Tuesday's disaster

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Large format photography : One Thread

As an international guest of this forum, I wish to express my sympathy to all the friends in the States, following tuesday's tragic events. May some good come out of the suffering and loss of so many innocent lives.

-- Paul Schilliger (pschilliger@smile.ch), September 13, 2001

Answers

I would join to Paul.

-- Martin Kapostas (Martin.kapostas@kappapackaging.com), September 13, 2001.

I too express my deep sympathy to all Americans who have been touched by this tradegy.

-- Michael Mahoney (mmahoney@nfld.com), September 13, 2001.

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.

-- Michael Waldron (michael@cadogan.net), September 13, 2001.

Where horror of this nature is concerned, there has never been too many cameras.....more often, not enough.

-- Bruce Wehman (bruce.wehman@hs.utc.com), September 13, 2001.

I would like to follow suit with all that has been said. Technology, especially the Internet has made our world a much smaller place, so I'm sure that all of us outside the USA still feel a huge amount of grief, anger and sorrow as if it had happened in our own countries. I just hope that given time you can all come to terms with this great tragedy. Paul

-- paul owen (paulowen_2000@yahoo.com), September 13, 2001.


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.

-- Jennifer Rong (db45tek@aol.com), September 13, 2001.

I would also like to offer my deep sympathy and condolences following the horrific events on Tuesday. Thanks, Paul, for this post.

-- fw (finneganswake@altavista.net), September 13, 2001.

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.

Peace, Sandy

-- Sandy Sorlien (sand44@mindspring.com), September 13, 2001.


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.

-- Artie Kapell (AKapell@HSC.VCU.Edu), September 13, 2001.


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.

-- Doug Paramore (dougmary@alaweb.com), September 13, 2001.



I too would like to offer my deepest symphathy to all those caught up in these terrible acts.

Also to let the people of Ammerica know that we Brits are with you, whatever it takes.

With deep regret, Trevor.

-- Trevor Crone (trevor.crone@uk.dreamcast.com), September 13, 2001.


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.

-- Matt O. (mojo@moscow.com), September 13, 2001.

Hi friends

For me it is really unbelivabel whats happen in USA and you all have also my deep sympathy. I find no words for thad!

-- Armin Seeholzer (armin.seeholzer@smile.ch), September 13, 2001.


I would also like to offer my deepest sympathy to our American friends who may have lost loved ones in this horrible and senseless tragedy. As a Canadian I wish to echo the sentiments of my fellow citizens in that all of you in America have our condolences and continued support in the events to come. We hope that as you exercise patience and perservance to pursue these events that some good may yet evolve. Our prayers are with you

GreyWolf

-- GreyWolf Phillips (grey_wolf@telusplanet.net), September 13, 2001.


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.

-- Arthur Gottschalk (Arthurwg@aol.com), September 13, 2001.


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.

With sadness and hope

Peter Brown - Australia

-- Peter L Brown (photo_illustration@bigpond.com), September 13, 2001.


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.

-- adam (asfberg@hotmail.com), September 13, 2001.

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.

-- Lee Turner (lee@sctcom.co.za), September 14, 2001.

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.

Roberto - Italy

-- Roberto Manderioli (rmander@libero.it), September 14, 2001.


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.

-- Anthony Harrison (AnthonyHar@aol.com), September 14, 2001.

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.

Ralf Hoenes, Sausalito, California.

-- kazu (rtfh@sprynet.com), September 14, 2001.


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.

-- David Goldfarb (dgoldfarb@barnard.edu), September 14, 2001.

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.

-- Wayne Crider (waynec@apt.net), September 14, 2001.

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.

-- S Ratzlaff (ratzlaff@ticnet.com), September 15, 2001.


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.

-- Julio Fernandez (gluemax@sympatico.ca), September 16, 2001.

Wishing you a speedy recovery Geoffrey. And everyone in the world whether in Indonesia, Macedonia, Britain, or Samoa, is affected by this. This has got to stop if we as a people are to survive. As horrid as this dispicable act was, these terrorists died for their cause. They didn't do it for money. It was based on strong beliefs. We need to look at both sides of the reasons they gave their lives. Please don't misinterpret my views here. I am absolutely disgusted by the terrorists actions and would gladly take them out given the chance. But there is an underlying problem here that must be solved if we are to evolve into what we are capable of being in the future as the dominant species on the planet. My deepest sympathies for all of those people affected. We unfortunately haven't seen the last of this episode in our story. May God help us. James

-- james (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), September 16, 2001.

Thank you all, my dear friends on this forum. And thank you all to those who took time to email me to express your concerns and best wishes. I'm doing OK, can see the light now, but images are stil fuzzy, need another week or so. I own my life to those firefighters, EMS rescue workers, and police officers who saved me. We know many of them did not make it themselves. There are more than 300+ of them died on duty in the Tuesday's attack and still buried in the rubble. So I'm asking you to make a donation to the following funds/foundations:

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.

2. Please call in with your credit card number: FireFighters, Police, EMS, and Rescue Relief Fund Phone: 877-863-4783, 253-274-0432 Fax: 253-274-0309

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!

-- jennifer for Geoffrey Chen (db45tek@aol.com), September 17, 2001.


I speak to you not as a 8X10 photographer, but as an active duty serviceman who just happens to shoot LF in my spare time. We will prevail! Dave

-- Dave (davedb@hotmail.com), September 22, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