Sunset on the “Rock”

Sunset on the Rock. NYC, 2015

The “Rock”, in this case, meaning Rockefeller Center (or the Comcast Building), NYC. You know, Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, and all that.

I am guessing that not one of the many hundreds of cameras (and, alas, selfie sticks) that were up there with us for sunset a couple of nights ago captured an image like mine above. The idea with this one was to go with subtle color, simplicity, minimalism, and a slight seasoning of abstraction. I deliberately incorporated an element all photographers were trying desperately to avoid: the large Plexiglas protective panels on one end of the rooftop.

This is an example of “seeing” from your own personal perspective on the world. Even if not another soul on the Rock that evening thought to make a photograph exactly like this one, I would bet that at least some people did do something creative, something beyond the usual snap shot snap. Maybe they made an unusual time lapse…a double exposure…blurred the city lights…whatever. The point is to listen to your instincts and the picture will follow.

Now, here are some practical hints for other photographers wanting to try something on the top o’ the Rock at sunset:

–Go to the Center in the morning and get your tickets early–they say at least three hours prior to your desired ascent time. Pick a time slot that will allow you to get through security and up the zippy elevator before the curtain opens on the golden hour. (We purchased our tickets at about 3p.m. and entered the line at 7:05p.m. on a busy weekday afternoon for an 8:09p.m. sunset and it worked as fine as a frog’s hair.)

–Stay until the city lights come on and the sky finally goes black in your LCD. (You can stay up there as long as you like–there is no required time to descend, other than closing.)

–Don’t take your big honkin’ tripod as security will be on you faster than Bowser on a rabbit (I watched it happen–not the Bowser chase, of course, but the security guard vs. Nikon-wielding, German tourist encounter). But, if you want or need stability for whatever you are planning, do bring a small tripod or bean bag for the roughly 18-inch wide concrete ledge. I saw no one was being hassled for that. There seemed to be no problem bringing pro lenses, etc. through security (unless, of course, it looks like you will be shooting a commercial project).

–Go to the top of the three viewing floors–there you can shoot through clear air rather than finger, lip, and nose-print-covered Plexiglas. Even on the lower floors, though, I found my lens would sometimes fit into the gap between glass panes.

–In tourist season and good weather, expect to be three (or more) deep along the edge on the top floor–you might want to do a quick recon when you first arrive, then stake out a space.

–For further details, see the website: Top of the Rock