EIGHTH AVENUE

As I crawled up Eighth Avenue in midtown today I couldn't help but marvel at the hodgepodge of architectural styles... old and new, a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Somehow it all works. As I looked at it through my camera it was a bit dizzying. When I look at it now it almost reminds me of an Escher print. Okay, so maybe the silver lining to sitting in traffic is that I see things I would miss otherwise!

NOT SO FLAT IRON

I have driven past the legendary Flatiron building in Manhattan countless times and really not given it much of a thought. Recently, I walked past it and stopped to take a closer look. I was amazed by the detail and design in the facade. As I looked up from the sidewalk below it was so imposing, almost overpowering. It reminded me of the prow of a ship. What a beautiful building.

THE WATERFALLS

I had to see the New York City waterfalls exhibit before it closes this coming weekend. The 120 foot waterfall installed under the Brooklyn Bridge is one of four waterfalls installed in New York City harbor. This monumental scale public art installation is simply amazing.

TOP OF THE ROCK

From the Top of the Rock (70th floor observation deck of Rockefeller Center) the views are spectacular. My only regret was that the looking north the light was crisp and brilliant but the light looking south toward the Empire State Building was a rather muddy. Disappointed I tried to figure out how to make a photo that would work. A few minutes later these folks walked out on a lower observation level and their shadows added interesting elements to the photo. I like this photo, but at some point I will have to get back to shoot the Empire State Building when the light is right!

BIRD'S EYE VIEW

I was in college when the World Trade Center's observation deck opened. I remember I couldn't wait for spring break so that I could go to the observation deck and take some "bird's eye view" photos. This photo was taken a few months ago from the observation deck of the Empire State Building. I was born and raised just outside of Manhattan, but I had never been up there. So on a whim one weekend I decided to try my luck at some more "bird's eye view" pictures. I liked this one because I got the bird and the view.

REFLECTIONS

As I looked at the United Nations Secretariat building I was fascinated by the the way New York's skyline was reflected on the building. I loved the geometry of this picture which almost looks like a jigsaw puzzle.