Queens, New York
My biggest challenge was to find a unique vantage point to capture the heart of New York from Queens. After studying road maps of the city, I knew a location in Queens would be magical. The Citicorp building stood out as my ideal vantage point. All I had to do was get to the top. I knew this was going to be a logistical headache. After months of persistence my contact finally paid off. I got the email and the green light. I was bloody stoked. The time frame was brutal – locked down to a 60 minute window – to get the perfect shot. Arriving early didn’t help. Five p.m. was Five p.m. This was tight especially in this city.
Greeted by a procession of security guards was intimidating yet exhilarating. Walking past the main elevator I was escorted to the back freight elevator. This ride only took me as far as the mechanical room. Weaving through a labyrinth of cable wires and ducts led to the vertical rooftop fire escape. When would this end? Time and light were getting bloody scarce. I looked at my watch and realized I only had 15 minutes to nail the shot. Pushing the final roof access door open revealed the veins of the city that I envisioned – it was incredible.
As twilight settled over the city – I relentlessly fired the shutter. Adrenaline kicked in and I relied upon pure instinct to nail this pano. Leaving the building was surreal – did I get the shot? Did I choose the right ISO? Was it focused? Did I bracket? The print blew my mind – all roads converged to the heart of New York.
