New York City has always been a city of superlatives: largest, tallest, trendiest, best. It’s also one of the world’s most dynamic places. The skyline seems to be ever-changing, and exciting new restaurants and shops continue to pop up in unexpected neighborhoods. First-time visitors and natives alike will experience variety at every turn.

Manhattan played a key role in the American Revolution and, with the completion of bridges that spanned the area waterways, the union of Manhattan with Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island made New York City the five-borough metropolis that it is today – a city that would lead the continent and the world in such diverse realms as finance, banking, shipping, advertising, art, theater, media, garment and other manufacturing, and, of course, tourism.

New York offers more to see and do than you can manage in one visit. You’ll find the finest selection of entertainment, museums and restaurants in the world. Some stunning new attractions have opened, and some old favorites have been rebuilt and refurbished like an old Broadway musical. Two amazing icons of the city’s skyline are still mourned, but the new Freedom Tower has already taken its place and both the 9–11 Memorial and the adjoining Museum have become extremely popular and emotionally stirring tourist destinations, joining the city’s other world-famous landmarks: the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, Lincoln Center, the Flatiron Building as well as the aforementioned bridges — Brooklyn, Queensboro, Verrazano — to name just a few. Most reassuring of all: The Statue of Liberty is still there, waiting to say hello to all who visit.

The New York City skyline is still the awe-inspiring star of the “Big Apple,” and you’ll get many views of its magnificence in this month’s Travel Video Share by Michael Shainblum entitled: Liberty – New York City Timelapse. Shainblum vividly remembers his first experience of New York City as a kid, describing it as a motivating influence in his decision to create this film:

The shear sense of scale, the incredible architecture and just the overall feeling I got walking around the city. That experience became one of the reasons I got into photography. Ever since then, it has been my dream to recreate that feeling into a short timelapse film. From the sensory overload of standing on a busy New York street corner. To the tranquility of standing on a skyscraper, like being on top of the world. This is a dedication to my favorite city in the world.

Now, sit back and enjoy his visual journey through New York City. The video consists of about 15,000 still photographs, using timelapse and hyperlapse techniques, captured from 2016 to 2018 and just published last month on Vimeo. And be sure to crank up the volume – the  beautiful and haunting score by James Everingham entitled What Once Was, makes it even more moving and enjoyable!

The Avant Team