What's Up in Mid-Town?
On our way across 53rd Street in Manhattan last Monday, my son, Alex, was looking down Madison Ave. in the mid afternoon glare, and he commented on how much glass was used in most of all the buildings in Manhattan; then he asked me what did New York buildings like like when I was a kid. I thought that was a good question. I replied that in the fifties, there was the Chrysler Building, the Woolworth building and the Empire State building which were all "skyscrapers". I continued that there probably a handful more that were over fifty stories, but for the most part the buildings in Manhattan back then were under thirty to thirty-five stories. He and I looked around and then gazed skywards. So much had changed in New York since I lived there full time in the early 90's, let alone since I was a kid.
Alex and I went to the Museum of Modern Art. In the photography galleries, there was an early Robert Frank black and white image of the New York skyline circa 1954. I pointed it out to Alex and reminded him of our earlier conversation. We hung out at MOMA for several hours, and then left. Right outside the door, the light was fading, and the sunlight just caught the top of one of the buildings. I had my four-thirds digital camera in my pocket, and I quickly made this capture. I really like the juxtaposition of the old brick facade on the right with all the glass and steel everywhere else.
