Cohoes, New York

Photographs of Cohoes, New York

Cohoes, New York is a small city just on the other side of the Hudson River from where I grew up in Averill Park. Despite the proximity, it’s a place I don’t ever recall visiting for any reason. So it was nice to spend some time there exploring with a camera. Like a lot of small towns in Upstate New York, Cohoes has an industrial past. It’s nickname is the “Spindle City” because of the involvement in textile manufacturing in the 19th Century went vast amounts of cotton was shipped to Cohoes from the deep south. There are so many places in New York that had a heyday due to one industry or another, but have remained stagnant at best, ever since. You get that feeling from Cohoes. The architecture is beautiful - homes, commercial buildings, churches, and of course the famous Cohoes Armory were all built with pride, and come together collectively to give the city a lot of character.

Photograph of homes in Cohoes, New York

Old homes in Cohoes, New York

Photograph of a hair salon in Cohoes, New York

Danielle’s House of Hair - Cohoes, New York

Photograph of the National Bank of Cohoes

Cohoes, New York Photography

Historic photograph of Cohoes, New York

Train track running by St. John’s Church in Cohoes, New York

Photograph of Remsen St. in Cohoes, New York

Photograph of the business’ on Remsen St. in Cohoes, New York

Photograph of a flower shop in Cohoes, New York

Flower shop - Cohoes, New York

Photograph of Dennis Holzman Antiques in Cohoes, New York

Antique shop in Cohoes, NY

Photograph of the Cohoes Armory in Cohoes, New York

Cohoes Armory

Photograph of an old church in Cohoes, New York

Old church in Cohoes, NY

Photograph of beautiful old brick homes in Cohoes, NY

Cohoes, NY architecture

Photograph of Cohoes in Upstate New York

Cohoes, New York Photography

Troy, New York Photographs

Troy, NY Photography Prints – Historic Collar City Wall Art & Licensing

Why Troy Still Feels Like Home

Troy, NY is an industrial city that’s been through a lot of change and it shows. I grew up about 20 minutes from Troy and spent a lot of sinful nights there with a bad Fake ID at bars that have long been shut down or turned into pawnshops. At 4am we always ended up at I love New York Pizza soaking up the booze with dollar slices while waiting for the inevitable fight to erupt on 4th St. I love is still there but they shut down at 1am. Just a few of the many changes that have taken place in the Collar City. Visiting now, 20 years later with different eyes, it’s a whole new experience. You can see why the locals have so much pride. Not just for what Troy has become, but also for the history that is written all over the architecture of it’s many historic buildings. You can feel what Troy was in it’s heyday and that almost makes you want to experience the city at that time. Sure it was rough, and still is in parts, but the Italian food alone would be worth the experience. It’s not all gone though. There are still long running institutions like Bella Napoli, DeFazio’s Pizza, and the iconic Famous Lunch Hot Dogs. It’s even got good beer now - Brown’s Brewing Company is well worth the stop for any connoisseur. I never bothered to look deeply at Troy back in the day, but it’s become a favorite place to photograph every time I return home to visit family and friends. The city has a lot of character that deserves to be documented.

Historic Character and Landmark Views

Troy’s nickname, the “Collar City,” comes from its industrial past - but what stands out today is the mix of preservation and grit. The Central Troy Historic District is lined with 19th-century rowhouses, St. Patrick’s Church rises in Gothic stone, and the Sycaway Water Tower still watches from the hillside. From the hill at RPI, you can see the entire city stacked against the Hudson, with the Green Island Bridge tying it all together. These are the scenes that made their way into my prints - quiet, weathered, and timeless.

Fine Art Prints: Sizes, Editions, and Pricing

Every photograph of Troy in this collection is available as a fine art print, made on museum-grade archival paper. Open edition prints start around $50 for smaller sizes (8×10"), while large limited edition prints are signed, numbered, and produced at sizes up to 36×48". Each piece is crafted to last a lifetime and can be framed to fit your space. Whether it’s for a living room, office, or gallery wall, these prints bring a piece of Troy’s story into your everyday environment.

Licensing Troy Photographs for Editorial & Commercial Use

For businesses, publishers, or art directors looking to license Troy imagery, these photographs are available for editorial and commercial licensing. From historic architecture to atmospheric black-and-white cityscapes, the images can work for magazines, marketing campaigns, and creative projects. Licensing terms are flexible depending on your needs—just reach out directly to start the conversation.

Troy has always been a mix of nostalgia and resilience for me. These photographs hold on to that character, offering more than just a view—they carry the texture of a city that built its name on hard work and history. Contact me directly if you’d like to discuss licensing or to purchase a photography print of Troy, NY for your home, office, or commercial space - rob@robhammerphotography.com

Click here to view photographs of neighboring city Cohoes, NY

Black and white photograph of Green Island Bridge in Troy, NY

The Green Island Bridge in Troy, NY

Historic photograph of Troy, New York

Black and white photograph of Troy, New York

Photograph of St. Patricks Church in Troy, NY

St. Patrick’s Church - Troy, NY

Photograph of Rodino's Tuxedo Shop in Troy, NY

Rodino’s - Troy, NY

Photograph of the Sycaway Water Tower in Troy, NY

Sycaway Water Tower

Black and white historical photograph of Troy, NY

Church spires in Troy, NY

Photograph of the Famous Lunch hot dog restaurant in Troy, NY

Famous Lunch Hot Dogs - Troy, NY

Photograph of soda cans for sale hanging up at Famous Lunch Hot Dogs in Troy, NY

Soda for sale at Famous Lunch in Troy, NY

Photograph of a man working inside Famous Lunch Hot Dogs in Troy, NY

World Famous Hot Dogs since 1932

Photograph of a train bridge along the Hudson River near Troy, NY

Train bridge on the Hudson River in Upstate New York

Photograph of Uncle Sam Lanes bowling alley in Troy, NY

Uncle Sam Lanes

The view of Troy from the campus of RPI

Overlooking the city of Troy from the Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute

Black and white photograph of a basketball hoop under a bridge in Troy, NY

Troy Basketball

Photograph of homes in the typical architectural style of Troy, NY

Homes in the city of Troy, NY

Tree shadows on the beautiful architecture of an old church in Troy, NY

Architecture of an old church in Troy, NY

The best barbershop in Troy, NY

Barbershop - Troy, NY

Photograph of a girl writing on a typewriter at Yellow Lab Vintage and Books in Troy, NY

Used book store in Troy, NY

Photograph of the Livingston Avenue Bridge on the Hudson River

Livingston Avenue Bridge

Black and white photograph of an iconic bride in Troy, NY

Troy, NY