As an international guest of this forum, I wish to express my sympathy to all th e friends in the States, following tuesday's tragic events. May some good come o ut of the suffering and loss of so many innocent lives.
I would join to Paul.
I too express my deep sympathy to all Americans who have been touched by this tradegy.
Thank you for your thoughts. I live on the river across from Manhattan in Brooklyn less than 2km from the site, and the experiience has been horrible. I did not see any sense of trying to make a photographic representation, but there were hundreds or thousands in my neighborhood with cameras. The need to capture an image seemed so strong -- clearly a reflection on how we think now -- very few were thinking emotionally about the loss, but very visually.
Where horror of this nature is concerned, there has never been too many cameras.....more often, not enough.
We almost lost one of our own. Geoffrey Chen, an active contributor to this forum and my photography mentor, was injuried in the World Trade Center attack. He suffered a dislocated right shoulder and temporary blind when the south tower collapsed. He was, while helping taking care of those injuried, struck by a leg falling from sky which caused his shoulder to be dislocated, and hot ash/dust blasted his eyes. He was treated by medical professionals, and released home last night. He is expected to recover in about two weeks. I'm here to help him and read news and emails to him.
I would also like to offer my deep sympathy and condolences following the horrific events on Tuesday. Thanks, Paul, for this post.
Thank you to our friends overseas for your condolence emails. It really means a lot.
Some thoughts: While grieving for all the victims in New York and DC and Pennsylvania, I also think about what place means to us. Probably most of us on this forum are photographers of place. New Yorkers have lost more than the people, they have lost a neighborhood and a symbol of their physical place. (The Towers are especially a fact of life for those under 30. I remember well a skyline without them.) My friend who lives four blocks from the Towers just called --- their windows were open and their apartment is full of asbestos-laden dust. It can be cleaned somehow, but they are thinking about moving from New York. Their neighborhood is destroyed.
On TV there is little attention to the survivors around the Pentagon, maybe because it is not a true neighborhood there.
I completely understand the impulse of the buyers on eBay and in souvenir shops who are trying to acquire books and postcards that show the World Trade Center, and the impulse of those who want their own cameras to record everything about this. Photography is a more concrete form of storytelling. It is a form of proof.
I have found that no matter how upsetting the reality and images of events in NYC have been, I have been continuously watching TV or radio from Richmond, VA in absolute disbelief. New York was my home city and I can't imagine the suffering and chaos that has taken place there. Maybe it is through these images that I hope to internalize what is otherwise an incomprehensible event. In this way, I am grateful that there are people out there with cameras capturing the events.
I had communicated with Geoffrey Chen a number of months ago about things photographic and otherwise. I am sorry to hear of his injuries and all others.
Thanks, friends. It means a lot to the Americans on the forum. We must also remember there are many from other countries who lost their lives in the attacks. This thread also brought home the fact that this is truely an international forum for people of good will with a common interest in photography.
One of the difficult things to remember at times like these is that good and bad usually travel together, and often arrive at the same time. Perhaps the good that can come out of this is that the world will be a safer place for all people of the world.
Have a speedy recovery, Chen, and keep us posted on your condition.
Thank you Paul, for starting this thread.
I too would like to offer my deepest symphathy to all those caught up in these t errible acts.
Also to let the people of Ammerica know that we Brits are with you, whatever it takes.
Like most, I am still in a state of disbelief at the sheer scope of this horror. The number of people lost is nearly inconceivable - particularly to those of us who live in less populated areas. Based on the reactions around the world, even from those who the terrorists normally gather sympathy, we can only hope that they have achieved the opposite of what they intended.
I live about 2 miles north of the World Trade Center, where I worked for 10 years. I was there in 1993 when that bomb went off and I watched from the street this time as the second plane hit Tower 2. That sight, the most horrible thing I've ever seen, will stay with me for ever.
I would also like to offer my deepest sympathy to everyone effected by these tragic events. I have visited NYC on many occasions and have always been welcomed by those who I've met there.
