Relaxing outside the Oculus, a photo from New York, Northeast

Photographer's Note

Outside of the Oculus there are lots of photo opportunities. Focusing on a narrow section of the façade, I found people relaxing outside, and noticed nice reflections in the tall, skinny windows. I also ate my lunch in this spot before I took some photos.

As I’ve mentioned before, the Oculus was designed by famed architect Santiago Calatrava. It’s the third largest transportation hub in NYC, connecting eleven subway lines, the PATH train to New Jersey, a ferry terminal, and several buildings in the new World Trade Center complex.

Entering at street level, you find yourself on a balcony overlooking the concourse below. There are identical balconies on the east and west sides of the structure. The next level down is a mezzanine, allowing access to certain subway lines, and also filled with retail shops. Going down one more time, you reach the enormous concourse level. There are more shops, and, at the west end, access to the PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) train.

Sometimes there are also art exhibits and cultural events on the concourse level. Mostly it’s just a large, open space, with people moving around, and, of course, taking photos. :-)

In the WS are two more views.

holmertz, PaulVDV, jean113, pajaran, Fis2, NickVu, ikeharel, jemaflor, Royaldevon, jhm, mcmtanyel, pili51, clic, ChrisJ, alvaraalto, macjake has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Tue (93328) 2021-11-04 11:31

Hello Brenda,
A fantastic close-up photo of the Oculus. The white diagonals of the structure are very appealing and create some excellent narrow frames for the wonderful reflections of the sunlit towers. The people are a great addition as well, sitting all in front of their own window.
Lars

lousat (139914) 2021-11-04 11:32

Hi Brenda,there are many photos of the Ocolus on TE but every time there are new surprises and every angle is valid and unique to create exciting compositions. All three photos are beautiful, the main one with the addition of people, almost all with the mobile phone in hand of course, and two large WS, the one with vertical lines and inclined reflections is fantastic!Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

holmertz (103540) 2021-11-04 11:51

Hello Brenda,
There can't be an end to the many different compositions you could make from this building. These three photos are all very good, but I agree with your choice of main upload. The five persons add a great human touch to the photo and they are seated perfectly, with the two men on the sides as some kind of frames. Raising my eyes I really like the white diagonal lines of the building "colliding" with the reflections basically going diagonally in the opposite direction. It's a delightfully lively and attractive photo.
Best regards,
Gert

PaulVDV (63440) 2021-11-04 12:11

Hello Brenda,
WOW! Three splendid pictures of the Oculus!
I had already wondered if it is still possible to take original photos of it but you managed it here three times.
Hard to choose one over the other two. Composition wise, I like your main photo and the second one in the WS the best. The other picture in the WS has a very good colour combination and we also see some of the drawings on the panels outside.
The reflections in your main photo have attractive distortions.
You were there on a nice sunny day with beautiful patches of blue sky in the photos.
Fortunately, you also always had a lot of people for lively foregrounds.
Excellently done!
Best regards, Paul

jean113 (28249) 2021-11-04 12:55

Hello Brenda, three excellent shots from the Oculus.
Another 'must' for a photographer when in New York.
In your main post we see the exterior of the Oculus as well as a little of the interior, and the bonus of the reflections.
I also like the wider view with the beautiful sweeping lines of the building.
Thank you for the notes explaining what we would find were we to go there.
Kind regards, Jean.

Fis2 (171823) 2021-11-04 14:01

Witaj Brenda!
A very curious scene from daily life.
Interesting fragment of building.
Excellent reflections.
I like framing and composition.
Well done.
Good afternoon.
Krzysztof

GyurMaster (25000) 2021-11-04 14:43

Dear Brenda,

This is a really excellent nothing special. I like the idea of people doing their everyday things, all different in their 'cells'

Best Wishes,
Gy

pajaran (116947) 2021-11-04 22:55

Pozdrav.

Interesantan pogle di trenutak, dobar tekst ...
Lep refleks na staklu fsade i arhitektura, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i uhvacenim trenutkom.
Dobar rad sa lepim fotografijama u radionici.
Lepo mesto za odmor i opustanje uz mobilni telefon.

Zelim vam lepu i mirnu noc, sve najbolje.
Paja

Silvio1953 (222779) 2021-11-04 23:18

Ciao Brenda, great view of immposing architecture, beautiful reflections, lovely composition with sitting people, wonderful colors, splendid light, excellent clarity and fine details, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

ikeharel (114477) 2021-11-04 23:56

Good reflection picture upon the unique desoigned edifice, Brenda.
Combined well the daily life and architecture theme here.
Have a nice new day,
Ike

jemaflor (148124) 2021-11-05 0:39

Hi Brenda,
Impressive and nice architecture with these vertical lines, good format and interesting effect with these reflections on glasses, good too with people to give life at your architecture photo, tfs.

Royaldevon (86364) 2021-11-05 3:09

Hello Brenda,

Even from the thumbnail this deserved a 'Wow'!
It is a stunning building, obviously popular with young and old. Your view shows its strong details and reflects other patterns to add to its visual impact.
I like your w/s 2 very much, too!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

jhm (211738) 2021-11-05 11:21

Hello Brenda,

Modern communication, no newspapers but iPhone, no talk only in the loneliness
Your picture are perfect made, the reflections in big windows gives a nice image
Excellent sharp and clear presentation.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

ifege (49297) 2021-11-05 20:35

Hi Brenda
A good combination street photo plus great reflections. Well composed.
cheers
Ian

mcmtanyel (69101) 2021-11-07 20:50

Hello Brenda,
I love the reflections in between the "bones" of the Oculus. Well seen and rendered.
Regards,
MT

mkamionka (75015) 2021-11-09 5:45

Hi Brenda,
great series of photos from this interesting structure. I would really like to see it someday.
The resulting geometry is so photogenic and people add life and interest.
Great reportage,
M

ChrisJ (172378) 2021-12-06 23:24

Hello Brenda,

Missed this one. Smart choice of a vertical format, and stunning reflections in the glass façade of the Oculus Building. Interesting how the individual groups of people have staked out each niche of the building as their own. Tfs!

emka (158680) 2021-12-08 15:33

Hello Brenda. All photos are interesting, my favourite is the wider view in WS 2, with nice curved lines in white. But the closer view of the people just relaxing is also very nice.

Best regards Malgo

alvaraalto (42804) 2021-12-19 2:09

Hello Brenda,
Sweet memories.
I can remember I took some similar pictures in this place. The same reflection between the ribs of the oculus. Certainly other people but they were sitting on the same relaxing way on this bench included in the façade.
Hopefully we can visit this fascinating city again in the future, but for now the prospects are not very hopeful.
Well done
Have a good weekend. Be careful and stay safe, Rob

macjake (98544) 2021-12-31 15:51

Hi Brenda
when I see shots like this it makes me want to re-visit my own NYC shots - I'm sure i have dozens just like this. they're fun to take and great for viewing. the warped reflections are the bonus. I often wonder about how we will be perceived in the far future - kind of like how we think about people in the medeival times - are we going to be a laughing stock, will the people of 2500 look back and laugh at us for using our cell phones like this? My guess is YES.
The Victorian age, in the 1800's, went through SO Much change with technology...light bulbs, toilets, steam engines - just to name a few - and i honestly feel we are going through a similar major change in how we deal with Social Media and the internet. We really really are at the baby stages of the internet, and look how its affected our lives.
what will the internet look like in 100, 200, 500 years? nothing like it does today. we will be laughed at for sure.
anways...just my rambling thought of the day :)
Happy New year Brenda, I hope you're staying safe and all is good! cheers
Craig