streaming light in grand central terminal

Andy · February 18, 2005

i came up from underground today, had my 50mm f/1.4 on my camera and was all set to do some street shooting early this morning. i was greeted by the wondrous rays of streaming light that come in through the east windows in nyc's grand central terminal. i haven't seen this since last february, it's not a very common sight. very glad i had my camera with me, and glad i also had my 16-35L in my bag, too

these are in the editing queue, but i wanted to share because, well, becuase the light is just so cool! i don't like how the bottome of the flag in the first one got totally washed out, but nothing i can really do about that except possibly paste in a piece from a prior shot. probably not worth it, dunno. i'm going to experiment in the processing of these, i think i'm going to try and totally blow out the window, i was looking at it like that this morning, and it almost seemed "other-worldly." david_s85 will know what i mean here, and maybe even he can offer up some suggestions that will make it appear as if alien ships are landing on 42nd street and vanderbilt avenue :lol3

(proof image, still in the editing phase. click on image for exif)

(proof image, still in the editing phase. click on image for exif)

enjoy (those streaming rays of sunlight) photography,

Cosmic · February 18, 2005

I really like that first one Andy! What a neat effect it makes!

The only thing is the washed out US Flag. But like you said, not much you could do without having to paste in a new part.

~Heidi~

lynnma · February 18, 2005

Wonderful shot Andy.. thats the picture I wanted to take but my crew would'nt let me get there... I need to come alone..Congratulations on Kodak potd as well

again... whats it now 9? or 10

Dee · February 18, 2005

Interesting
Are there buildings outside that prevent the sunlight from coming in on all three windows? It would be interesting to track the first rays to the last, according to the sun's movement, but not everyone has that luxury of time.

I hope you get to shoot The Gates in Central Park too.

wxwax · February 18, 2005

Andy, this is great. Thanks for letting us in on your process. Nice to see you struggle with the same problems as us mere mortals!

Great eye and a lovely first shot - definitely my favorite. Evocative of your earlier shot. I'll be very curious to see how you handle the flag. Again, thanks for sharing this.

Andy · February 18, 2005

Dee wrote:

Are there buildings outside that prevent the sunlight from coming in on all three windows? It would be interesting to track the first rays to the last, according to the sun's movement, but not everyone has that luxury of time.

I hope you get to shoot The Gates in Central Park too.

thanks for commenting, dee.

years ago, dee, there's a famous shot in the nytimes archives (you can find it at nytimes.com/nytstore) there's a shot of the sun streaming in from the giant keyhole windows at the top of the station... sadly, the pan am (now metlife) building, and the other buildings around it, have caused that light to be blocked :cry

here is a link to the photo i'm talking about:
http://www.nytimes.com/nytstore/photos/newyork/buildings/NSAPNY1.html

Tim Kirkwood · February 18, 2005

Andy,

I agree with everyone else, the first shot is

. Will be interested in seeing what comes from PP.

Thanks for sharing and con grats on the KPOTD!

Tim

Steve Cavigliano · February 18, 2005

Andy,
They are both really nice. I think I like the first one best because of the wider view and less motion blurring. But, I like the second one alot too. I don't envy you the task of having to pick and choose amongst a number of excellent shots. That's one good thing about being a hack, we never have this problem....

GREAT light!!

Thanks for sharing these and I'm happy you didn't get arrested :lol

Steve

ginger_55 · February 18, 2005

Why is that light from that window rare?

I just assumed that you could check the time for sunrise and wander in, take the shot, etc.

That is the way here at the creek, unless it is cloudy. Surely it did not stay cloudy in NYC for a year?

ginger

Is it where the sun is in the sky at this time of year? You will have to put an alarm on your watch for Feb, date, time, etc.

4labs · February 18, 2005

Great shots Andy! I am sure you live for "light" like this.. Thnxs for sharing..

