Tag Archives: photography

Remembering a time of horror and yet unity

10 Friday Sep 2021

Posted by in 9/11, NYC, NYC, photography, Photojournalism

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

20 years!

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.

Below are my memories of remembrance.

Peace and Love, it truly is a good thing!

-30-

All images © Ed Zirkle Media 2021

Blast from the past

01 Wednesday Aug 2018

Posted by in personal, photography

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

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?

Enjoy and share…

This 4th 2018

04 Wednesday Jul 2018

Posted by in 4th of July, NYC, Photojournalism, WashDC

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

statue-liberty-sunset-widelux-ebay

The 4th has always been a great time for me.  I remember sitting on the banks of the Detroit River (late 50’s OMG) watching the fireworks on the river celebrating both Canada Day and our Independence Day.  And, over the years I’ve had the experience to have photographed 4th events from all over the US. It’s a time that brings us all together.  And when I say all, I mean all from all over the world.

wtc5 - Copy (300x206)

The country we were, and I hope we will be again contained people that opened their doors to you and came from around the globe.  I’ve photographed projects that have taken me around the US pre and post 9-11 and wondered what people would be like post. They were the same. Open and honest, giving and forthright. It seems to be the same bell curve with a couple of extremes left and right, but most of us are right in the middle.

So, take a moment to reflect as to where we came from in the past, why we came here and where do we want to be in the future.

I’m hoping that the next time I get to roam around the US I find us to be the same open heartfelt American that I’ve seen in the past.

Have a great 4th and God Bless…

 

-30-

These images represent immigrants sworn in to be American citizens, small town parades, back country and big town celebrations. And, people from around the world visiting Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. And the image of the youths around the Liberty Bell:  On every Fourth of July, at 2pm Eastern time, children who are descendants of Declaration signers symbolically tap the Liberty Bell 13 times while bells across the nation also ring 13 times in honor of the patriots from the original 13 states.  All images © 2018 Ed Zirkle

 

4th of July Southport, NC
Naturalization Ceremony 2008 Gines Ramon Pedraza, E6, New River, Cuba Dion Leo Pierre, E6, Ft Bragg, Tinidad & Tabago
Naturalization Ceremony 2008
Fireworks over on the East River, images taken from Jersey side, Weehawken Township, JF Kennedy Blvd overlooking the Hudson
Lewis Center Business Association 2014 4th beach bash and fireworks
Lewis Center Business Association 2014 4th beach bash and fireworks
Lewis Center Business Association 2014 4th beach bash and fireworks
Washington, DC fireworks 2007 from the Netherlands Carillon see http:\www.nps.govarchivegwmpcarillon.htm From this vantage point you can see the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the Capital.

You Don’t Know Till You TRY

24 Sunday Jun 2018

Posted by in Columbus OH, Photojournalism, Special Olympics, sports

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Saturday I was reminded why I like photographing Special Olympic games.  Couple of years ago National Games were in New Jersey and Ohio had a special swim team in competition. Special as in good hard workers, not Special Olympics even though that is why they were there. While waiting on one of the teams to compete I notice a gentleman on the swim floor in a wheelchair. He got up and using a metal cane approached the pool lane. It became obvious that he had the use of just one arm and leg, but jumped into the pool to compete. Swam a freestyle competition and did very well.

Yesterday at the powerlift competition held in the Thurber Theatre at the Drake Union on campus – The Ohio State University – I was witness to another ‘special’ moment.

Young man approached the weights to be lifted with his coach and as the coach was getting the athlete set as I’ve seen the other coaches do I thought he was placing the athletes hand in the right position for the lift. As the coach left I saw this young man using just one hand to do the powerlift!  And lift he did!

The athletes of Special Olympics are a constant reminder that most anything can be accomplished if you are willing to try and the outcome is secondary.

Let me win, but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt.

Special Olympics Ohio State Summer Games
Special Olympics Ohio State Summer Games
Special Olympics Ohio State Summer Games

Summer of 63

03 Tuesday Apr 2018

Posted by in learning, news, Notable, WashDC

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

It was the summer of 1963 and our church youth group, TUXIS, assembled some of us, students, to take a bus into the South. I don’t remember Parents raising a fuss so at the time I don’t think we knew much about what was going on and having lived some many places already our acceptance of people was pretty open. I remember palling around with what I think was the only black student at Carson Long Military school in PA back in the 50’s. Love to know where he is now.

So the bus loaded up with a bunch of white high school students went on a ride to the deep South to meet up with the local church people. I wonder now how that trip might have changed my outlook on life and what I would do in the future.

What I remember:
Being asked who was on the bus when we stopped to eat.
Seeing cigarette burns on some people.
Sleeping on the floor of a gym – part of the school or church I don’t remember.
Seeing a burned out church.

I’m sure there was more but those moment have stuck with me over the years. And I don’t remember if I had a camera with me. I should have. Maybe I’ll find negs tucked away one of these days.

August of 63 Martin Luther King, Jr gave his speech and I don’t think at that time I connected the dots. Even though the chances of meeting him were so very remote, he is someone I regret not meeting and having a chance to spend some time and photograph him for the future.

His words are inspirational and I wish we could take up his challenge for unity and a better tomorrow.

References: I Have a Dream address  Video

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

 

Stitched UP

29 Thursday Mar 2018

Posted by in MarchForOurLives, photography, WashDC

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

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.

EdZirkle_3-24-2018__EZ33542_stitch

Looking East on Constitution Ave NW – Federal Trade Commission left and National Gallery of Art right. 3 image stitch.

EdZirkle_3-24-2018__EZ33552_stitch

On 7th St NW looking North toward Pennsylvania Ave NW. 4 image stitch.

EdZirkle_3-24-2018__EZ33583_stitch

The wall at the Federal Trade Commission near 6th St NW. 3 image stitch.

EdZirkle_3-24-2018__EZ33601_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.

-30-

If a person falls in a creek…

28 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by in Exploring Ohio, Ohio, Photo shoot, photography, Photojournalism

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

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. :-]