I am fortunate to say that 9/11 did not really affect me personally. I did not know anyone who died in the terrorist attacks. Though the music studio I was working at at the time was only blocks away from ground zero, I was at home in Staten Island at the time. So, for the most part, I was only affected by the day as a bystander.

I’m not big on what I see as the hype.  The US’s support of Israel and it’s role in the Middle East has always seemed like a volatile situation to me.  I found it surprising that others were so surprised by the fact that attacks could occur in our country.  To me, that’s what our country has been risking all along.

This is not to say that I am uncaring or don’t feel for those who suffered through the tragedy.  But bombings and attacks occur all the time in the Middle East and most of us in this country hardly bat an eye.  Maybe we read some headlines and feel bad for a few hours, but we move on a get on with our days.

Most anniversaries of the attacks pass me by without much thought, but as I’ve been trying to get more in touch with my own feelings as well as the feelings and suffering of others, I’ve decided to take on a personal project for this year’s 9/11.

My plan is to take a group of people to go to Mulry Square – Tiles for America in the morning.  Look at the tiles and soak them in.  Each of us pick one or two tiles to photograph, then brainstorming about other photos to take in order to each create a cohesive series.
Then go off to wherever else we need to go in order to complete our mini-projects.

Though I will be there to field basic photography questions (and I’m sure some technical questions will come up as we try to capture our ideas), this trip is not really meant for beginners to photography.  I plan on spending much more time working with each of the participants to brainstorm and discuss how to develop a story or series of photos that make sense as a cohesive whole.  That being said, if you’re really interested and yet still a beginner to photography, you are still welcome to join us, though I might want to meet with you beforehand to help make sure you get the basics down.

If you’re interested, please leave a comment or email me.  By nature of this project, I may need to limit the number of participants or break our group into subgroups, so if you’re interested, please let me know soon.

Two quotes from The Thin Red Line.  Spoken by First Sgt. Edward Welsh.
The first from near the beginning of the movie.  The second towards the end.  To shed some light on what I think about when hearing these quotes…the movie probes ideas of how the horrors of war and the wonders of beauty can exist in the same world.  Horror and beauty.

We’re living in a world that’s blowing itself to hell as fast as everybody can arrange it.
In a situation like that all a man can do is shut his eyes and let nothing touch him.
Look out for himself.

Only one thing a man can do.
Find something that’s his.
Make an island for himself.

If I never meet you in this life,
let me feel the lack.
A glance from your eyes,
and my life will be yours.