When it comes to snapping photos of buildings, nothing suits me better than a cloudy day. The shadows and textures just seem to pop. In honor of this crazy, wet weather we’ve had this summer I’d like to share 20 of my best “grey giants”, NYC buildings that to me, show their best side on a grey day.
Down in the Financial District on Greenwich Street, neighbors 3 World Trade Center (2018) and 4 World Trade Center (2013), stand in solidarity against the coming storm.
Below is 111 Murray Street (2018), in Tribeca, home to 156 luxury condos. It looks so tight and impenetrable! Believe it or not, this building is the same height as the Woolworth Building (792 feet).
I love this shot of Essex Market (2019), on the Lower East Side. This building replaced the old Essex Street Market and is home to a wonderful assortment of food shops. There is Ni Japanese Deli that’s so good! Downstairs is cafeteria style eating and a great florist. This site was used as a market going back to the 19th century when pushcarts were everywhere. The upper floors are residential.
The fabulous texture of the Socony-Mobil Building (1956) almost glows in the grey light. The unmistakable Chrysler Building (1928) brings up the rear. This photo makes me want to reach out and feel the metallic pattern.
Not quite grey, but the Continental Center (1983) holds its own on a dark day. Down in the Financial District, it’s close to the water and the views are stellar. See more on their webpage here.
The Empire State Building stands strong against any weather. So stately and elegant, no wonder it was named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The building is so large that it was assigned its own ZIP Code! It’s 10118. Have you been up there? Tell me about it!
New York by Gehry (2007) is a knockout in the sunshine, but it’s no slouch on a cloudy day, either. 77 Stories, it stands down near Park Row and Pace University. It’s got a 600-student elementary school at the base and 904 luxury apartments. Now known as 8 Spruce Street, it has become an iconic building that you can’t miss from the Brooklyn Bridge.
Another icon is the Lipstick Building (1986) at 885 Third Ave in Midtown. The exterior is a continuous wall of red Imperial granite and stainless steel. In between floors is a thin red band which makes one think of red lipstick (on a sunny day!)
The Lipstick Building is where Bernie Madoff operated his $65 billion Ponzi scheme from the 17th floor, which was occupied by just 24 employees. Can you imagine being a fly on the wall?
Just a few blocks from Madison Square Park, 400 Park Ave South appears to fold in on itself. Take a peek at what it looks like from above at it’s website here.
Down at the World Trade Center, Oculus is a photographer’s dream – great from every angle. Based on the concept of a bird about to take flight, the steel was made in Italy and has a fireproof coating.
Oculus is home to 12 subway lines, the PATH trains, and dozens of retailers, it’s clean, bright and modern – and a great pit stop when you need it!
At the base of the tallest building in the United States, One World Trade Center. On cloudy days you often can’t see the top third of the building, lost in the clouds. Not just because if it’s height, but because it’s the most southern skyscraper in the city, the views south and west over New Jersey are fun to see.
Another Financial District giant, 32 Old Slip, or One Financial Square, has that 80’s postmodern look. It appeared in the 1999 movie “The Thomas Crown Affair” and is home to the NY Regional Office of the US Census Bureau, the NYC Fire Department (FDNY) Engine Company 4 and Ladder Company 15.
Square and solid as any bank should be, below is Deutsche Bank on Wall Street. There’s a decent public atrium on the ground floor you can cut through, or stop and take a rest in. I stopped there during a downpour once and enjoyed checking out the green granite walls and fountain. There were a fair amount of people, but it was quiet (weekend) and had a locals-only feel.
Darkness highlights the tabular frame of 56 Leonard St. in Tribeca. My kids first called it the Minecraft building and now call it the Jenga building, like most folks. I call it creative as heck! The concept was to stack houses upon houses. There’s a very cool round mirrored sculpture at it’s base called The Bean that was recently (finally) completed. It’s absolutely worth a walk to check out.
The Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank was the largest bank building in the U.S. when it was completed in 1912. Built in the Beaux-Arts style – right up my alley – its been converted into 99 condos. I’m not a huge fan of the “H” style, though. The African Burial Ground National Monument (a must-see) is on Duane St., the next block north.
One of my favorite Loman buildings, the Standard Oil Building, was built in 1884 to follow the curve of lower Broadway. The lantern atop its tower used to be seen by ships entering New York harbor. Alexander Hamilton’s home used to stand on this site. These days the famous “Charging Bull” of Wall Street is near the main entrance.
From the very old to the very new. One Vanderbilt from it’s base, looking up into a threatening sky. When the sun is out all you see is the blue glass, but on a grey day you can appreciate the different lines and textures of this mammoth beauty.
Heading west to Sixth Ave at W. 43rd Street, we find 1 Bryant Park in the shadows of dusk, with 4 Times Square edging in from behind.
One of my favorite midtown buildings is 7 Bryant Park, owned by the Bank of China. It sits on 6th Ave and 40th Street, across from Bryant Park. It reminds me of a spaceship and has the coolest nighttime glow.
Head uptown 16 blocks and you’ll find this great display of light, color and texture. It’s the combination of Tower 56 Real Estate and 425 Park Ave. The contrast of colors in this shot makes it almost look unreal.
I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing these colossal beauties. The geometry and colors are so fun to explore! I’d love to hear what you think, and what you’d like to see photos of in NYC. Thank you for walking with me!
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