Empire State Building

The Empire State Building, New York City

"I think The Empire Strikes Back had everything." Jeremy Bulloch

I am sure almost sure that everyone in the world has heard or seen (even if it's just a picture) of The Empire State Building in New York City.

Like the Statue of Liberty, this gigantic architectural piece is one of New York City's landmarks. It is visible from a lot of areas in Manhattan but I found out that the best view is from the newly reconstructed High-Line which is a 1-mile linear park built on a 1.45 mile section of the former elevated freight railroad. It starts in the Meat Packing District and ends at 30th Street.

This picture was taken somewhere in the middle of this High Line which offers impeccable views of New York City. A note for those walking on it, make sure you keep an open eye, because at one point you can also see the Statue of Liberty clearly with the naked eye.

Back to The Empire State building...it boasts 102 floors and is situated at the intersection of 5th Avenue and West 34th Street. After the unfortunate destruction of the Twin Towers in 2001, the Empire State Building occupied the number 1 spot for the tallest building in the United States. Currently it is ranked at the third place after The Trump International Hotel and Willis Tower. In 2007 it was ranked number one as America's favorite architecture.

This black and white photograph was captured on my iPhone using the Hipstamatic app. Some minor editing was done in PS CS4. Settings for Hipstamatic were BlacKeys B&W/Lucifer IV

Lady Liberty

Statue of Liberty, New York City

"I've always had a strong feeling for the Statue of Liberty, because it became the statue of my personal liberty." David Antin

Today I am posting another picture I took from our Water Taxi ride last summer. This time we got closer to the majestic Lady Liberty and the weather was perfect to create the contrast we see in the picture. There were a couple of birds flying around her which added more drama. 

This picture was shot only a few seconds before a huge storm hit us. It was like the Statue of Liberty was holding back the storm until we got some pictures of her and I am glad and grateful towards her.

Look at the statue, it makes me wonder if New York City would still be New York City without this landmark. To me it seems that the Statue of Liberty is New York City even though it resembles liberty and freedom in all states.

This photograph was captured on my iPhone using the Hipstamatic app. Some minor editing was done in PS CS4. Settings for Hipstamatic were BlacKeys B&W/Lucifer IV

Statue of Liberty - Fire in Her Hands

Statue of Liberty, New York City

"I've always had a strong feeling for the Statue of Liberty, because it became the statue of my personal liberty." David Antin

This photo was captured from a New York Water Taxi and is part of the Hipstamatic photography series of New York, Manhattan.

I have always found myself wondering how many tourists visit New York without actually seeing the Statue of Liberty. I have met some that actually forget about it. Most people come to New York for shopping and it's sad to see such materialism obscuring such beauty. 

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most treasured possessions for New Yorkers and North Americans alike. It symbolizes freedom and liberty. It always makes me wonder how immigrants that sailed to New York felt as soon as they saw her.

One thing that most people ask about is her foot. Why is it raised? It's raised as if she is continually on the move, forever bringing freedom to others.

For those who always wondering what's written at the base of the statue here it is:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

So if you are in Manhattan, New York make sure you pack your camera and head to downtown Manhattan to see this majestic beauty.  You will not only experience the beauty of the statue but you will also have some photography in your collection that you can be proud with!

The settings on the Hipstamatic camera for this photography series were Libatique 73 Lens/BlacKeys SuperGrain Film. Some minor editing was done in Photoshop CS4.