Last night I took a lot of photo’s of the Freedom Tower and the World Trade Center Tribute Lights. It took a lot of convincing from my friend Amy Ely for me to put the existing photos up that I had. The photos I put up I do with the idea of a lot of Americans can’t experience this first hand. The world went though this together and they should be able to see how this city and country come together when needed.
I can tell you that walking around Brooklyn Bridge Park last night was very moving. The feelings of sorrow, hope, angry all come to you within seconds of each other. Out of all the pictures I took the one I shared showed both the Freedom Tower and the lights.
It also showed pilings which are making a new part of Brooklyn Bridge park that will have amazing views of Manhattan. We are building, getting bigger and remembering what happened that terrible Tuesday. Keep us down “What are you kidding me we will rebuild”
Before I post a picture of the Tribute lights I also think about how people feel that lost someone they knew that day. Do they want to see pictures like this? Will it cost them pain? Will it help them heal? My brain goes back and forth so much on this.
I met a few photographers last night that were taking these pictures to sell them so with all the emotions that I have already I also feel disgust and many other thoughts. On the other side of that I met a few people that were so friendly as if it was Sept 12th again where people looked at each other in the eyes and wanting to help each other. I wish the world took over the Sept 12th mentality as a whole, the world would be a better place.
So while I try to be respectful it is a struggle for me and I want to show the pictures. If my friend Frank “Mondo” Monahan who was lost in the Towers was standing next to me what would he say about this. Actually he would say lets go grab a cold one but that’s besides the point. That is also a post for another day!
I want to hear your thoughts on this. Should they be shared, should they stay on my computer forever where people can’t see them? Would that be a disservice to all the lives that were lost that day?
I feel you should share them. The collective loss for everyone is so profound…by sharing your pics you allow others to embrace what was lost & remember forever
Vinny,
I love your photos.
I think that you should post your photos. I for one would love to see them. I always enjoy your photos of my hometown.
I did not live in NY anymore when September 11 happened. But, I still remember every detail about that day. I guess for me it is probably what Pearl Harbor was for my grandparents or the day that President Kennedy was shot for my parents. As I spent the first 25 years of my life in NYC, it was very real for me. I knew the streets that people were running down. I had been in those buildings.
I walked by the site a year or two later with my family. I was shocked to see vendors selling trinkets, etc. about the day. (Trinkets about a day when 3,000 people were killed??? A day when people’s husbands, fathers, sons, mothers, sisters, etc. would never come home again.) My husband and I were disgusted.
It is for that reason that I don’t think that you should sell this set of photos. Somehow I don’t think that people should make money off of this day. It just doesn’t seem right to me.
Anyway, just my two cents. Tell Deb I say hello. Come visit us in AZ sometime.
Thanks Melissa
I appreciate your comments. I agree that it is sickening to see vendors selling stuff with 9-11 on it. It makes me mad too. It happens every day in NYC and people buy the stuff. The photos I take will never be sold by me. I am having this internal struggle to even put them online never mind sell them.
Thanks Cheryl
Guess I need to think more on the embrace side, thanks for helping.
I think by sharing the pictures it reassures the people who lost friends and family that we remember.