Doesn’t seem so, yet, it’s been 20 years since the horror of 9/11/2001.
I was on a Roads Scholar Tour with The Ohio State University and we were visiting various OSU supported industries in northern Ohio. We were gathered in the lobby of the company and told the tour was suspended and we were going back to Columbus. Not much was known and getting a phone call out was almost impossible.
I finally reached my Father in San Diego and all he could say was ‘they were gone, the towers were gone’. I didn’t understand. I’ve photographed in and out of NYC since the early 70’s. Spent time at the Trade Center, photographed from the roof when that was still allowed. It just didn’t make sense.
I wasn’t till we finally got home and saw the replays from the morning shows that it all came home.
Take a moment to reflect, understand and keep the memory of those lost alive.
HI All, with no explanation needed, it’s been a long year.
It began great with a trip to Cuba in January via Global Volunteers.
That was the tip of the iceberg that is still working it’s way around the world.
While visiting Hemmingway’s house I became enveloped in a group of tourist from… China. A day or so later the virus announcement happened and we wondered about getting back to the States. Last day in Cuba and we had a new housemate from… Italy. Cuban airport packed, Miami International packed. First of February and still very clueless, and… lucky!
March came the great flood. 1500 sqft under 2 ft of water in the lower basement turned production area. And it was ‘black’ water. The new house is the first on the sewer line :-] Turns out the replacement powerline pole ended up in the sewer chamber in the corner of the yard. Sewer chamber filled with dirt washed from around the pole. The basement was convenient so it filled. Lost 3/4 of a decade of BW images from the 70’s and about 10k color images. Yep, up off the floor on racks out of the way. Water was so high and forceful that it took the containers – heavy containers – off the racks and turned them over. :-[ By the time I got the water pumped out and had a chance to start looking around it was too late to save. Everything had be so violently pushed around it was hard to what was where, plus everything was covered in crap water, literally.
Now back to that virus thing. A crew showed up to help cleanup, which was great. Could not have done it myself. Had 10ish people at anyone moment in the basement with and without masks for a couple of days. Then 2 weeks of repair and replace people in and out. Might have dodged a virus bullet there.
Spent the rest of the year seeing a few friends and keeping to the house, plus reworking that flood thing. Had to start from scratch, again. Very depressing every time I looked at the containers with the lost images.
It’s been a long year for everyone, much longer for some. To those that have lost a loved one a heartfelt hug.
So we come to the end… of this endless year. Time to brighten up, think positive, make new plans, get shot and hopefully move on. To that end a little something to cheery to look at. Within minutes of the house a little light at the end of the tunnel.
Enjoy the Holiday’s and look forward to a new New Year.
While going thru a collection of photographic and movie posters I came across a set of posters from the old photo dept at OSU. Wondering where some of the old gang is now.
Lori McCargish, Mike Williams, Lorraine Vibberts Kaplan, Lucretia Knapp and Jose Cardenas with Mohsen Shirzadian plus a signature that I can’t make out. Jose? know who it is?
Totally borded with nothing to do? Stop by Edward Jones @ 66 S High St, Dublin to view some delishes photos of berries, peppers, mushroom, etc. Will be hanging around for the months of Aug and Sept.
28 Aug 1963 Martin Luther King, Jr give his “I have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.
To this day his words ring true and hopefully a Nation united at some point. I think he would not like what he sees today around America.
After having experienced the March for Our Lives event in Washington, D.C. I find these words so poignant to what the students of our nation are trying to do. Maybe it will be the students that bring MLK’s words to fruition.
We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.
To David Hogg – Emma González and all the other students having their voice heard, continue to march forward, don’t turn back.
One of the great things about digital photography is the ability to make a panoramic image on the spot if, if, you can see in your head how it will stitch together and will tell a better story than just one image.
Last weekend, March 24, I had the chance to photograph history when in Washington, DC the March for Our Lives event was held. The crowds were epic and at one point it was impossible to move! I was trying to get to the corner of 7th NW and Pennsylvania Ave NW and the closest I could get to Pennsylvania Ave NW was about 100 ft out. It was, however, an great opportunity for a panoramic to show the crush of people attending the event.
On the technical side… Nikon D800, Nikon 24mm f1.4 and Microsoft Research Image Composite Editor, you can get it here.
Looking East on Constitution Ave NW – Federal Trade Commission left and National Gallery of Art right. 3 image stitch.
On 7th St NW looking North toward Pennsylvania Ave NW. 4 image stitch.
The wall at the Federal Trade Commission near 6th St NW. 3 image stitch.
On 6th St NW looking at the Federal Trade Commission with Constitution Ave NW left and Pennsylvania Ave NW on the right. 3 image stitch.
Went to Rockbridge State Nature Preserve today to photograph the falls for Exploring Ohio photo magazine. Rockbridge only runs after a good rain and we have been hit pretty good here lately. I must say that Rockbridge is quite a hike. Not for the faint of heart, bad knees or hips, nor heart issues, plus if you don’t like heights then you don’t want to walk the rockbridge it’s self. No guard rails, just straight down. Looking forward to spring and a green walk. So the story goes like this… when in your head you keep repeating ‘this is a bad idea’ over and over you would think it’s a bad idea. But then as a photographer logic sometimes, a lot of the time, goes out the window. ‘The’ place to get the photo was down a very steep bank covered in leaves after a lot of rain. Would be a hard climb down and very difficult back up given the extra weight of gear and wet leaves covering the ground, but then…
Once down the realization for getting back up sinks in, not good. Did I mention I’m not 20 something anymore, did my mind remind my body of that??? NO… but then you are a photographer and can do anything. Like taking a swim in the creek! Fortunately I had set the camera’s up on the rocks in a safe place and moved the phones to the camera vest before slipping on the wet rocks and doing a face plant in the creek. Did you know that the rather light Nike hiking boots get very heavy with filled with water.
So the moral of the story is don’t think like a photographer sometimes, be reasonable, think like a normal human being. But then I’m an old school shooter, photojournalist. In the end I got the picture.
– 30 –
The scenery to and from the falls is quite nice. Go when it’s a bit dryer though. :-]
