When I travel, I embrace my inner tourist. I walk down streets and let loose shrieks of delight when I spot buildings and attractions I’ve admired in books and movies. I pull out one of my handy dandy miniature guidebooks every 3 blocks to, you know, see if there was anything in those last 40 steps I took that I might have missed. After all, I may only get one shot to see a place and I’m all, “I’VE GOT TO MAKE IT COUNT.” Which means I’m prone to trying to cram as much in to what little time I have somewhere as I can. Trust me, I’m SURE it gets annoying (just ask my husband).
My adventures with Tina in New York City were no different. Editing these photos has left me in a bit of awe, asking myself, “DID THAT REALLY HAPPEN!?!” Did we really do ALL of this? SEE all of THAT?! ‘Cause to be honest, it all kind of feels like a really wonderful dream. But these shots below are proof that yes … yes we did—do it all, see it all, make THAT happen. Proof, too, of what all you can accomplish with an ambitious schedule, an overzealous tour guide (aka, me) and just 24 hours in the City That Never Sleeps. Enjoy seeing it through my viewfinder 
Talk about the shopping mecca of the WORLD
While we were in the city, Tina and I had to pay a visit to B&H Photo Video. For us, being inside that store was like letting loose our inner-6-year-olds at Disney World. And I just might have splurged on a fisheye lens. The better to capture this amazing trip … like documentation that Tina and I paid a visit to Serendipity. THE Serendipity. A place I’ve wanted to visit ever seen I fell in love with it watching Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack fall in love there.
And Gail and Tina drank of the frozen hot chocolate. AND IT WAS GOOD.
From there it was on to Grand Central Station. My jaw might have dropped a little in here. Just ..so gorgeous, so much history contained in one terminal. Not to mention a perfect place to practice slow shutter speeds. It’s shots like this that—to me—perfectly capture the energy in New York City. Unlike ANY other place I’ve ever been!
Gorgeous ceiling at Grand Central & the Chrysler Building (the definition of the perfect skyscraper…LOVE those Art Deco accents!)
New York is a city that begs you to look up. And rewards you over and over again for having done so.
Tina and I reached Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center at that peak hour after sunset where you have those most fabulous blue sky—all of which means I can’t decide which one of these shots I love more!
On to Times Square—a tourist mecca that, I don’t care who you are, you really need to see at least once in your life. Words don’t do this spectacle justice.
Left: A florist stand on the corner of the apartment where Tina and her fiance’s friends live and where we crashed for the night. Right: View from the roof of said apartment. WOWWWWWEEEEEE!!!
And finally, what’s a trip to NYC without a visit up 86 floors to the top of the Empire State Building? Talk about a view that takes your breath away! (and seriously, is a fish eye not perfect for a place like this?)
Thanks for an AWESOME trip Tina — I’ll travel with you anywhere girl
(And there’s still more to come of Miss Tina as I shot an engagement session for her and her fiance while I was out in Philly—looking forward to sharing those images next week!)
See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Friend Gail on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.
by Gail Werner
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