NEW YORK CITY
Back in February of 2019, while studying photography at Staffordshire University, a group of us took a 3-night, 4-day trip to New York City!
It was a trip of a lifetime for me, as I'd always wanted to visit the city after seeing it in the movies.
The only downside? We weren’t there for longer - a return trip is definitely required!
Here are some of my favourite images from the trip. (To see more click here).
The iconic building that is probably one of NYC's most recognisable. The Empire State Building. At nearly 450m high, it is a mighty fine sight!
If you visit New York, you MUST experience it for yourself. The view from the top is just stunning, and it's a memory you'll hold for a lifetime - just remember to wrap up warm in the winter... it's a bit nippy up at the top!
I'll be completely honest, before I saw the itinerary for our trip, I hadn't heard of the Guggenheim. I didn't know what to expect... boy, was I presently surprised!
The image above is one of my personal favourites from the trip. It goes without saying that the architecture is beautiful - even if you're not really into architecture! Its simplicity really resonates with me (I like to consider myself a minimalist). I love the curves and the contrast between the light and dark.
Inside is just as stunning...
The curves continue in the interior, creating spectacular patterns. The white-wash walls throw the light around and really give a sense of the size of the place.
We saw a photography exhibition during our trip, and there were galleries and galleries on every floor! I can safely say that I have never spent as much time in a museum as I did at this one. When I visit NYC again, I will definitely be taking another trip to the Guggenheim!
In a similar fashion, the curves of the Oculus Center down in lower Manhattan are quite beautiful.
This outstanding building makes you forget that you're in a (I'm going to be American here) mall. It's a work of art. Clearly the architect, Santiago Calatrava, took great care and attention to the design of the building, and you only need to put in a Google search of his portfolio to realise he likes his curves!
A must for anyone travelling to the city.
Just across the road from the Oculus Center lies the site of the old World Trade Center complex.
The tragic event that occurred here on September 11th, 2001 needs no introduction. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost at the hands of Al-Qaeda, and when you visit the site where the foundations lie, you cannot help but feel the emotions. Just standing where it all happened had such a huge impact on my experience of the city. It encouraged me to take a step back and just stand in stillness and silence, put my camera away, and just take it all in.
Whilst here, we visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Out of respect, I chose not to take any photographs inside. Besides, I wanted to take in the experience and be present in the moment - something that I simply could not have done with camera-in-hand.
If you're in lower Manhattan, please visit.
This blog would be a hundred pages long if I included every photograph from my trip to NYC, so I will sign off in a similar fashion to how I started - an iconic landmark that anyone would recognise. The Statue of Liberty.
A trip to New York wouldn't be complete without visiting Liberty Island. It only takes a short boat trip from the city, and once you're there you won't regret it. It's breathtaking.
From the moment you step off the boat and onto the concrete, you get the New York City experience. The hugeness of Lady Liberty becomes evident the closer you are. Towering at over 90m (from ground to torch), you really get a sense that you're such a small part of such a huge world.
The grandeur of the statue just continued to amaze me the more I walked around. I was in awe. Obviously I had seen photographs of the Statue of Liberty before, but until I was actually there, I couldn't truly appreciate her. Simply amazing.
Do yourself a favour... take a trip to Liberty Island. I promise you won't be disappointed!
Sorry, just one more photo - I couldn't resist!... I'll just let this image speak for itself.
Whether you're travelling alone, with a friend, or in a larger group, put it on your bucket list to visit New York City at least once in your lifetime. It really IS the "City that never sleeps". Full of life, excitement and unforgettable experiences. On every corner you'll find something of interest, and being immersed in this huge city, you definitely won't feel like you're alone.
There are countless experiences to be had in NYC, so you'll never be bored. One of my personal favourite things to do there was to just sit (or stand) and watch the world go by. There was a Starbucks opposite our hotel, which I visited daily. It gave me the opportunity to take a breather before I set out into the huge expanse that is New York City. The calm before the (perfect) storm.
For me, my trip to NYC was an experience like no other. I would go back in a heartbeat, again and again. I don't like busy places due to my struggles with anxiety, but New York is a different kind of busy. The kind that is difficult to describe unless you're actually there.
In the words of Frank Sinatra: "I want to be a part of it, New York, New York." Wise words, sir. Wise words.
