Lysefiord (by fosfoor)
The New York City skyline and the Empire State Building on a beautiful, hazy day.
On a hazy day, New York City stretches on indefinitely: infinity sprawling out like a somnolent feline. Clouds cast a bone-white hue on the tops of skyscrapers that jut out of the landscape: their axis-mundi-aspirations propelling them skyward. The day languidly yawns, its heavy eyelids blurring the horizon.
—-Despite growing up in New York City, I hadn’t been to the tops of any of the iconic skyscrapers with observation decks since I was very, very little. The Top of the Rock is an observation deck on the top of Rockefeller Center. It closed in 1986 for renovations and reopened in 2005. When I was younger, I went on a few school trips to Rockefeller Center to go on the NBC Studios tour which was a lot of fun but since it was the late 80s and early 90s, the top was closed to visitors. In recent years, I decided to finally visit the Top of the Rock.
The Top of the Rock is the top of what is also known as the GE Building. It’s an Art Deco skyscraper that is in the center of Rockefeller Center. The GE Building used to be known as the RCA Building until the mid 1980s when GE incorporated RCA and NBC. The building is 850 feet tall (70 stories) and since the address is 30 Rockefeller Center, it is usually referred to as “30 Rock”.
What I find really incredible about the observation decks at Top of the Rock aside from the views is that there is so much room. There are three observation decks in total and all three are designed to resemble the upper decks of a 1930s luxury ocean liner complete with deck chairs. Two of the decks on the the 67th and 69th floors include outdoor terraces which are enclosed in transparent, safety glass. The top deck which is on the 70th floor features a completely open air, unobstructed 360-degree view of New York City and beyond.
The day I went, there were barely any people up on the top deck with me since the weather wasn’t ideal. However, I think it’s often less crowded than the Empire State Building’s observation deck even in beautiful weather. At 850 feet above street level, the view is jaw-dropping and includes complete views of Central Park and the Empire State Building which you can’t really complain about.
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Posted as a request since several people messaged me to ask what my favorite photo of the New York City skyline with the Empire State Building is that I have taken. This would be one of them :).
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View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page
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Buy “The Infinite Sprawl - The Empire State Building and the New York City Skyline” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.
Bombs away!
Canadian Milos Raonic handed second seed Andy Murray a clay-court humiliation on Friday as the big-hitting youngster hammered the Scot 6-4, 7-6 (3) to reach the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open.
Raonic, ranked 25th, will be playing in his second career clay semi-final on Saturday against third seed David Ferrer who reached the last four for a sixth consecutive year by beating Spanish compatriot Feliciano Lopez 6-7 (4), 7-6 (9-7), 6-3.
Ottawa Bluesfest 2012 reveals lineup
The 2012 edition of Bluesfest has taken a decidedly electronic turn, with acts such as Skrillex, A-Trak and Paul Oakenfold among the biggest names on this year’s newly announced lineup.
The festival — which has incorporated into its 2012 logo the catch phrase “Electro-fied!” — also includes such dance- and caps lock-friendly acts as MSTRKRFT, LMFAO and AWOLNATION.
The best-kept secret tree house in Whistler
Joel Allen’s decision to learn a trade was the best move of his life, he says. It led him to Whistler, where he’s built a spectacular fort whose precise location is top secret unless you’re among the lucky few to find it.
Faded brick storefront and a bicycle. Lower East Side, New York City
Is there anything that tugs at nostalgic feelings more than a beautifully faded storefront? Maybe. Maybe not. I love this one in particular though especially on bright, sunny days when it feels as if the sun is imbuing the faded memories on the brick with a warm touch.
This was taken with Instagram. As I mentioned last week, I only started using Instagram a week or so ago and I love it. My name there is newyorklens. You can read about my thoughts on mobile photography and Instagram here. Most of my phone photos are now processed in Snapseed first and then tinkered with in Instagram. I decided I am going to post one phone photography image a week here since I am really having a lot of fun with it!
I received a really bizarre question the other night shortly before I disabled anonymous commenting altogether. Someone asked me something like “do you use a camera to take your photos or just some app?” saying something else about how my photography has “changed” over time.
I would like to say first: thank you. We can only evolve in skill if we change and grow. My photography is constantly evolving and I feel more and more at peace with the work I am producing recently because it is closer to what I have been trying to achieve in terms of conveying emotion and how I view the world around me. Additionally, every image I ever post here unless it is tagged (like this post) with “phone photography” is taken with a camera.
I approach all of my photography as a mixture of painting with light and tones and I strive with everything in my power to capture the feelings and emotions that are stirred up within myself with certain scenes here in New York City. If you are interested in hearing more about that, I was interviewed a month ago on a photography show hosted by Thomas Hawk and Lotus Carroll and you can read that interview and listen to that broadcast here.
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View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page
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View my photography for sale here, email me, or ask for help.
