08/10/2026
Photo of the Day
Credit: Ty Chee
New York City
The Flatiron Building A New Light on a New York Icon
The Flatiron Building is one of the original icons of the New York City skyline and one of the most photographed buildings in the city. Over the years, it has also become one of my favorite architectural subjects to photograph.
In recent years, the Flatiron has undergone a remarkable transformation. Its longtime role as an office building is giving way to a new chapter, as the landmark is converted into what will undoubtedly become some of the most sought-after residences in Manhattan. Throughout much of that transformation, however, the building was largely hidden from view, wrapped from top to bottom in scaffolding.
Then, in June 2026, most of that scaffolding finally came down, revealing the beautifully cleaned and restored stonework beneath. But the restoration brought another change something the Flatiron had never had before: its own architectural lighting system, designed to illuminate and accentuate its distinctive crown.
As someone who has photographed this building many times over the years, I was excited to see and photograph the Flatiron in this new light.
For this image, I waited for a day when dramatic clouds were moving across the city. After choosing my composition, I waited for the beginning of blue hour that brief balance when the natural light begins to fade but enough remains to reveal the fine details of the architecture.
It was exactly what I was looking for.
The deepening blue of the sky and the texture of the clouds provided a dramatic backdrop, while the Flatiron's new lighting began to emerge against the remaining daylight. The goal was to capture both the restored architectural details of this historic building and the warm glow of its newly illuminated crown.
After photographing the Flatiron for so many years, it was exciting to capture a familiar New York icon beginning an entirely new chapter.
Technical Details
Sony a7R V
Sigma 24?70mm f/2.8 at 70mm
1/40 sec f/8 ISO 400
Handheld
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