The composition is divided into horizontal bands, starting with dark water in the lower half of the frame. In the foreground, rows of weathered wooden pilings rise out of the river, leading the eye toward the middle ground where the Manhattan skyline sits. The tallest skyscrapers are grouped on the right side of the image, their windows glowing with small dots of light. Above the buildings, a cloudy sky fills the top portion of the photograph, providing a backdrop for large, semi-transparent block letters that spell out the city name.

The monochrome tones create a range of contrasts between the dark, solid shapes of the pilings and the bright reflections on the water's surface. While the buildings provide a dense, detailed center, the superimposed lettering spans the width of the upper frame, appearing as a ghostly layer over the clouds and the tops of the towers. The low-angle viewpoint emphasizes the height of the structures and the expanse of the water in front of Brooklyn Bridge Park.