If you have your Picture This Photography NYC Calendar this is your June 2024 image “City of Golden Dreams.”
“New York City, concrete jungle where dreams are made of there’s nothing you can’t do” The concrete jungle effect is certainly in full force in this image captured from Top of The Rock. For an island that is approximately 23 square miles it really does make full use of every single inch and although the street views are never-ending it is really only when viewed from a height that the sheer magnitude of tall buildings is visible and it really does take your breath away, even for jaded New Yorkers!
Visiting Top of The Rock is a great balance to get away from the crowds below while not leaving The City & gain a different perspective on the 5 boroughs & NJ as it is located in The Comcast Building at 30 Rock (former G E Building) Rockefeller Plaza in the heart of Rockefeller Centre in Midtown.
It has one of the best views of New York City from the 70th floor open air roof deck as it is centrally located & has close-up views of The Empire State Building, The Chrysler & One Vanderbilt from its multiple 360” unobstructed viewing platforms.
Completed in 1933 it forms the centre piece of Rockefeller Centre. The Art Deco style is instantly recognisable. It is the 28th tallest building in NYC & 65th in The USA. When built in 1933 was the third tallest building in the world! The main tenant in the building was The Radio Corporation of America from 1933 until 1988 when General Electric took over: the current owner is Comcast and it also houses the headquarters & studios of NBC
North views of Central Park are regularly adjusted as Billionaires Row at 57th St grows its tall, thin, soulless glass pencil buildings. The GW Bridge can be seen on The Hudson and the gorgeous architecture of UWS & UES.
West views include Columbus Circle, Hudson Yards and the buildings of midtown including Bank of America’s Tower & Bank of China around Bryant Park. Amazing sunsets gives the skyline a firey horizon and the colours seen from the 70th floor are breath taking.
South views show the crazy density of buildings & the grid system of Manhattan. The Empire State Building is front & centre supported by One World Trade in Lower Manhattan and Summit, The Met Life & top of The Chrysler Building just in peripheral vision. By day, The Brooklyn & Manhattan Bridges can be seen connecting over The East River and Lady Liberty in the distance guarding over the city.
East shows One Vanderbilt at Grand Central and views over to Brooklyn & Queens across the river. The Met Life stands tall and The Chrysler sits behind proudly representing the Art Deco style. Look to The 59th St Bridge to draw your eye to Roosevelt Island and Queens.
This image was captured one summer evening when my teenage niece was visiting and it had been absolutely pouring all day! We had booked tickets & it was still raining when we entered however we were determined to see the sunset and thankfully it did not disappoint us. The golden hues reflected in One Vanderbilt made this a favourite image for me as did the sunset peeking through the layers of grey clouds.
📷Location - Top of The Rock, Rockefeller Centre observation deck facing south
Time of Day- Early evening at Sunset
Camera Settings- f/8 at 12mm, 1/100, camera balanced on a wall (no tripods allowed) ISO Cloudy
Insider Tip-Book for late afternoon viewing and stay for the sunset colours it really is amazing!
See New York from The Top of The Rock to view a “City of Golden Dreams”