Photography at the Oculus in New York
Numerous iconic locations in New York include Grand Central Terminal, Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty. These landmarks have been around for many years. And with some well over 100 years old, they have become synonymous with New York. Other recent additions to the city are becoming well-recognized, including the location we will discuss today. That location is the Oculus; it opened to the public in 2016 and is part of the World Trade Center site reconstruction.
What is the Oculus?
Located next to the former twin towers that are now the two waterfalls or pools, the Oculus is a transportation hub in Lower Manhattan built on the World Trade Center site. The Oculus replaces the PATH station that was destroyed on 9/11. It has multiple entrances, including Greenwich Street and Church Street. There are numerous entry points from commuter and suburban trains into the hub. Along with being a transportation hub, the Oculus contains multiple shopping and dining options and a pedestrian thoroughway. It is one of the most costly rail stations of all time and is conceived to be symbolic of New York’s rebirth after the events of 9/11.
The Numbers
Designed - 2004
Construction - 2004 to 2016
Cost - $4 billion
Official Opening - March 2016
Traffic Volume - 250,000 people per day (est.)
What Makes it Unique?
The Oculus design was created by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava Valls and was designed to inspire a feeling of hope. It has been said to resemble a dove taking flight or the wings of a phoenix. Calatrava himself states that the form can be summarized as the image of a bird freed from the hands of a child.
The Oculus features curving white steel beams that start from deep below ground and rise above into the interior to become an expansive concourse. Between each beam are windows that allow natural light to illuminate the interior during the day, and at the top of the concourse along the center of the roof is a retractable skylight that allows additional light. The skylight itself can physically open and does so once a year on the anniversary of the attacks on September 11th, beginning at the time of impact from the first plane at 8:46 a.m. to when the second tower collapsed at 10:28 a.m. Due to issues, the skylight roof mechanism has not opened each year as planned.
What Makes it So Great to Photograph?
The Oculus is modern and clean, featuring lots of space to move around and compose, taking your time. With an endless number of people walking through almost every section of the Oculus, it is a great location for street photography that works well against interesting architecture. There are plenty of places to stand and wait for people to walk into your frame, and with so many people around, it’s also easy to blend in and be relatively unnoticeable.
I have never been to the Oculus at night, although a quick Google search shows the incredible interior during the evening. During the daytime, I would recommend checking the weather forecast. Take note of the sun’s direction on the date and time you plan to be there. With the skylight above and when the sun is high, the light shines directly on the floor below, providing excellent light and shadows to play with as people walk in and around those shadows. In terms of composition, you can shoot from a vantage point on the lower floor, but there is also a walkway that proceeds around the 350 ft length of the Oculus. Shooting from above allows you to shoot down to your subject. The street entrances are where many people get their first photos, as this is commonly the first time people experience the interior.
You will also want to capture photos outside the structure as well. With its location on the World Trade Center site, you can capture the exterior of the Oculus with One World Trade in the background. Or you can shoot from afar with the north pool in the foreground. In addition, one of the most popular locations for photography of the Oculus is on the north side of the structure, as you can capture the size of the building with a sense of scale by including people walking by or sitting on the ledge. This large area has plenty of room to move around regardless of how busy it is. This location can look great at the right time of day and look amazing at night with the included illumination from inside the Oculus.
The Oculus is uniquely New York and can look different depending on what time of day and time of year you visit. They decorate it nicely during the holidays, too.
What Lenses Do I Need?
The main concourse is large and tall, so you need something reasonably wide to capture the place’s expansiveness. Also, even though many people are taking photos inside and around the Oculus grounds, I would remain cautious about having gear that looks “professional.” As the Port Authority owns the property, their official statement is:
“No Person may for commercial use make drawings or take still photographs, videos, or motion pictures within the World Trade Center without permission of the Port Authority and the Lessees.”
So, even if you are not doing so for commercial gain, professional gear, especially tripods, will probably draw some attention. You can technically use monopods, but I’d be cautious even then.
Other than that, a 35mm, 50mm, or a small zoom will be sufficient for photography here.
Summary
The Oculus in NYC is iconic and is a must-visit for anyone travelling to New York. The building was conceptualized as an icon of hope for New York City and is becoming a recognizable landmark.
There are many opportunities for photos within the Oculus and the surrounding areas that can take advantage of the size and multiple areas of the complex.