12/12/10 - "West 50th Street at 2:32 AM"

"West 50th Street at 2:32 AM"

          This was the view looking west down 50th Street, outside the north entrance to 30 Rockefeller Center, an hour after Paul McCartney did an encore of three songs at the end of last night's "Saturday Night Live" broadcast. While the show went off the air during "Get Back", he and his band continued to play on, singing "Back in the USSR" and "I Saw Her Standing There" before a packed, standing room only audience. 


          The floor of Studio 8H, which is suspended on springs for acoustical isolation (this studio was, originally, the home for Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra, and is purported to be 'acoustically perfect') was throbbing up and down from the combined energies of band and fans. During the show, McCartney also appeared in a couple of skits - including a cameo in this week's digital short - and performed "Band on the Run" and "A Day in the Life." 


          It was an incredible experience for me, to witness - from a mere 25' away - a musical icon of my youth, performing live for a very select audience. 


PS: This photo was actually shot at 2:32:44 AM, as I stood outside waiting for two co-workers - with whom I was sharing a car service ride home.


Links:
"West 50th Street at 2:32 AM" prints available here.
More about 50th Street in Manhattan.
More about 30 Rockefeller Center.
More about Paul McCartney and Paul Rudd on SNL.
More about Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra.

Camera Data

Make:Canon
Model:Canon EOS 5D
Shutter Speed:1/99 second
Aperture:F/4.0
Focal Length:105 mm
ISO Speed:1600
Date Taken:Dec 12, 2010, 2:32:44 AM
Software:Adobe Photoshop CS Windows