T-6 Sunrise Shot over NYC and WTC

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/12/2012 01:04:20 PM · #1

When talking to my friend Paul about all the great shots I get in his T-6 Texan, I did mention that my dream flight would be any Photographers wet dream, and that was to do a sunrise flight up the Hudson to take pictures of the WTC. I explained that while buildings are being built they are not very pretty but it does date the flight and there will be millions of shots of the towers completed... but in progress is what people will look at in amazement in the future. I never liked taking pictures of buildings as they were being built because they looked ugly, but shot them anyway because I shoot everything! As I look back, the most important shots I took were of the construction when viewed by people who now work in those buildings. I love looking at the original twin towers as they were being built and could only WISH I was around to see those in progress.

For the 10th Anniversary of the Word Trade Center Collapse I went into NYC and NJ to shoot the event. I usually do not go during the day as I did know friends whom lost their life in this tragic event but feel that in the Morning only the Familys should be there and the more of us that are just going in are going to make their day more difficult. I feel it is their time and not mine.

That evening I did go in like I usually do and took many pictures

Later that month my friend Paul asked me to meet with him at 4:30 am at Farmingdale airport and I did not ask any questions.

We took off and flew along the South shore of Long Island and passed towns by that I have been in many times, I slid the Canopy open and felt the brisk morning air blowing by I was mesmerized by the incredible hum of the Pratt Engine. Over my Shoulder I could see the sun rise while dancing off the water.

Flying along the shoreline and past JFK (John F. Kennedy International Airport) was amazing and I got to see a 737 and an A-340 fly just over my open Canopy while on final as we crossed the airspace. I thought about how all the people in the airplane wanted just to get off the plane and how I just wanted to stay in my 5 point harness for another 10 hours or so.

Soon we were coming up the the Statue of liberty and this was the first time that I had seen her golden just like her torch as she stands basking in the low September sunrise.
At that point I took off my headset and enjoyed even more the freedom of my best flight I have ever taken. I have flown in B-17, Lockheed Connies, C-54's, C-47's, 707's, 747's Bird Model A's, Piper Cubs and MANY other types of airframes but nothing came close to what I was feeling right now. The part that set this flight over the top is that my good friend Paul was flying me and enjoying a moment light that with a friend was beyond Magical. It was more of a religious experience that touched my soul.

As we approached the WTC I would have never expected that we would be able to take a shot where the sun sat right on the top as we crossed. It was just crazy how everything came together on this perfect day to allow the shot I wanted. This shot was the silhouette of the WTC that I had in my mind.

Of course the flight does not end there, I got shots of the Empire state and of just about every part of Manhattan, tho back-lit it was the look I was going for. A brilliant Mentor of mine CVonne Smith always makes me look for hot colors and DRAMA. She inspires me to attempt to keep things hot and this entire trip she was with me as I heard her O's and A's ever time I clicked my shutter. It is amazing how when you are in such a great mood the people who you look up seem to whisper in your ear.

Anyway here are a few more shots

Lower Manhattan

Empire State Building

Looking south at Manhattan

[url="//www.longislandwallpapers.com/Aviation/AT-6-Flight-Sunrise-over-NYC-9/19084442_QqP2bc#!i=1484961822&k=Lc8rQ6F]I you want to see more of my Perfect flight, I have 219 more photos on my website, just click the link CLICK HERE [/url]

Message edited by author 2012-01-12 18:10:44.

IAmEliKatz

Nikon D5

01/12/2012 01:10:11 PM · #2

Absolutely Beautifully Amazing. Very Jealous. I had had a flying lesson that came out of LI, down the coast, over the Verezano, up the Hudson and then back over Westchester which is what I believe you did. But I wish I could have gone for the sunrise and had my camera with me ;)

Where from NJ did you take those shots?

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

01/12/2012 01:22:21 PM · #3

Originally posted by IAmEliKatz:

I took the Path Train in and out of Manhattan, If you take it from the WTC to Jersey it will leave you by the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway just to the east of Hudson st and York St. I recommend taking the Path train, from NYC or to NYC, for just a few bucks you can walk around the WTC and get overview shots from Jersey in minutes.

Thanks for the kind words of the flight, but I did not make it all the way up to westchester, It was dead so we crossed just north of LGA. This flight was better than when I got to do 2 low passes over JFK in a Lockheed Connie

That was a fun flight but NOT COMPARABLE to opening the Canopy and pulling off the headphones in a T-6!

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

01/12/2012 01:31:36 PM · #4

Good stuff Fred! I am very jealous! I'd love to have the opportunity to go up in a T6.

cowboy221977

Canon EOS-60D

01/12/2012 03:48:43 PM · #5

OMG....seeing the new WTC building in your pics....re-confirms the reasons I had for defending this country in Iraq

o2bskating

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

01/12/2012 03:56:30 PM · #6

Originally posted by cowboy221977:

OMG....seeing the new WTC building in your pics....re-confirms the reasons I had for defending this country in Iraq

yeah it looks awesome doesn't it!!

IAmEliKatz

Nikon D5

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/12/2012 04:03:27 PM · #7

I actually drove past the site the other night but couldnt stop and take any good pictures which was unfortunate.. I guess I need to head out to NJ.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

01/12/2012 04:09:04 PM · #8

Wow, what a treat!

01/12/2012 07:19:59 PM · #9

Originally posted by cowboy221977:

OMG....seeing the new WTC building in your pics....re-confirms the reasons I had for defending this country in Iraq

I Thank You for your service Sir.

It was amazing to see when it was just the inner core of the building coming out of the ground when I took my first picture of the almost completed building

I realized that going off track for the original post is just wrong, but with this subject I do not think that
anyone would really object too much. Here is a shot of her on 9/11/09

Still a ways to go

Raising quickly over the past few years, the skyline was changed more from this small cluster of buildings than any other. The skyline was made up of two iconic structures more than any other. The Twin Towers and the Empire State Building. After being gone for just under 10 years, now the tall ones are once again reaching for the sky. This time unlike the first time, the weight of the country is underneath and Pride is the driving force. It is hard to visit and not get emotional. The best part about being a photographer is that while shooting, you are dealing with creating an image, Composition, Lighting, Settings and you are working. You get to see people who came to NYC just to see for themself what has happened and what is happening. I am not part of it....until editing.

It was a place for World Trade, It was attacked 2 times... Most people could not believe that the building
was so strong it held up for the first attack. It is a testament to the designers

Ten Years and we are almost there, Ten years since I watched the second plane hit with no tv in sight, Ten Years
since I walked home on a beautiful Sunny warm September morning with my eyes fill with tears as I watch while walking across a vehicle bridge, a dust storm like cloud cross the east river as the buildings fell. Ten years since I walked paste thousands of pictures on the walls at Penn Station as people openly wept while trying to keep hope looking at a picture of their loved one. Ten years and some of us have so much we have seen that we wish never happened yet never can forget the people walking among us that had blood on their shirts and where just trying to get home instead of to the hospital.

Ten Years ago, Red White and Blue took on an entire different look for me and got so heavy.

Message edited by author 2012-01-13 00:23:47.