Angelo · February 18, 2005

great shot Andy! Thanks for sharing. I've always found shots that involve people, obviously in motion, with long shadows, captured in time to be very provocative.

oh... I now know what KPOTD is, thanks to Ginger. Congratulations!

Khaos · February 18, 2005

Wow.

The first one is awesome.

Andy · February 18, 2005

Cosmic wrote:

I really like that first one Andy! What a neat effect it makes! The only thing is the washed out US Flag. But like you said, not much you could do without having to paste in a new part.

~Heidi~

thanks heidi

very much.

David_S85 · February 19, 2005

andy wrote:

probably not worth it, dunno. i'm going to experiment in the processing of these, i think i'm going to try and totally blow out the window, i was looking at it like that this morning, and it almost seemed "other-worldly." david_s85 will know what i mean here, and maybe even he can offer up some suggestions that will make it appear as if alien ships are landing on 42nd street and vanderbilt avenue

I'll take that comment as a compliment, Andy. There was a scene in an X-Files like that when the unseen ship.....

Aliens on 42nd Street? (wasn't that a movie?) Perhaps I'm thinking of http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039628/

Aliens on 42nd Street. Like, how would one know the difference? Would the average NY'er, with their blinders on, walking fast to work, even stop to notice if there were aliens there? Does the naked cowboy even get 2nd glances by in-towners?

OK, ok. Hmmmmm. Copy aliens onto 42nd St.? A "photo" of what's going on from the other side of that big window. Now that sounds like a PS Challenge to me. I am often warned that I cannot use any of my actual photos from that place out west (the one that doesn't exist). That would be in violation of my many many signed NDA's. I'll have to look on the internet through all those "fake" shots.

Now... back to Andy's shot. I once read that a Photographer's Journal should include shot data of not only those taken, but those that need to be taken, or taken again. In other words, something like...

"N.Y. Feb. 18th, 8:12am. Good streaming light coming in south facing windows when sunny. Look into being there around same dates in following years. Good sun alignment. Busy foot traffic at that time of day also. Wide angle was best view. Set up by hallway. Filters might be helpful to bring with: 1) Polarizer. 2) Soft-focus 3) etc., etc."

Oh, and I think that the flag is quite salvageable.

Dee · February 19, 2005

Oh boy

here is a link to the photo i'm talking about:
http://www.nytimes.com/nytstore/photos/newyork/buildings/NSAPNY1.html

What a fantastic shot! Darn those buildings! What a shame! Oh well, modern progress, right?

Nir · February 19, 2005

andy wrote:

i came up from underground today, ...

Why don't the light and photo opportunities follow ME around?!
Great shots Andy! NY Times photo is incredible!

Andy · February 22, 2005

lynnma wrote:

Wonderful shot Andy.. thats the picture I wanted to take but my crew would'nt let me get there... I need to come alone..Congratulations on Kodak potd as well again... whats it now 9? or 10

thanks so much, lynnie! that was my 9th kpotd, i've been notified about number 10 but i have to wait a while before they show it

Andy · February 22, 2005

Dee wrote:

Are there buildings outside that prevent the sunlight from coming in on all three windows? It would be interesting to track the first rays to the last, according to the sun's movement, but not everyone has that luxury of time.

I hope you get to shoot The Gates in Central Park too.

dee, there are loads of buildings blocking the light :cry

thanks for looking, and commenting

Andy · February 23, 2005

photographer's journal

David_S85 wrote:

aliens on 42nd street

no david, i don't think the avg nyer would even bat an eyelash until the death rays were beaming down from the flying saucers.

thanks for the chuckle (and the x-files reference!) i do like your humor

and thanks for the comment.

re: journal - i carry one everywhere, and my notes are very similar, except for the fact that i have as much to say about the scene/shoot as i do about nearby starbucks, rib joints, and other delicacies

fish · February 24, 2005

Nir wrote:

Why don't the light and photo opportunities follow ME around?!

because you aren't blessed?

:lol

streaming light in grand central terminal

Comments