NYC Skylines: Reverse Manhattanhenge
January 9 – 12, 2026
1 Spot Left
New York City Skylines: Manhattanhenge
At a Glance
Location
New York, New York
Tuition
$4,495
Dates
May 26 – 30, 2027
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 5 Guests
Collections
- Short Escape
- Signature Collection
New York City Skylines: Manhattanhenge Photography Workshop
New York's stunning skyline at night aligns with the sun and moon
May 26 – 30, 2027
- Capture NYC’s urban beauty as it aligns with the sun
- Expert guiding to get the most of this incredible experience
- Sweet golden light, blue hour, and impressive moonrise opportunities
Experience one of New York’s most unusual photography opportunities, when the city lines up with the setting sun and Manhattanhenge turns everyday streets into glowing corridors. As the sun drops between Manhattan’s steel-and-glass avenues, familiar cross streets light up and the whole grid becomes a natural frame. From a set of pre-scouted vantage points, you’ll watch the sun settle cleanly between the towers—a look you can capture only during this brief alignment. If you’ve been wanting to build your New York photography portfolio or try your hand at a true Manhattan sunset shoot, this is an easy, high-impact way to dive in.
This workshop is centered around photographing both Manhattanhenge events: the half-sun event one day and the full-sun event the next, so you can observe how the geometry and light shift from one alignment to the other. We’ll photograph from pre-scouted locations with clean views and strong foregrounds. We’ll walk you through timing, lens choice, and the telephoto compression that helps the sun read clearly between buildings. We’ll cover dynamic range control, from bracketing to metering, along with practical ways to handle heat shimmer, flare, and moving traffic.
Outside the alignments, we’ll round out your portfolio with classic New York scenes. Sunset behind the Statue of Liberty becomes a simple silhouette study, while Brooklyn Bridge Park and Gantry Plaza State Park offer layered views with reflections, leading lines, and afterglow.
You’ll leave with precise, time-critical images of Manhattanhenge in both phases and a refined set of New York cityscapes. More importantly, you’ll have a repeatable approach for planning and shooting high-contrast urban sunsets—from scouting and timing to exposure strategy and post-processing—so you can tackle similar events anywhere a city grid meets the horizon.
Your Pro
Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
May 26, 2027: Arrival and Sunset Viewing in Queens
Our hotel sits right beside the Newport PATH station in Jersey City. If you’re flying in, an Uber is the simplest way to get to the hotel. If you’re driving, the hotel offers paid parking on-site.
We’ll meet in the lobby at 1:00 PM for a quick meet-and-greet so everyone can settle in and get acquainted. After lunch, we’ll make our way to Queens for the Manhattanhenge half-sun event. This first alignment is a good introduction to the geometry and timing you’ll work with over the next few days. Once the sun dips between the towers, we’ll enjoy a late dinner at Gantry Plaza State Park and spend some unhurried time photographing the skyline from Queens, with clean views of the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building.
May 27, 2027: Half-sun Manhattanhenge and Nighttime Skyline
We’ll start the day with breakfast followed by an image review, giving you a chance to look at your Manhattanhenge shots from the night before and talk through technique, exposure choices and composition. Later, we’ll head back to Queens for the Manhattanhenge half-sun event. After the alignment wraps, we’ll have a relaxed late dinner at the park, then head back out for night shooting to build out your New York cityscape portfolio.
May 28, 2027: Iconic Architecture and Full Sun Manhattanhenge
After breakfast, we’ll spend the morning in Manhattan photographing distinctive architecture at a few iconic stops, including the Vessel at Hudson Yards and Grand Central Station. From there, we’ll make our way to the Manhattanhenge viewpoint in the early afternoon to get settled for the full-sun event. This version of the alignment reads differently on the skyline, giving you a paired sequence of both phases. After the event, we’ll have a late dinner and return to the hotel.
May 29, 2027: Sunset at Statue of Liberty and Night Views from Brooklyn
Following breakfast and another image review, you’ll have some downtime to rest or explore before we head to Brooklyn for sunset behind the Statue of Liberty. This is a clean silhouette opportunity and a nice contrast to the Manhattanhenge shots. Afterward, we’ll move into night shooting at Brooklyn Bridge Park, with its classic views and reflective waterfront, then return to the hotel.
May 30, 2027: Sunrise Skyline Session and Departures
For our final morning, we’ll photograph the skyline at sunrise, a calm way to close out the workshop with soft light and wide views. We’ll follow that with breakfast and goodbyes. Flights home can be scheduled anytime after 1:00 PM.
Fitness
Moderate: Long days of walking.
Flights
Arrive at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey before 11:00 AM on May 26, 2027. Flights out can be made after 1:00 PM on May 30, 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 $950 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 $950 supplement.
Payment Terms
- Your deposit of $2,495 will hold your space in this workshop.
- The balance is due not later than January 1, 2027.
- All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Manhattanhenge is a unique event where the setting sun aligns perfectly with the east-west streets of Manhattan, creating a stunning visual effect as the sun sets between the skyscrapers. This workshop offers a rare opportunity to capture this phenomenon from pre-scouted locations, providing clean views and strong foregrounds.
You'll learn how to time your shots for the best light, choose lenses for telephoto compression, and manage dynamic range through bracketing and metering. Additionally, you'll practice handling heat shimmer, flare, and moving traffic, along with post-processing strategies for high-contrast urban sunsets.
Yes, this workshop follows our standard refundable policy. You can receive a full refund if you cancel more than 150 days before the start date. Between 150 and 91 days, you'll get a refund of payments exceeding 50% of tuition, and between 90 and 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'll receive a 100% refund. All refunds are issued by the same payment method and are subject to a 5% administrative processing fee.
The workshop requires a moderate fitness level as it involves long days of walking around New York City to reach various photography locations. Comfortable walking shoes and the ability to carry your camera gear for extended periods are recommended.
Bring a range of lenses, including wide-angle lenses from 14–35mm for landscapes and telephoto lenses up to 600mm for capturing the sun between buildings. A sturdy tripod is essential for low-light and night photography, and a remote shutter release can be helpful for long exposures.
The workshop is limited to a maximum of 5 participants, ensuring personalized attention and guidance from the instructor, Jennifer Khordi.
Yes, medical evacuation insurance and travel medical insurance are required for this workshop. Trip cancellation insurance is optional but recommended to protect your investment.
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