The Day New York City Turned Orange: My Memories of New York City's 2023 Wildfire Smoke

There are very few moments in life that stay with you forever. For me, one of those moments happened in June 2023, when New York City suddenly transformed into a place that looked more like the set of a disaster movie than one of the busiest cities in the world.

I still remember it as if it happened yesterday.

What Happened in New York City?

In early June 2023, massive wildfires burning across eastern Canada, particularly in Quebec, sent enormous amounts of smoke into the northeastern United States. Unusual weather conditions pushed the smoke south, and instead of remaining high in the atmosphere, much of it settled close to the ground.

For a brief period, New York City experienced some of the worst air quality in the world. The Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed into the hazardous range across many parts of the city, prompting officials to advise people to stay indoors, keep their windows closed, avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, and wear high-quality masks if they needed to go outside.

The sky turned an eerie orange, visibility dropped dramatically, and familiar landmarks disappeared behind a thick layer of smoke. For many New Yorkers, it was unlike anything they had ever experienced.

I was one of them.

It Started With a Strange Haze

At the time, my photography studio was located in Times Square.

The night before everything happened, I was driving through Manhattan and noticed that the air looked unusually hazy. I remember thinking that something felt off, but I honestly assumed my eyes were just tired. As a photographer, I spend countless hours editing images, looking at computer screens, and shooting with my camera, so eye fatigue isn't exactly unusual for me.

I also have to admit something—I don't really watch the news. In fact, I hardly ever do. Because of that, I had absolutely no idea that wildfires were sending smoke toward New York City.

So I went to bed thinking nothing of it.

The Moment I Knew Something Was Wrong

The following day, I was working in my studio as usual. We had the front door open to let some fresh air circulate inside.

At one point, I looked toward the entrance and noticed that the outside looked... strange.

Everything seemed slightly foggy.

Curious, I stepped onto the fire escape to get a better look at the sky. It looked unusual, but I couldn't figure out why. It wasn't cloudy, it wasn't raining, and it wasn't fog in the way New Yorkers normally experience fog.

Something simply felt wrong.

Not knowing what was happening, I closed the door to the studio and went back to work.

Then everything changed.

When Times Square Turned Orange

Suddenly, I started hearing people shouting outside.

Naturally, I looked through the window.

Times Square. July, 2023. Captured by me

What I saw genuinely shocked me.

In the middle of the afternoon, it suddenly looked almost like nighttime—but not the kind of night we're used to.

The entire city was glowing with this surreal, almost neon-orange light. It wasn't a soft sunset orange. It was intense, almost fluorescent, as though someone had placed an orange filter over the entire world.

Maybe the thousands of LED screens in Times Square made the effect even more dramatic, but wherever I looked, everything was orange.

It was one of the strangest things I have ever witnessed.

The Photographer in Me Took Over

I had absolutely no idea what was happening.

I had never lived anywhere affected by wildfires before, so I had no reference point for what I was seeing.

Times Square. July, 2023. Captured by me

But as shocked as I was, the photographer in me immediately became curious.

My camera was sitting right next to me, so I grabbed it and walked outside to document what was happening.

The moment I stepped into Times Square, I couldn't believe my eyes.

The air felt incredibly heavy.

The sun had disappeared completely behind the smoke.

Buildings faded into the haze.

Everything around me was covered in this dark orange glow that looked almost unreal.

I knew immediately that this was something I had to photograph.

To this day, those remain some of my favorite documentary-style photographs I've ever taken because they captured a moment in New York City's history that none of us expected.

Life Somehow Continued

What surprised me even more than the sky was the people.

Despite the surreal conditions, Times Square kept moving.

Times Square. July, 2023. Captured by me

Tourists continued walking through the streets.

People were taking photos.

The Naked Cowboy was still posing for selfies.

The costumed characters—including people dressed as Mickey Mouse and other cartoon characters inside those enormous mascot suits—were still out entertaining visitors. On a normal summer day those costumes already look unbearably hot, so I couldn't stop wondering how they were managing to breathe in air that felt so heavy.

Meanwhile, the sound of ambulance sirens and police vehicles echoed through the streets.

It was one of the strangest contrasts I've ever witnessed.

The city looked like it belonged in a post-apocalyptic movie, yet everyday life somehow continued.

Looking Back

Eventually, I returned to my studio after taking photos and videos.

Later, I shared one of the videos on social media while wearing a face mask. I remember receiving quite a few comments criticizing the type of mask I had on, with people explaining that it wouldn't properly protect against wildfire smoke.

Looking back, I understand those comments.

But in that moment, I honestly had no idea what I was dealing with.

Like many people, I was simply reacting to an unexpected situation. I had never experienced wildfire smoke before, didn't know how dangerous it could be, and certainly wasn't prepared for something like that happening in the middle of Manhattan.

It was confusing, frightening, and unlike anything I had ever seen.

A Day I'll Never Forget

I've photographed countless moments in New York City—from blizzards and thunderstorms to New Year's Eve celebrations and beautiful sunsets—but nothing compares to the afternoon when the city turned orange.

It was beautiful in a haunting way, fascinating from a photographer's perspective, and deeply unsettling at the same time.

Whenever I look back at the photos and videos from that day, I'm reminded of how quickly nature can change the world around us and how even a city as energetic and resilient as New York can suddenly feel unfamiliar.

It's an experience I'll never forget.

Times Square. July, 2023. Captured by me

Times Square. July, 2023. Captured by me