Riverside Drive Viaduct
The Riverside Drive Viaduct is a century-old elevated steel structure in upper Manhattan, carrying Riverside Drive over the valley between Tiemann Place and 135th Street, and its long row of arched columns creates one of the most satisfying vanishing-point compositions in the city. Position yourself at street level on Twelfth Avenue and shoot straight along the underside of the viaduct to compress the repeating arches into a tight, graphic tunnel of steel and concrete. A wide-angle lens emphasizes the perspective, while a longer focal length stacks the columns more dramatically. Overcast days work particularly well here since the diffused light eliminates harsh shadows and brings out the texture of the aged ironwork. Early morning gives you the quietest conditions with minimal foot and vehicle traffic. The street below is accessible on foot, and you have room to shift your position and fine-tune the symmetry of your framing. (New York City, New York, United States)
