Photogenic Locations in Western New York

This page features the best locations for photography in and around Buffalo, NY. From sunsets to skylines, nature to landmarks, you will find gorgeous locations all within a short driving distance from the Queen City. Even the greatest photographers need a spot to shoot, and this page will provide you with just that. Although many areas are listed here, one cannot truly capture each scenic location in Buffalo and Western New York. However, it is our hope that you, the reader, will benefit from this information and use it as a starting point for your photography endeavors. Please feel free to add more locations and photos to this page, as that is the point of creating a wiki! In time, it is our hope that this page becomes a large stockpiling of public knowledge and beautiful photography. Escape from the everyday to these scenic views and get in touch with everyday places we take for granted in New York State.

About the Authors

Joel Barone and Samantha Griffith are both students at Buffalo State College, a SUNY university located in the heart of the city of Buffalo, NY. The two teamed up for a group project in a communications and web publishing course, and are glad to provide useful knowledge and beautiful imagery for photographers, tourists, and curious readers alike. Although Joel is the more experienced photographer, Samantha dappled in the hobby and snapped a few photos of some of her favorite places. The two split up the work from where they live - Joel in the Northtowns, and Samantha in the Southtowns and further. The authors would like to thank you for your courtesy in editing this page, as they worked hard to create and format the content you see below. Thanks, and happy viewing!

Buffalo, Williamsville, Youngstown, & North Tonawanda photos by Joel Barone Varysburg, Sheldon, & Arcade photos by Samantha Griffith

Buffalo

The Erie Basin Marina in downtown buffalo will never let you down when it comes to photographs. If you're into shooting flowers, there's a spectacular display of flower gardens you can't miss as you pull into the marina. The marina is also a popular location to shoot Buffalo's majestic skyline. If you don't mind climbing a tall set of stairs, some of your best views of the marina, skyline and Lake Erie sunsets can be shot from the top of the tower. The Erie Basin Marina ranks up there as one of the best locations to shoot a Western New York sunset.

Let's not forget one of the most photographed sites at the Marina... The Lighthouse. Completed in 1833, the Buffalo lighthouse tower was built to alert vessels to the fact that they were approaching both the port of Buffalo and the Niagara River. Regardless of time of day, the it seems one can never take a bad shot of the lighthouse.

Williamsville

Glen Falls located in Williamville is another popular photo location. This is a year round destination for photographers gives some of the best four season pictures around. The park setting and duck ponds lure many to this location regardless of photographic skills. The sound of the falls is almost just enough to help one slip into a meditative state.

Youngstown

Named after John Young, the Village of Youngstown was established in 1854. This quaint little community is a 10 minute ride north of Lewiston and borders the Niagara River and Lake Ontario. The Youngstown Yacht Club is a great vantage point for sailboat and sunset photos.

North Tonawanda

Niawanda Park is the largest park in the City of Tonawanda. There is a walking/bicycle path, picnic tables, a restroom, a boat launch, and a fishing pier. This vantage point along the river is another great location for Western New York sunsets.

Varysburg

Varysburg is a small town south of Buffalo with a population of around 4,000. One of the newest and best spots for photography in this small Wyoming County town is at the Hidden Valley Animal Adventure - where you can take a trolley tour and view hundreds of wild and exotic animals. It's like a safari in Western New York, with many of the animals of Africa and around the world! Animals located at the Hidden Valley Animal Adventure include: zebras, ostrich, reindeer, elk, buffalo, water bison, wildebeest, camel, and more!

Sheldon

Sheldon is located near Strykersville, also south of Buffalo. The town is home of the Sheldon Wind Farm. Thus, you can get beautiful pictures of large windmills set against a country background with sloping hills and trees. Regardless of your personal views on wind power, the Sheldon Wind Farm project provides many with beautiful views. Seeing the windmills up close is unlike many experiences - their size alone is astounding. Like most, these sights are even more brilliant in the fall with the changing colors of leaves.

Arcade

Arcade, NY is yet another small town located about an hour south of Buffalo. Arcade is home of both author Samantha and the famous Arcade & Attica Railroad, a large steam operated train spanning from 1880. The Arcade & Attica currently travels from Arcade, NY to Curriers, NY - along country settings the entire way. Arcade & Attica also runs special events such as special Fall Foliage Tours, rides with holiday characters (Easter Bunny, Santa), and a Civil War Reenactment tour during Arcade's "Civil War Days" festival. Snap a piece of history by taking a ride on this steel beauty, and catch a glimpse of beautiful scenery along the route.

Conclusion

We hope you have enjoyed viewing our page. Once again, please feel free to upload your own photos from these locations and any others you may love around the beautiful area of Western New York. We look forward to seeing your photographs and hearing all about your favorite places to view. Please remember, this is a public page. All information and imagery should be appropriate to the topic and appropriate for viewers at all age levels. Thank you for your time in viewing our page! We hope you have learned more about the beautiful sights and locations available to us in Western New York.

A selected list of references is available below for more information on the locations you have seen on this page.