The Forbidden Photos Filling New York Cameras

Have you ever thought about what counts as a “forbidden photo” in New York? It’s not always black and white.

In some places, snapping a picture is fine if you’ve got permission. In others, the rules are strict, and cameras aren’t welcome at all.

The city is full of moments people want to capture, street art, hidden corners, rooftop views, but not every shot is fair game.

Some images end up tucked away because they cross boundaries, while others are celebrated for showing a side of New York most people never see.

It’s a mix of curiosity, caution, and sometimes controversy.

And that’s what makes these photos so fascinating: they reveal the tension between access and restriction, between what’s allowed and what’s off-limits.

Next time you see someone aiming their lens, you might wonder, are they documenting the city, or stepping into forbidden territory?

1. Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse, Manhattan

First things first, this courthouse is a hard no for cameras inside. Security is tight, and the rules are crystal clear, so do not try a quick snap in the lobby.

If you want a souvenir photo, breathe easy and take it from the sidewalk, where the marble and columns still look mighty.

The building is home to serious federal work, and that is exactly why the Southern District of New York bars cameras and recording devices inside.

It protects jurors and witnesses, and it keeps the business of justice calm. I get the itch to document, but this is where you let your eyes do the remembering.

Walking up, you will feel that hush you only get in places that carry weight. Step back across the street, frame the facade, and you are golden.

Once you approach the doors, put the phone away and glide through like a local who knows the drill.

I like the way the steps collect morning light, and how the traffic noise sits low like a hum. You can still tell a story later without a single interior shot.

Think of it as practicing respect in a city that asks for it when it matters.

2. The Frick Collection Galleries, Manhattan

The Frick plays it quiet inside the galleries. Photography is not allowed there, and it helps protect delicate objects and keep the rooms calm.

Honestly, the hush suits the space, and the eye slows down in a good way.

Outside the galleries, some public areas allow photos, so watch for posted signs. I like the exterior courtyard angles and the way the building frames the sky.

You can grab a respectful shot and still leave plenty unseen.

Inside the galleries, just enjoy the textures, the light, the way people move more softly. No phone in hand means no split attention.

It is a clean break from the scroll, and that can reset your brain.

Manhattan knows how to set a mood, and this place proves it. Keep your kit simple, mind the rules, and talk about what you felt later.

Sometimes describing a room beats photographing it, and this is one of those times.

3. New York Stock Exchange Trading Floor, Manhattan

This one tempts every traveler. The famous trading floor sits right behind that facade, but flash photography and recording are not allowed on the floor.

Access is tightly controlled, and only specific authorization opens that door.

So make it an outside moment and lean into the energy on the street. The columns, the flags, the hum of footsteps, it all reads strong in a wide frame.

You will feel the pace of Manhattan even without a peek inside.

I like to work the angle from across the way, low and steady, so the building feels big without warping. It is a scene that tells its own story, a hint of power and movement.

Let the light bounce off the stone and keep it clean.

Inside, conduct and safety rules keep cameras down to protect market activity. It is not the place for casual phone moves.

Take your shot outside, stash the phone, and enjoy the rush that hangs in the air.

4. Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, Manhattan

Here is another spot where your phone stays quiet once you step inside. Even quick hallway snaps can bring security over, and they move fast.

The rule is not personal, it is about keeping the space controlled and focused.

This is the Southern District again, so the same no cameras or recording devices policy lives here.

If you need images for journalism or actual court business, you go through formal procedures. Casual phone photography does not make the cut, and that is fine.

Outside, the building is impressive in a clean, modern way. I like to stand a bit down the block and let the height breathe in the frame.

It feels honest to show the building against the stream of the city moving by.

Inside is a firm boundary, so treat it like a line you do not cross. You get in, you handle what you came for, and you keep the pocket quiet.

New York rewards respect, and this is one of those places where that respect is easy to give.

5. Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse, Brooklyn

Cross the river and the rule still holds. The Eastern District keeps cameras and recording devices out of interior courthouse spaces.

It is about security and making sure proceedings stay on track without distractions.

If you are itching for proof you were there, keep it simple and take your photo from the street.

The lines of the building look clean from the curb, and you can get a nice angle from the corner with a little patience. Inside, just tuck the phone away and move with purpose.

I like how the plaza outside gives your shot some breathing room. Stand back, grab the facade with the sky, and let people pass through the frame to show scale.

I think it feels more alive that way.

Once you head to the entrance, switch to observer mode. No recording, no photos, just the quiet tap of shoes and the rhythm of official business.

This state has plenty of loud moments, but here the calm says everything.

6. Federal Reserve Bank Of New York Museum And Learning Center

The Federal Reserve location feels serious the second you see it.

Parts of the museum experience restrict photography, and that is tied to security since it is an active facility. When signage says no photos, that is your cue to pause.

