Wide Angle Wednesday

Canon 60D, Tokina Pro DX-II 11-16mm f/2.8, f/5, 1/80s, 1600ISO, 11mm

One of the best things about being a New Yorker is having friends visit. I love exploring my city, and it is always fun to take someone new to a few favorite spots. A friend from Canada was visiting, in town for a Volvo mechanic's competition. He had two days to site see, and only had a couple of requests. Wanted a slice of pizza, go to the Top of the Rock, see Times Square, and Grand Central.  

I had recently acquired a new wide angle lens, the Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX-II 11-16mm f/2.8. This was the lens I would bring with me for the sightseeing, as I wanted to improve my skills with a wide angle. The 40mm pancake lens was probably brought along as well, but the Tokina stayed mounted.  

He arrived Saturday afternoon. After dropping off bags and a little rest, the family and I took him to Flushing-Meadows Park. Started off just walking around the Unisphere, the New York State Pavilion, and ended up going to the Queens Zoo. I enjoyed showing Queens to a visitor; there's more to New York City than Times Square. The fact that he was down for going to zoo made this zoo dork happy. Late lunch/early dinner was a great Italian restaurant named Cara Mia in Jamaica on Hillside Avenue. Only camera phones were used in the afternoon.

Times Square is always better looking at night, so the plan was to do that at night, and then downtown Manhattan the next day.

Fusion
Canon 60D, Tokina Pro DX-II 11-16mm f/2.8, f/4, 1/250s, 1600ISO, 11mm

A slice of pizza from Pizza Suprema across from Penn Station was the first stop that night, followed by walk through Times Square. Times Square has too many people. But at the same time, I am drawn by the lights and video screens, but only in small doses.

Grand Central Terminal is an amazing cathedral of transportation. Unfortunately, I commute from the catacombs of Penn Station. 

Canon EOS 60D, Tokina Pro DX-II 11-16mm f/2.8, f/2.8, 1/80s, 3200ISO, 11mm

Rockefeller Center was the next stop, with some dessert, and Top of the Rock to end the evening. Unfortunately, we arrived at 11:04p, and they stop sending people up at 11:00p.

Canon 60D, Tokina Pro DX-II 11-16mm f/2.8, f/4, 1/60s, 1600ISO, 11mm

Defeated, we called it a day. 

The next day was spent visiting Central Park via Columbus Circle, the Staten Island Ferry, and the Financial District Downtown.  That post to come soon.