NYC Skylines: Reverse Manhattanhenge
January 9 – 12, 2026
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New York City Skylines: 9/11 Tribute
At a Glance
Location
New York, New York
Tuition
$4,495
Dates
September 8 – 12, 2027
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 5 Guests
Collections
- Short Escape
- Signature Collection
New York City Skylines: 9/11 Tribute Photography Workshop
New York's stunning skyline at night
September 8 – 12, 2027
- A stunning and moving tribute in light to those we lost on 9/11
- Expert guiding puts you in the right place time after time
- Detailed instruction from start to finish to create a lasting tribute
Every September, as the Tribute in Light rises above Lower Manhattan, New York City becomes a place of quiet remembrance and powerful visual storytelling. From the Hudson River to the Brooklyn Bridge and the rooftops overlooking the former Twin Towers site, the city’s landmarks frame an extraordinary scene that draws photographers from around the world. This workshop is built around that experience. We use New York’s skyline, its waterfronts, and its iconic architecture as a backdrop for guiding you through night photography, long-exposure technique, low-light cityscapes, and thoughtful composition. The goal is simple: to help you create images of the 9/11 Tribute of Light that are both technically strong and deeply meaningful, rooted in the spirit of the city itself.
First lit on March 11, 2002, the installation began as a temporary memorial and endures because of the community’s response. Hundreds of high-intensity lights are arranged in two squares near the original tower footprints, forming beams that rise nearly four miles into the sky. Throughout the workshop, we focus on approaching this moment with respect and intention.
The night before the tribute, we photograph the skyline during twilight. This helps you refine composition, exposure, stability, and long-lens technique so you feel prepared when the beams appear the following evening. Once they do, we work quietly and deliberately, leaving room for personal reflection while creating images that balance technical precision with emotional weight.
In the days surrounding the tribute, we explore New York’s architecture—from the Statue of Liberty to the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building—to build a cohesive skyline portfolio that reflects the city’s strength and character. Real-time coaching supports your growth in cityscape strategy, low-light landscapes, lens compression, and previsualization. Image reviews round out the experience with post-processing guidance tailored to tribute photography.
You’ll leave with practical skills you can rely on and a set of photographs that honor the occasion while expressing your own sense of remembrance and respect.
Your Pro
Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
September 8, 2027: Meet and Greet, East River, Battery Park
We’ll gather in the hotel lobby at 2:00 p.m. for a relaxed meet-and-greet to discuss the schedule, review gear, and get to know one another. After a late lunch, we’ll travel into Manhattan and settle in along the East River to photograph the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges as the sun drops behind the skyline. As twilight deepens, we’ll work on long-exposure technique, reflections, and clean architectural compositions.
Later that night, we’ll continue south to Battery Park for a very late moonrise session over the Statue of Liberty. This is an excellent opportunity to practice low-light discipline, foreground framing, and exposure control with moving water and distant landmarks.
September 9, 2027: Image Review, Nighttime Skyline Perspectives
After a late breakfast, we’ll hold an image review session to refine editing approaches and strengthen your visual strategy for the coming nights. In the early evening, we’ll cross into New Jersey for a series of sunset and night vantage points of the New York City skyline. From these elevated and waterfront overlooks, we’ll work on long-lens compression, balance between ambient and artificial light, and thoughtful sequencing for a cohesive skyline set.
September 10, 2027: Statue of Liberty at Dawn, Manhattan Architectural Walk
We’ll head out before dawn to photograph first light over the Statue of Liberty. This pre-dawn session lets you explore shifting color, changing contrast, and moment-to-moment atmospheric nuances. After breakfast and a midday image review, we’ll move into Manhattan for a dedicated architectural walk. Locations may include Hudson Yards, the Vessel, Grand Central Station, and the Oculus—each offering unique lighting, geometry, and movement for practicing precision composition. After dinner, we’ll return to the hotel for rest before the following night’s extended shoot.
September 11, 2027: Sunset Photography in Brooklyn, 9/11 Tribute in Light
After breakfast and an image review focused on preparing for low-light challenges, we’ll rest during the early afternoon before heading out for the main event. As sunset approaches, we’ll begin photographing from Brooklyn to capture the city as it transitions from golden hour to blue hour. Once the Tribute in Light beams rise, we’ll move between a handful of planned vantage points in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and New Jersey. These locations offer a mix of skyline alignments, reflections, and atmospheric perspectives. It’s a late-night shoot designed to give you space, time, and guidance to create thoughtful, respectful images of the memorial.
September 12, 2027: Image Review, Departure
We’ll meet for breakfast to wrap up the week, answer final questions, and talk through next steps for processing and organizing your images. Afterward, we’ll say our goodbyes and begin the journey home.
Fitness
Moderate: Long days of walking.
Flights
Arrive at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark before 11:00 AM on September 8, 2027. Flights out can be made after 3:00 PM on September 12, 2027. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.
What to Bring
Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.
What’s Included
- Double occupancy lodging. Single available for $1,150 supplement.
- All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
- All permits and park fees.
- All transportation during the workshop.
- Tips for crew, drivers, and local guides.
- Photographic guiding and instruction from Jennifer Khordi.
- Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
- Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!
Not Included
- Travel to and from Newark, New Jersey.
- Unscheduled airport transfers.
- Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
- Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Alcoholic Beverages.
- Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
- Anything else specifically not listed as included.
- Single rooming available for $1,150 supplement.
Payment Terms
- Your deposit of $2,495 will hold your space in this workshop.
- The balance is due not later than May 1, 2027.
- All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
Frequently Asked Questions
You'll practice night photography, long-exposure techniques, and low-light cityscapes. We'll also focus on composition, lens compression, and previsualization to help you create meaningful images of the 9/11 Tribute of Light.
Yes, this workshop is refundable. Cancellations made more than 150 days before the start date receive a full refund. Between 150–91 days, you'll receive a refund of payments exceeding 50% of tuition, and between 90–61 days, a refund of payments exceeding 75% of tuition. No refunds are available within 60 days unless we fill your space, in which case you receive a 100% refund. All refunds are issued by the same payment method and are subject to a 5% administrative processing fee.
The workshop is limited to a maximum of 5 participants, ensuring personalized attention and guidance from our professional photographer, Jennifer Khordi.
Bring a range of lenses, including wide-angle lenses from 14–35mm for landscapes and cityscapes, and telephoto lenses for long-lens compression shots (up to 400 to 600mm). A sturdy tripod is essential for long exposures and low-light conditions.
Yes, medical evacuation insurance is required, and travel medical insurance is also required. While trip cancellation insurance is optional, it is recommended to protect your investment.
Expect moderate physical activity with long days of walking as we explore various New York City locations, including waterfronts and architectural sites.
Image review sessions will help refine your editing techniques and strengthen your visual strategy. We'll focus on post-processing guidance tailored to tribute photography, ensuring your images are both technically strong and emotionally resonant.
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