I like walking the block first and finding an exterior angle that shows the heavy stonework. From the sidewalk, the building looks like a fortress holding stories.

That shot alone can carry the memory without testing boundaries inside.

If staff allows photos in a specific spot, great, follow the guidance and keep it quick. Otherwise the camera stays in the pocket and the eyes stay open.

There is a certain fun in noticing small details without chasing a perfect frame.

New York has a way of blending open spaces with guarded ones. This is firmly in the guarded camp, and that is fine.

Respect the rules, take a breath, and let the city move around you while you keep the moment simple.

7. Neue Galerie New York Galleries, Manhattan

This museum keeps the galleries photo-free.

It is not about being strict for the sake of it, it is about rights, preservation, and visitor flow. The rooms feel more focused when phones stay hidden.

If you want a keepsake, go for the exterior or any space they explicitly allow.

I like a clean sidewalk angle with the facade breathing against the sky. It gives you a sense of place without juggling rules inside.

Once you step into the gallery zones, think quiet steps and open attention.

Let your eyes settle on details you might rush past with a camera. You walk out with sharper memories this way, which feels like a solid trade.

The state is full of bright noise, so the hush here hits different. Respect the policy, smile at the staff, and keep it moving.

Later you can tell friends how stillness can feel like luxury in the middle of Manhattan.

8. The Hispanic Society Library Reading Room And Special Collections, Manhattan

Here is where rare materials set the tone.

Photography is restricted in research and special collection contexts, especially when fragile items are involved.

The goal is preservation and clear rights management, which makes total sense.

If you are doing research, ask staff about approved duplication options rather than trying for a phone pic. They know what is safe and what is not.

You get the material you need without stressing the collection.

For a memory, I like an exterior shot or a permitted public area with gentle light. Keep it simple and steady, no fuss.

The building has that quiet dignity that reads well even in a quick frame.

Inside the reading room, settle into the rhythm of pages and notes.

Put the camera away and let the work be the focus. Treasures like this deserve the extra care, and you can feel that when you sit down.

9. Rikers Island And NYC Department Of Correction Facilities

This one is simple and serious. Cameras and recording devices are not permitted in visit areas under NYC Department of Correction rules.

It is a security policy with real weight, enforced like one.

Do not bring the gear in. There is no soft workaround, no casual exception.

If you find yourself visiting, plan ahead and keep it clean and compliant.

From public vantage points off facility grounds, you may see the skyline and infrastructure that mark the place.

I would not push close framing or anything that feels intrusive. The respectful distance fits the situation.

New York runs these spaces with safety in mind. The best photo here might be none at all.

Sometimes the most responsible move is to carry the moment in your head and leave it at that.

10. The Tour At NBC Studios, Rockefeller Center

The tour sounds like a place you would want to film everything. That is exactly why photography is prohibited during the tour.

It is a behind the scenes walk, and they protect sets and production spaces from being recorded.

Before or after, the area around Rockefeller Center is fair game for your camera.

I like catching the marquee glow against the stone and the buzz of people moving through the plaza. You get the vibe without crossing a line.

On the tour, keep the phone in your pocket and just listen. The guide pace makes more sense when you are not juggling a lens.

You will remember more when you are not trying to direct the scene.

New York has a talent for stagecraft, and this corner proves it. Respect the rule, enjoy the insider peek, and save your photos for the sidewalks outside.

It feels good to leave with stories instead of files sometimes.

11. New York Voting Booths And Marked Ballots, Statewide

Election day brings its own rhythm. In New York, photographing and displaying a marked ballot can be illegal, which is why ballot selfies are a bad idea.

The intention is to protect ballot secrecy and reduce the risk of coercion.

So keep the camera out of the booth. Take your “I voted” selfie outside the poll site, not with the ballot.

It is a small shift that keeps the process clean and private.

I like the energy near the entrance, where neighbors float in and out with focused faces. A wide frame from a respectful distance tells the story without stepping on anyone’s privacy.

It is a moment that feels bigger than any single image anyway.

Across the state, the same common sense applies. Celebrate the day outside, keep the booth sacred, and move on with a light step.

Your memory of the moment will be just as strong without a shot of the ballot itself.

12. Broadway Theaters During Performances, Manhattan

You know that urge to grab a quick clip when the lights go down?

Broadway houses shut that down fast. Photography and recording during performances are prohibited to protect the work and keep the room focused.

Ushers will stop you, and repeat tries can get you removed. That is not the memory you want from a night out.

Better to aim your lens at the marquee or the lobby before the show starts.

I like catching the glow of the sign bouncing off the sidewalk. It gives you the pulse of the night without poking holes in the magic inside.

Save the story for after, when the applause is still ringing in your ears.

Manhattan knows spectacle, and the theater district lives on that spark. Let the performance live in your head and heart.

The photo can wait until you step back into the bright street.