people places n things
Striking it rich
For many years I've searched along the Northeastern shore of the island trying to find a spot that would yield me nice vistas of a Manhattan/Brooklyn sunrise. Once even enlisting the help of my friend and neighbor Ricia who drove me in her car the entire length of the accessible shoreline to aid in my search, but all to no avail. No biggie I ultimately decided as there are plenty of spots I can, and have, gotten great sunrise shots of Manhattan by itself, (minus the rising sun as it always rises above Brooklyn from my perspective near St. George). So I moved on to other shots on my photoghraphic To Do list.
However last summer, kind of by accident, I stumbled across a hard to find, and even harder to access spot that possessed a marvelous view of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. And it was on a morning blessed with a beautifully moody cloud filled sunrise. If that wasn't enough a cruise ship just happened by at the perfect moment while I was shooting. But the shot was spoiled by my camera's inability to lock focus in on the Anthem of the Seas as she reached the perfect spot in my scene in the pre dawn light. But the lighting was still fabulous, and looking at the shot on my computer screen I vowed to come back in the future and try again.
This spring vacation I made a point to make good on that vow and put capturing a nice panoramic sunrise from this spot while on said vacation, above all other photographic considerations. That decision forced me to rise out of my bed at 4:30 in the morning time and time again, hoping to capture my coveted image, for I had seen the future plan for this coastline. That vision will create a marvelous walkway that would allow people to take lots of great images of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, obviously what I always wanted. However the dilapidated pier that sits under the Freedom tower from the angle I have to stand to get the shot you see here is full of character, perfect for an early morning image and I wanted it in every shot. It is sure to be torn down as part of the restoration of the area, and who knows how soon construction will start and thereby block my access.
So my photographic experience told me it would be wise to make this a now or never endeavor, but the weather refused to cooperate, giving me dull color-less skies each of the half dozen times I came here. One morning it was so bad I just turned around and went back to bed. Now with almost all of my 16 days of spring vacation used up I still had no colorful sunrise shot (though quite a few nice non colorful ones). Tuesday was probably my last chance to get it done, as Wednesday home repair needs might not allow me the free time, and the weatherman said it would rain Thursday morning, and I was back to work Friday.
As I reached the top of the hill from my house I gazed to my left as an open slice between the trees gives me a good view of lower Manhattan from there. Encouragingly I saw thin clouds along the horizon that might make for a good moody sunrise at last. And as I set up my tripod once I arrived I could tell this sunrise would be the best one yet.
In the quiet of the pre dawn light I took several series of panoramic shots as I waited for the sun to make its first appearance and hopefully paint the clouds with a flood of colors in the process. At 5:35 on the dot the sun ever a stickler for punctuality peaked it's head over the horizon. As it inched it's way above the Brooklyn skyline I readied my camera to take my big sequence. But as I did I noticed a Staten Island ferry boat moving in a path that would put it right in between me and the sun. Oh well, bad timing I'll just have to wait till the sun rises above the ferry to start my next sequence, I thought to myself. Even more unfortunate as it was nowhere near its path in the bay to take it from St.George to the ferry terminal in lower Manhattan. It must be traveling from one of the service piers to get itself ready for the upcoming rush hour commute.
However looking closer on the live view screen on the back of my nikon, I saw that this was one of the old Kennedy class boats, the best type of all the ferries for photographic attractiveness. And the openness of its hurricane deck would allow the sun to shine right through it making for a cool looking silhouette, if I was quick enough, and I immediately pressed the button on my remote trigger and then captured the whole panoramic sequence. So finally after nearly two weeks of failure to make good on my vow, today on my last opportunity I managed to strike red and orange gold.
