When and Where to Capture the Empire State Building Lit Up Blue for Columbia Grads
The night of April 30, the Empire State Building will glow blue and white for Commencement. Here’s where to capture the best photos with it.
It’s a Columbia Commencement tradition not to be missed: On the night of April 30, from sunset until 2:00 a.m. (EDT), the top of New York’s iconic Empire State Building will light up blue and white in honor of Columbia’s graduates.
But where best to capture photos of and with the Empire State building? We asked the expert: University Photographer Eileen Barroso, who has been taking pictures of Columbia grads with the building for years and years.
And don’t forget! If you aren’t able to get out and about to take your Empire State Building pictures, you can always observe the celebration of our grads on the Empire State Building Live Stream.
Here are five great spots to take your photos the night of Commencement:
34th Street and 7th Avenue
36th Street and 5th Avenue
Weehawken, NJ Boulevard East
Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center
26th Street and 5th Avenue
The Empire State Building image ® is a registered trademark of ESRT Empire State Building, L.L.C. and is used with permission.