Manhattanhenge Through a Lens: Tips for Getting the Perfect Shot

Photographer Gary Hershorn hasn’t missed a Manhattanhenge in more than a decade. Each year he joins the crowds attempting to capture the fleeting moment when the setting sun perfectly aligns with the island’s grid. Over the years he has watched the city and the spectacle transform from behind his lens.

“It’s one of those crazy New York events that capture everybody’s attention,” he said.

Mr. Hershorn, who is the director of photography for ABC News Digital, shared his best tips for capturing the celestial phenomenon, which is scheduled to happen Wednesday and Thursday night shortly after 8 p.m.

Consider the forecast

The sun and the city’s grid should align Wednesday evening beginning around 8:13 p.m., but Manhattanhenge will be hard to capture because the forecast calls for overcast skies and rain.

Tonight is a “bust,” Mr. Hershorn said.

He may try tomorrow night instead, when there should be some sun come sunset. And if that doesn’t work, there will be a second Manhattanhenge in July.

Find the perfect vantage point

The setting sun moves across 42nd Street as people stand on the Pershing Square Bridge on Park Avenue during Manhattanhenge in 2018.Credit…Gary Hershorn/Getty Images