New York, Manhattan, a city I had not had the pleasure of visiting before, although my partner came in the 1970’s when the famous Twin Towers were new. Eager anticipation could not come near to the feeling we had as we journeyed from Croton on Hudson, a small township along the famous river. As we approached the city, familiar names flashed by the train windows, Yonkers, Harlem and The Bronx – we were here, the city that never sleeps just a few more minutes away.

  Wow Grand Central station met us with its beauty and size, the hustle and bustle of a major city centre train terminal had a sense of peace too.  I gazed in awe at the ceiling which depicted a wondrous piece of art. Soon my camera began to demand attention, how could I not do it the justice it deserved and start what was going to be an epic 4 day photographic venture of a city we had already fell in love with.  I shall take you through the city and its architecture, buildings which are famous and those that are new, the serenity of Central Park, with its magical and extremely beautiful aura, where we will wander under the many bridges, and experience the sights that this famous park beholds.

Again, I have chosen to present some of my images in the black and white that I feel show parts of this city to its full potential, using a view point from the Rockefeller Tower; we had a splendid view of the whole of Manhattan.  The Empire State Building stands proud in one direction and Central Park lays down its beauty in the other.  I felt on top of the world!
Some of the images have been taken from ground level at an angle which shows the power of the buildings’ heights. Hidden in various corners of this city were reminders of the Big Apple from the 20s and 30s. Churches competed for attention next to modern day skyscrapers.

The view from Liberty Island, where the famous statue welcomes water traffic to the mouth of Hudson, shows the new skyline in its infancy, a skyline which will change dramatically over the next few years – a glimmer of the names of those lost, will be a constant reminder of the terrible day on the 11th of September, when the famous view of Manhattan would never be the same, nor would this city ever be the same.

A walk along the banks of the Hudson, in the Battery Park area a sunset, transforms this vibrant, ever living city.  The water glistens with the golden glow from the sinking sun, a new curtain has now opened in the ‘play of Manhattan’, new experiences for my camera to capture.
From the view point of before, you will now see the city lit up for the night, this city is transformed into a show of lights, the illuminated Empire State stands protectively over this city which has made it famous, or, is it the Empire State that has made the city famous – whatever the answer, this city is magical and I plan to return!
These biographical styles words were written by Janice Hill