Empire State Building Shines For Nelson Mandela

The Empire State Building tower lights up with blue, red, yellow and green, the colors of South Africa's flag to honor the memory of Nelson Mandela. An anti apartheid icon, Mandela died Thursday at age 95. He was South Africa's first black president. He first visited New York in 1990.

The Empire State Building Top Tier Lights Up In Rainbow Colors In Honor Of Pride Week 2013

This weekend, the top tier of the Empire State Building lights up in rainbow colors with sparkle in halo in honor of New York City Pride Week. The iconic building is privately owned by Empire State Building Company, L.L.C. (ESBC); it is not owned or run by the City or State of New York. According to the Empire State Building official website, its official Lighting Partner program was established after the prior managing agent was replaced in August 2006. Its policies and practices are subject to change in accord with ownership's preferences. In November 2012, the Empire State Building (ESB) replaced its traditional light fixtures as part of its 21st century renovation and unveiled its new, state-of-the-art dynamic LED lighting system, designed by Philips Color Kinetics (PCK). This system, which is unique to ESB, allows customized light capabilities from a palette of over 16 million colors in limitless combinations along with effects previously not possible such as ripples, cross-fades, sparkles, chasers, sweeps, strobes and bursts. In addition to greater control and management of the lighting, the new computerized system delivers superior light and vibrancy levels in real-time, unlike the previous floodlights. The new lighting system minimizes light spill, ensuring that light is focused on the façade and mast, while providing enough light to allow the building to be seen from anywhere in New York City. This feature not only respects the night sky, but the building's neighbors as well.

The rainbow colors reflect the diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and a symbol of pride and solidarity. Pride week festivities kicked off yesterday, culminating in the Pride March tomorrow. New York City is the U.S. city with the largest gay population.

Urban Abstract: Empire State Building Tower Lights

This abstract light photography was taken when the Empire State Building tower was lit in red, white and blue last year. From May 24 through 27, the top tier of the Empire State Building will be lit in red, white and blue in honro of Memorial Day. 

Empire State Building Lights Up For Easter 2012

The Empire State Building lights up in green, pink and yellow in celebration of Easter from April 5 through 8. These images were made last night at 34th Street in front of Macy's.

Christmas Day Random Shots

Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral

Empire State Building tower lights in red/green/green (north/south sides) in celebration of Christmas, and blue/white/blue (east/west sides) in celebration of Chanukah

Upper Eastside home

Macy's

Madison Avenue Baptist Church located at Madison Avenue at 31st Street

New tree planted in front of Madison Avenue Baptist Church on Christmas eve to replace the old tree that was knocked down by a truck last spring.