A photographer's creative attempt to capture the perfect Manhattanhenge shot using a towering 20-foot monopod ended in disappointment when clouds obscured the rare celestial event. Photographer Kien Quan documented his elaborate strategy in a recent YouTube video, showcasing both the ingenuity and challenges faced by photographers during one of New York's most crowded photographic events.

Manhattanhenge, which occurs twice yearly when the setting sun aligns perfectly with Manhattan's street grid, draws tens of thousands of photographers and spectators to the city's streets. Quan described the scene as "tens of thousands of people standing in the middle of the street, holding smartphones and cameras," calling it "a flash mob of traffic violations" and "the poop cruise for photographers who drop $200 on presets made by a chatbot."

Despite calling himself "just another NPC" in the photography crowd, Quan had developed what he considered a genius plan to avoid the crushing crowds. His solution involved using an enormous monopod to elevate his camera setup 20 feet above the masses, allowing him to shoot over the heads of other photographers. The entire setup, including his camera body and telephoto lens, cost approximately $5,000.

The elaborate equipment naturally made Quan nervous about potential disasters. Balancing expensive camera gear so high in the air while surrounded by thousands of people created obvious risks for equipment failure or accidents. After carefully selecting his camera settings, Quan positioned himself and waited patiently for the sun to begin its descent toward the horizon.

However, nature had other plans for the evening. "The next thing you know, clouds blanket the sky," Quan explained in his video. "People still push, cameras still click in full disbelief that everyone who came out was bamboozled by the weatherman." The thick cloud cover completely obscured what should have been a spectacular alignment of the sun with Manhattan's urban canyon.

Quan spoke with another Manhattanhenge enthusiast during the event, who confirmed that the weather conditions made the entire experience "not worth it." Some dedicated photographers had waited an incredible 12 hours for the perfect shot, only to be thwarted by the unexpected cloud cover. When Quan revealed his final photograph at the end of his video, the disappointing results were evident compared to what the image could have looked like under clear skies.

Manhattanhenge derives its name from England's famous Stonehenge, which experiences a similar solar alignment phenomenon during the solstices. However, Manhattan's unique geography creates its own schedule for these events. Since the island's street grid is rotated 30 degrees east from geographic north, the alignment dates don't coincide with the traditional equinoxes or solstices.

Instead, Manhattanhenge typically occurs around May 30 and July 12 each year, though the precise dates can vary slightly. The May event usually falls near Memorial Day, while the July occurrence happens around the MLB All-Star break. During these times, the setting sun illuminates both the north and south sides of every cross street on Manhattan, creating a stunning visual effect that photographers eagerly anticipate.

For the best viewing and photography opportunities, crowds typically gather along Manhattan's wider cross streets, including 14th, 34th, 42nd, and 57th Streets. These locations provide optimal vantage points for capturing the sun's alignment with the urban landscape, though they also tend to be the most crowded spots during the event.

While 2025's Manhattanhenge proved to be a disappointment due to weather conditions, photographers and spectators will likely return in large numbers for 2026's events. The hope remains that future attempts will be blessed with clear skies, allowing the thousands of photographers who make the pilgrimage to Manhattan's streets to finally capture the perfect shot they've been seeking.