We have been have a lot of fun making Instagram guides to some of the coolest cities in the world, including Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Sydney, San Francisco, Austin and New Orleans. While we have many other cities in the works, Christian Gregory, an awesome photographer, wanted to share some of his favorite photo locations in Philadelphia. We invited him on to share some of these amazing locations with our readers.
My nameʼs Christian Gregory and Iʼve been photographing Philadelphia for well over 5 years. I shoot with a Nikon D800, Tamron lenses and like most of you, I post my pictures on Instagram. Whether youʼre traveling to Philly or have lived here all your life, these are the 7 spots that you MUST take a photo at!
1. Camden Waterfront
Ironically, spot number 1 isnʼt Philadelphia at all, but itʼs our neighbor across the river, Camden. The skyline from this vantage point is remarkable when youʼre able to use a telephoto lens. If you just have an iPhone, no problem. The views from here are spectacular, especially during sunrise or sunset. You can get to this location pretty easily by just putting the following into your favorite map app.
Camden Waterfront
Camden, NJ 08103
2. Race St. Pier
Just opposite of site of Camden Waterfront is Race St. Pier. Race St Pier allows you to get a view of the Ben Franklin Bridge that is breathtaking. Pictures sometimes donʼt do it justice.
If you arrive here and itʼs a foggy morning, consider yourself lucky. Foggy mornings on Race St. Pier are what dreams are made of due to the eerie view from the low lying clouds. You can find this location at:
Race St & N. Christopher Columbus Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19106
3. Boathouse Row
So far weʼve covered both sides of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Letʼs move west a little bit to the other river of Philly, the Schuylkill. Boathouse Row is possibly the most photogenic landmark in the country. I think itʼs impossible to get a bad image here. Whether the crew teams are racing down the river or itʼs a peaceful sunset, youʼre guaranteed a 100+ Instagram likes with an image from Boathouse Row even if you don’t have any followers. You can find it at:
1 Boathouse Row Philadelphia, PA 19130
4. City Hall from The Avenue of the Arts
City Hall is a great locations, but the location we are talking about is about 3-4 blocks north of City Hall, on Broad St, called The Avenue of the Arts. This is a spot Iʼm sure you have seen 1,000 times, but every time it looks just a little bit different.
From this location, Billy Penn looks magnificent surrounded by the up lighting of the buildings and light trails from the traffic. You are bound to get a great image here. This great spot is located at:
1400 JFK Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19107
5. Benjamin Franklin Parkway
This spot is lovingly refereed to as “The Parkway” by locals. I am sure you have seen it in magazines and movies. The infamous road leading from the Art Museum to City Hall. Whether you stand on the “Rocky Steps” of the Art Museum or walk down near the wonderful statues, there isnʼt a bad place to take a photo here. It is located at:
2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy Philadelphia, PA 19130
6. Love Park
No list of Philly is complete without mentioning Love Park, after all we ARE the City of Brotherly Love! Whether you take a photo with your loved one underneath the love sign or find a unique angle that no one else has found, Love Park has to be on your list to ‘gram. It is located at:
16th Street and JFK Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19102
7. Ben Franklin Bridge
I know Iʼve already mentioned the bridge twice so far, but it is an iconic location and this is a unique view of the city. From the bridge, you can capture so many creative angles itʼs insane. Maybe the bridge is your focal point with the city in the background? Maybe the bridge is the whole shot?There are limitless possibilities. The bridge is at:
200 N. 5th St Philadelphia, PA 19106
Conclusion:
This is in no way a comprehensive list, I could go on for days! To see all the good spots, make sure to follow me on Instagram at @cgregory422 or visit my website at www.christiangregoryphotography.com and happy shooting!
Thanks again to Christian from us for sharing these awesome locations. We can’t wait to get to Philly and make our own images at each spot!
These are amazing pictures. I have been in Philly three times and some of these places I never saw them from these points of view.
Wow, those are some great photos! It’s always so handy to have an insider’s knowledge of where to get a great photo in any particular city! Bookmarking for reference.
Great pictures!
Great photos! If you don’t mind asking what camera do you use? As I’m planning to upgrade my photography. Most of my photos are taken only through my mobile phone. 😂 And I would love to know more about photography using a professional camera.
The images in this article were taken with a Nikon D800, but I personally use the Fuji X system.