Just a few minutes before taking this image I was on the busy and almost claustrophobic streets of mid-town Manhattan, with car horns beeping, crowds of people everywhere and huge skyscrapers all around blocking out the sky as best they could. And then, after a very quick (and impressive) elevator ride I was high above the chaos, noise and almost all of the surrounding buildings rooftops. It’s safe to say, after spending several days walking around the busy streets of New York, stepping out of the elevator on to the Rockefellers rooftop observation decks 67 floors above the city, is almost like stepping in to another world!

This image is LARGE, with the original file being over 7500 x 4000 pixels in size, as such much of the detail is lost compressing for web. However I have provided two version here, a 900 pixels wide version and further down, a larger, 1800 pixels wide version.

Image details info: 3 shot pano
Camera: Nikon D3s
Lens: 50mm 1.4 AFS (read my review)
EXIF: 1/10s, f2.2, ISO 4000

We opted to visit the Rockefeller instead of the Empire State building as we had been told the crowds were less, the views almost on par and the latter could of course be viewed from the former, giving you an image that includes almost all of the most iconic New York landmarks, from The Empire State, to the Varrazano & Brooklyn Bridge’s, to the Statue of Liberty to the bright lights of Times Square illuminating up between the buildings to the lower right and more. I really wanted to be up there around sunset and the hour after so as to get the twilight sky with city lights illuminated. However, typically that particular evening was the only cloudy one of the visit! But regardless, the view certainly didn’t disappoint, although the 10 foot high, 40mm thick panels of security glass did their best to keep me on my toes in order to get a decent low light image given that no tripods are allowed up there.

For those who have yet to experience the Rock, the observation area is split in to three floors. The first, is mostly inside the building with just the corners offering open air views. The second floor is all outside, allowing you to almost walk 360 degrees around the outside of the building. Climb a small flight of stairs to the 3rd and highest level, and you are rewarded with almost totally unobstructed 360 degree views from wherever you stand. Look one way and you can see the Empire State building, stand on the spot and turn the other way and you can see Central Park! When you’re at the very top, there is literally nothing above your head, unless you want to climb a lightening rod that is. It’s a breathtaking view, make no mistake!

MORE THAN JUST AN IMAGE

Although a view photographed by many, it has an extra special meaning for me because it’s not just a reminder of my first visit to the Big Apple, but more importantly it’s also a memento of the trip in which my girlfriend became my fiance, having said yes to my proposal, the day we were due to fly home back to the UK. Truly the best end to a trip you can imagine 🙂