Photography

Keep in mind Central Park is about 50 blocks north to south. If you're in the middle on the west side there's the American History Museum, the Dakota (where John Lenon was killed but also interesting architecture) in the park is strawberry fields and the bow bridge.

If you're on the east side there's the Metropolitan museum which is worth seeing.

If you're on the south end you've close to Times Square, MoMA, and Rockefeller Center (should have the ice skating ring up) and there's a lot of interesting store fronts on 5th avenue there. There's also Grand Central Terminal and the New York Public Library, which have great architecture.

At the south end of Manhattan: there's Chinatown wander around but find Doyles St. There's Pier 17 which has a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge. There's the 9/11 memorial. There's Battery Park. If you want a photo of the NYC skyline, you need to get outside the city. Easiest way to do this is take the Staten Island Ferry out and back, or go to the Statue of Liberty if it's your thing. You'll get better views of the skyline from the water or from NJ.

But the reality is people and interesting things are everywhere. Sometimes a boring scene comes to life the way the sun reflects off a high-rise building and highlights something. Sometimes there's just an interesting mix of people. Take the touristy shots everyone else takes, but sometimes you get an opportunity in a boring place to see something that no one else has seen or been able to photograph because it's only happened just now in front of you.