Join Us for The Cloisters Photo Shoot (Sat, June 20, 2026 @ 10:30 am)
Details
Perched above the Hudson in Fort Tyron Park, The MET Cloisters rewards a slow, observational approach--its pink Cuxa marble, carved capitals, vaulted chapels, and stained-glass windows offer some of the richest medieval textures in New York. Casual handheld photography is permitted inside the museum, but tripods, flash, and staged shoots are not, so plan to work mobile and discreetly.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
Technique Focus: Architectural Repetition & Negative Space
- The whole museum is built on rhythm--arches, columns, ribbed vaults, herringbone tile.
- Use graphic minimalism, receding arcades, shadow play.
Human Scale & Storytelling
- A solitary visitor in a vast medieval space is a classic Cloisters image.
- Silhouettes against stained glass.
- Pre-compose in an archway or window. wait for someone to walk into the frame.
The Langon Chapel & Pontaut Chapter House
- Intimate, dim, vaulted spaces with carved doorways--the most "atmospheric" rooms in the museum.
- Doorway frame-within-frame. Shoot from outside looking through the carved arch into the lit chamber beyond.
- Vaulted ceiling. The ribbed vaults make graphic radial compositions.
- Capital and corbel details. Pick capitals where a window throws raking light across the carving.
Articles to Review Before the Photo Shoot
- Architectural Details: Architectural Details
- Building Interiors: Building Interiors
Meeting Location/Event Hosts
Your host will be Doug along with several organizers. We will meet outside of the entrance to the museum at 10:30 am. We will be wearing our TAOP hats and holding our cameras.
Post-Event
TBD
PHOTO CHALLENGE
Once this Meetup event ends, we will create an album on the Photos page. Please post up to five (5) of your best photographs from the event before 7 PM (ET) on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
Eligible photos:
- Must be taken on Saturday, June 20th.
- Must be posted before the deadline
- Must have a title
- Must NOT be sexually explicit or suggestive
This album will be reviewed. The winning image will become the permanent album cover of the event. The name of the winning photographer will appear in the album title.
We welcome your participation and look forward to meeting you at 10:30 am.
