Any camera will work for photographing Manhattanhenge. Choose a wide crosstown (East/West) street to view the Manhattanhenge. The further east you are, the more buildings will be visible in your photo. Use a tripod to steady the camera if you want to utilize a slow shutter speed.

To capture Manhattanhenge in 2026, you must align yourself with Manhattan's east-west street grid on specific dates: May 28-29 and July 11-12. The best vantage points are the wide crosstown streets, specifically 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, and 57th Streets. For the most dramatic effect, position yourself as far east as possible while still maintaining a clear view of the Hudson River to the west. Using a tripod is highly recommended to handle the changing light as the sun dips toward the horizon, allowing for crisp images at lower ISO settings. To achieve the popular "starburst" effect on the sun, use a small aperture (high f-stop) like f/11 or f/16. A versatile zoom lens (24-70mm or 18-85mm) is ideal for switching between wide cityscapes that include landmarks like the Empire State Building and tighter shots of the sun itself. Because thousands of people gather for this event, arriving at least 1–2 hours early is essential to secure a spot that isn't obstructed by other photographers or traffic.