It is an extremely sad event and words can not express the sadness and horror we feel. Nationals from many countries were lost by this senseless act and my sympathies extend to all who are suffering because of this.
i live about 2.5 miles north of the wtc. i spent tues morning on my roof watching the whole thing. each day it sinks in a little more but i'm not sure i can really comprehend what has happened.
I would also like to offer condolences from myself and fellow South Africans. For two days people here have been walking around in a state of shock. On Tuesday evening the streets and shopping malls were deserted as people watched their TV's with a sense of disbelief and shock. We have been through many periods of upheaval on this continent and know that the human spirit will rise above this adversity. Our prayers and thoughts are with everyone in the U.S.A.
After 3 days I still have in my eye the scenes of the planes hitting the towers. I can't send this images out of my eyes and I think I never will . I was about to leave for the US for a week of fun with my LF camera because I love America's people ,landscape and culture. I am not disappointed because I had to cancel everything but because of the barbaric and horrendous acts of terrorism happened Tuesday. All my simpathy and condolences to all american people.
I'm glad this forum gives us an opportunity to convey our deepest sympathy for America and its people following the atrocities. I offer my personal condolences, for what they're worth, and only wish I could offer some kind of tangible help. Reading postings from subscribers to other web-based lists, people who live in NYC and who I have come to know through exchanging emails, has been quite moving and far more immediate than watching news broadcasts. Even though I'm across the Atlantic my thoughts are with you. America is strong, and will get over this.
It was 7:00 in the morning here on the west coast when my mother called me from Germany. She didn't leave a message on the answering machine and when I tried to call her back I got a message from AT&T saying all lines to Germany were busy. That worried me and I turned on the computer to check the news on the internet (we don't have TV). I couldn't believe what I read. It seemed like WWIII had started! During the day I could reach my friends over in Germany and they were also in shock. USA and especially New York are still symbols of freedom and a very popular spot for vacation. My close friends have all been to the visitor platform of the WTC and can't believe that these buildings are gone now. The government and mayor companies observed minutes of silence yesterday morning to show their sympathy for victims and survivors.
When I dropped by at the local 2nd hand bookstore on Tuesday browsing the books about photography, I noticed a pristine copy of Jon Ortner?s excellent ?Manhattan Dawn and Dusk? which hadn?t been there before. On the cover the skyline in twilight with the WTC double towers as the most prominent feature. I?ve never been to NYC and bought the book to always remember this tragic event.
Let?s hope the world will come closer together after this disaster. That would five the death of the victims some meaning.
Just checking in from New York to say that my wife and I are safe and to express thanks from one city dwller for the sentiments here. I've been following events since the beginning, and it's been an incredible time. Outside the immediate area of the explosions, the city has been functioning remarkably well, but no one can think for very long about other things.
I was very surprised to hear on the news yesterday, that many many Brit's, as well as many other nationals are missing as well. This tragedy was something that touched not only America, but the whole world. I can't thank you as a NY'er, but as an American we really appreciate your thoughts and prayers, and for those other countries that have suffered loss, please accept our deepest sympathies.
To add to Wayne's response.
As far as I'm concerned, no matter where you originally came from, when you're in America, you're an American. I too want to express my gratitude to all the heart felt reponses.
My deepest sympathy to our American friends for the terrible events of September 11, 2001. We in Canada feel your pain and hope with you that from this tragegy will emerge a better, safer world. The graphic media brought these events to the homes of millions of people around the world with the stark reality that defies abstraction. Horrible as that was, it brought the human family closer to you and your suffering. People everywhere lost something in the process though never quite in the same measure as the victims and their families. To them and all Americans go my sincere condolences and prayers. To Mr. Chen, best wishes for a quick recovery.
1. Please write a check to The September 11 Foundation; The Widow's and Children's Fund for Fire Department of New York City; The Widow's and Children's Fund for Police Department of New York City.
If you have a check and don't know where to send, you can mail it to me and I will have it delivered to the proper personnel. Any donation is much appreciated. Thank you so very much!