Spring is the best time to be in New York City. Unfortunately, it is also the best time to be in many other places such as Washington, DC. But when one has business in NYC in late April or early May, one must bring a camera.
The afternoon stroll through Central Park on our first day only whetted our appetite. So it seemed that an evening visit to the top of Rockefeller Center would be a good way to end the evening.
Top of the Rock, looking south
(Technical: Nikon D800E, resting on balustrade, with 24-70 mm f/2.8 extended to 24 mm; Exposure: 0.6 sec. at f/16, ISO 800.)
Setting sun, Top of the Rock, looking west
(Technical: Nikon D800E hand held, with 24-70 mm f2.8 extended to 42mm, Exposure 1/640th sec. at f/10.0, ISO 800.)
The next day, we took the E Train to the World Trade Center to check out the progress on the new PATH Terminal designed by Santiago Calatrava and visit the 9/11 Memorial. The last time I had been there was in May 2013, shortly after the Memorial had opened and security had been exceptionally strict. They have relaxed a lot since then. One can stroll right into the grounds.
View of one of the two reflecting pools, surrounded by waterfalls.
The names of the victims are inscribed in bronze around the twin pools.
Brookfield Place, housing scads of places to eat and shop, is right across the street in Battery City Park. We only had time for a quick peek, but I am definitely going back to explore Le District (billed as a French market) in detail. This place is gy-normous.
The Winter Garden Atrium looking out toward the Hudson River
View from Brookfield Place looking toward the PATH Terminal under construction.
The new PATH Terminal is suffering a lot of ridicule in the New York media. But, having seen structures designed by this controversial architect in places such as Valencia, Barcelona, Milwaukee, California, and Buenos Aires, I expect it will be impressive once it is finished (assuming the engineers can fashion his design into reality).
The next morning we headed over to the High Line, a 1.5-mile elevated train line that has been transformed into a highly popular aerial greenway.
Tracks from the former NY Central spur line are integrated into the design
If it’s New York City, there will be a fashion shoot
Hidden Gem: The High Line Hotel courtyard, just a block away from the actual High Line, is a great place for a coffee break. Previously part of a seminary, it was once a large estate and apple orchard owned by the man who is thought to have authored “The Night Before Christmas.”
The High Line has numerous, and often amusing, public art installations
The new Whitney Museum is located at the southern terminus of the High Line
It was opening day and the line stretched for several blocks.
But the view up there is supposed to be great
Maybe on the next visit….
Keep shooting.
photographybykent 
Hey Robin –
Great shots.. I haven’t been to Top of the Rock in years. Certainly not since I got into photography. Were you able to bring a tripod or did you rest the camera on something? 🙂
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Hi, Susan Thanks for the comments. Tripods are expressly forbidden on the website and tickets so that’s the official policy. It is really crowded up there so a real tripod would be a hassle to squeeze in amongs the people doing their selfies. I did see one guy carrying a tripod, but I never saw him using it. There are three levels, two are glassed in but the top one is open air. There are some very nice flat tops on the railing that are about 12″ square, so you can rest a big DSLR there easily (although once you acquire one think long and hard about leaving it). Figure on at least 20-30 minutes to actually get to the top after you enter the building (the entry time on your ticket). The extended exposure of the Empire State Building was shot with the camera on top of one of those flat surfaces. I also had a bean bag with me but didn’t use it this time.They can be real handy if you need a slight tilt up or down. Some pepople were using those Gorrilla pods but all of those were for smaller cameras or iPhones.
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Thanks for the great info Robin.. Sad, but I really need to get my butt up there.
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The High Line is one my Must Do list of things to do in NYC (an extensive list) but I am wondering if I need to wait until my kids are a bit older and enjoy just ambling for the sake of it or whether there is enough along the way to engage them and keep them interested and moving rather than moaning and protesting.
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Hi, Laura:
I usually see people with children whenever I’ve been on it, but it depends on any number of factors and the mood of the kids is a big one of course.. However, here are some factors to consider. While the full length is not terrible at about 1.5 miles, but there are several places where you can start and/or end your walk. The northern end that loops around the train yard could be skipped unless your kids are into trains. It is more enjoyable earlier in the morning (fewer people) and on weekdays (fewer people). There are decent food concessions right on the walkway close to the south end so that can be your leverage in case anyone gets hungry (“just a little further, dear”). Good luck!
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That sounds completely do-able then. My kids are good walkers and 1.5 miles is a completely easy distance even for my 5 year old. So long as there are things for them to gawp at along the way and some opportunity for snacking then they should be all good. Thanks for that information.
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I love how New York always leaves you wanting for more – fabulous captures!
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Thanks very much. I know what you mean. It seems like there is something interesting happening no matter where you look.
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I am in love with your “Setting Sun” image. It’s spectacular.
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Thanks very much, those are kind words, indeed.
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Wow I really loved those city shots Robin. The .6s exposure at ISO 800 is beautiful! I’d like to try some city shots sometime. Reminds me of a jewel box. 🙂
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Thanks very much, Laura. Although I do a lot of twilight work in Washington, DC, the skyscraper skyline in a place like New York city has a very different set of opportunities. I imagine your home base in San Francisco would have some similarities to both places.
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You’re welcome Robin. I think they do have a lot of similarities, the similarities stop when it comes to me going out at night to get the shots lol.
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The setting sun photo is spectacular!! I love it so much! Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks so much and thanks for visiting. Great to hear from you.
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All great shots, Robin, especially Top of the Rock, looking south. It captures all the awesomeness of Manhattan. –Greg
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Thanks, Greg. The main challenge this time was getting a place on the ledge where I would have a flat surface to place the camera for a slow exposure. In the past, the tourists would spend only a few minutes at the front and then move. I may have to choose a night with colder temps next time.
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We also did Top of the Rock. Amazing views but it would be nice if, say once as month, they limited the number of cell phone cameras. After finally reaching the wall, I was able to get some decent shots. Then I started taking pictures of people doing selfies. I could have filled an entire card with them. I can’t wait to go back to NYC when I have more time. Wonderful post.
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Interesting idea, I’d vote for it. The most annoyong were those who had discovered the video button on their phones and would hold them out and make a long sweeping arc–you guessed it–right into the frame of the traditional photographer.
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Gorgeous shots, Robin! I was only able to get up to Top of the Rock in the middle of the day (I spent the one evening I had on the top of the ESB), but next visit, I’d love to return at twilight. I hear you about the iPhone users and selfie sticks and also about finding a spot and staking it out! Great shots of the WTC Memorial and of the High Line, both places I visited as well. So many photo ops, so little time … 🙂
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Thanks very much, Stacy. Our next trip there will focus more on Brooklyn. As I recall, you had a nice image of the Carousel that had opened since my last trip to that side of the East River. In addition, I just read that a new section of park (Pier 6) is opening there in August with a lot of landscaping on a 1.3 mile walk along the water. But you’re right, there are so many places to shoot in NYC.
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