The needle of a compass in the sky

This building is unmistakeably famous. Its tall silhouette, towering almost all other skyscrapers in New York City, is justifiably the pride of Manhattan. Residents and tourists alike cannot help but marvel at its imposing architecture and design. It is a breathtaking landmark and an achievement that defines the cosmopolitan nature of New York’s vibrant and energetic city life. Only a handful other skycrapers from different congested urban centers across the world can equal the its fame and reputation. When people on the street level invariably looks up, and when they see it, they are almost always surprised. A tourist attraction it has become, the idea that it serves a real purpose can easily be lost among onlookers. It is not there simply as a decorative element in the skyline, but  a multi-storied place where people actually work and live. It has a very real real estate and economic function. And only through the years, in a celebratory gesture, that its stolid presence has been heaped with other corollary purposes and agenda. It has served as a compass in the sky. Whenever people on level ground lose their way among the labyrinth of streets, its needlepoint can serve as a navigational guide. Whenever the momentary panic of amnesia hits, its familiar shape can serve as an instant reminder of being in the world’s greatest city. And, when people are looking for inspiration, its height will make them reach for the stars again. Crowding around it are hundreds of other buildings with imposing architectural details and maybe impressive history, but perhaps these other structures does not necessarily evoke the same kind of awe, as well as reverence, for what it has stood for, through time. The symbolisms it has accrued is universally positive, and it serves as the perfect image to represent all that is good in the world and with mankind. [Note: This image is available for licensing. To inquire about this or any other stock photo images featured in this website, please email dominiquejames@mac.com. Thank you.]