Writer – Photographer – Educator
September 11, 2001 - September 11, 2021. For the past twenty years, we gather together on this day, 9/11, to light candles, bring flowers, commemorate and remember.... I've had the chance to photograph 9/11 ceremonies, commemorations, related events and memorials on September 11 of each year, as well as throughout the years. Here are a [...]
During this coronavirus pandemic I've spent months organizing and reorganizing pretty much everything around the house, a la Marie Kondo. I've also become interested in minimalist living (not the extreme kind) and, in the process, realized that I've always been a minimalist to a certain degree. Recently, I've also discovered that there is such a [...]
Since yesterday, July 27, was National New Jersey Day (who knew?), here are a few images to celebrate: Sundial on Jersey City Waterfront in black and white. (How do you measure a month in a life defined by Coronavirus pandemic?)Covid-19 USNS Comfort hospital ship arrives in NYC. ©Alina Oswald.Symposia bookstore. Hoboken, NJ. @2015 by Alina [...]
New Gear - Nikon 28-300mm Lens Lately I've been taking a second, and third look through my gear--photo and lighting gear--trying to decide what and if to sell and/or replace old lenses and whatnot. I've looked at what I thought I'd like to photograph years ago and what I used to photograph more, and the [...]
Preserving Memories - The Case of the Katyn Memorial As photographers--or writers or creatives, in general--we get to capture moments, preserve memories. For those familiar with the Katyn memorial in Jersey City, the memorial, itself, might soon become a memory. If you haven’t seen the Katyn memorial on the waterfront, in Jersey City, you should...and [...]
Lighting Patterns and the Artist Voice: Back Lighting Using a specific lighting pattern can help define our photographic voice. In my previous post I mentioned split lighting and how it can be used to evoke a certain mood and look, in particular in black-and-white portraits. Today let's look at back lighting. Back lighting creates silhouettes, [...]
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 [...]
Alina Oswald 