place and about the photo ops there.

Your shot just makes me want to get there sooner.

Harry

 

[bobhoge]

Hi Harry,

Nan & I were there in July, 2006, just for one day. We toured several of the "cottages", but they don't permit interior photography. If I recall, you could apply for a permit to shoot inside The Breakers, but I'm not sure of the requirements or any costs involved.
If it helps any, some of the photos we took are posted here:
http://bob-nan.smugmug.com/gallery/1717024#84697813

Here is a link to information on all the mansions:
http://bob-nan.smugmug.com/gallery/1717024#84697813

And the contact information on photo permits:
http://www.newportmansions.org/page3616.cfm

Hope this helps, post your photos when you get back home!
Bob & Nan

 

[Pete]

I was there two years ago. The whole town is one great photo op... On the east shore behind the mansions is the "Cliff Walk" a few miles along the cliffs and in back of the mansions. That is definitely something you will want to do. Also if you drive south along the shore there is a nice park with breakers and sometimes surfers.

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Unfortunately it rained the entire week I was there as it does whenever I go on vacation.
You can check out my photo gallery of the trip. There is more than Newport.
http://www.photos.3rdtrick.com/displayimage.php?album=11&pid=87&slideshow=5000

 

[Harry Lavo]

Thanks a lot, Bob. You managed to get a fair sampling of the mansions for only being there just a day....nice shots and presentation at smugmug.

If I may ask, how long a telephoto (i'm assuming) did you use on the sailboat shots?

 

[Harry Lavo]

Hi, Pete...bad luck on the weather. Didn't keep you from getting some beautiful photos, though, thanks for the link. Thanks also for the tip on the park...was that down the (East or Newport) side of the bay, or was it on the Western Side?

 

[Pete]

Thanks Harry,
I think it was kinda on the western side but it is not a far ride all the way around. Hope you have a good trip.

 

[bobhoge]

Thanks a lot, Bob. You managed to get a fair sampling of the mansions for only being there just a day....nice shots and presentation at smugmug.

If I may ask, how long a telephoto (i'm assuming) did you use on the sailboat shots?

Hi Harry,

If you go to the specific photo on the smugmug site, you can roll your mouse over the right edge of the photo and an information block will overlay the photo. Just click on the "photo info" section and under basic info, the focal length is listed for you.

It looks like most of the sailboat photos with the little kids, taken before the mansions were at around 240mm. Those taken "between" the mansion shots (we were there one afternoon and the following morning) were at more normal 18-70mm distances, taken from a small boat going across the harbor.

One additional comment, while you can't take photos in the mansions, those interiors are spectacular to see and well worth the price of admission. The next day your legs feel climbing all the stairs! High ceilings make for lots of steps.

Bob & Nan

 

[Harry Lavo]

Bob -

Thanks...i've now learned something about smugmug. Appreciate all your input.

Harry