September 11 Tribute in Light and Related Photography (from someone who’s been photographing them for almost 15 years)
Ever since I moved to New York City area, I’ve been photographing the 9/11 Tribute Lights and September 11 memorials on September 11 of each year and around the year. I’ll post a few images on my regular blog post, on Tuesday morning. But until then, for those who’re interested to photograph the lights, here are a few ideas.
A few notes on how to photograph an event such as 9/11 Tribute in Light that repeats itself each year, over and over again:
- take the obvious pictures of the lights from where you are in the NYC Metro area
- include the lights in a Manhattan-scape, a cityscape of Manhattan
- take a close-up picture of the lights to capture details in the Tribute Lights
- go to Lower Manhattan, as close as you can to the actual location of the lights and photograph from different angles, be as creative as possible
- photograph from a high-rise building in Manhattan, if you have the chance
- photograph during the week preceding 9/11, when the lights are tested (you might have to be ready to snap a pic at any given moment)
- photograph on September 11–morning ceremonies, not necessarily in Manhattan, and definitely at night
- photograph not only the lights, but the people, their interactions, emotions
- photograph details–candles or people placing candles, flowers or people throwing flower bouquets into the Hudson River (for example) or touching a name on a memorial
- photograph the morning ceremonies–the speeches, the fire boats, the fire trucks, and so on
- photograph 9/11 memorials outside September 11–the memorials in Jersey City, Liberty State Park, the Tear Tower in Bayonne; also, if you can travel, go to DC or Pennsylvania and photograph those memorials
- photograph 9/11 stories, memorials, during every season, not only on September 11
- photograph the Tribute Lights using a Lensbaby or other special lenses, for a different look
- photograph the new WTC sight–the Oculus (inside and out), the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at Ground Zero
Each September 11 I walk around, camera in hand, notepad (now iPhone) in hand, too, to take notes, capturing the story of the day, of that particular 9/11 day. I photograph rain or shine, and sometimes a rainy day, especially a rainy night, adds to the mood of the day.
I also photograph 9/11-related subjects, such is the Tear Memorial in Bayonne, NJ.
Also, photographs of 9/11 Memorial and Museum:
The Freedom Tower, captured with a Lensbaby Velvet:
And the Oculus:
As well as aerial views of Ground Zero–9/11 Museum, Memorial and the Oculus–from the top of One WTC Observatory:
As always, thanks for stopping by!
alinaoswald.com 