Rising From the Ashes
This year marks the 10 year anniversary of the devastating destruction of the World Trade Center towers and the ensuing horrific deaths of innocent people on that unforgettable day September 11th 2001, or as it is historically known 9/11.
Last Wednesday I journeyed down to the WTC site to document with my photos the ongoing efforts to rebuild the towers and the surrounding area. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes the near complete WTC tower 1, the Freedom Tower stood tall, proud and majestic in the morning sun. Surrounded by a bevy of criss crossing cranes adding floor upon floor to this symbol of new beginnings.
As I stood on the street looking up and marveling at the amazing feat of constructing a NYC skyscraper I could not help but remember ten years ago when I stood on Church and Canal Streets and watched in horror and disbelief as a plane on an unholy mission flew into the second tower. Later that morning from the window of my office I watched as the towers fell and saw hundreds of people running for their lives down Church street. It looked like a scene from an 1960′s Godzilla movie but the monster was fear and it was real. I shook my head to escape from these memories and realized that we did not give in to the fear but instead have pushed on to rebuild. This site will no longer be a symbol of commerce as it once was but will be a monument to the world of strength, determination and loving remembrance for those lives lost.
I took my photos with pride and smiled at the amazing engineering savvy of the construction workers and I look forward to photographing this area when all of the buildings and the memorial are completed. I spent the rest of the afternoon down at Battery Park City photographing the boats and the people enjoying a warm summer day in down town Manhattan. Enjoy the photos.
Peace.
A Tourist In My Home Town
My home town is New York City and I am on vacation for a few days and decided to take a tour of my favorite landmarks of this fair city.
My first stop was the observation deck on the roof of the Rockefeller Center building better known as the Top Of The Rock. Seventy floors above the sights and sounds of the greatest city in the world you have a 360 degree view of the awesome skyscrapers and bridges that make up the Manhattan skyline.
My second visit was to the Intrepid a huge World War II air craft carrier now retired and converted into the Air, Space and Sea museum. Its deck is lined with old-time WWII fighting planes and helicopters as well as the British Airways Concord. These machines are all polished and standing proud and at attention telling their stories to tourist from all over the world. A photographer’s dream; I went wild and spent the better part of a very hot summer day collecting memories to share.
My third stop was Liberty Island and the famed statue of Liberty. The ferry ride to and from Manhattan is just wonderful with views of three of NYC’s Islands: Manhattan, Ellis and Governors. The tourists including myself were just in awe of New York Harbor watching ferries, tug boats, commercial vessels, and sail boats sailing up and down the Hudson River. As we got closer and closer to the majestic Statue Of Liberty I’m sure more than one person was imaging what is was like over a hundred years ago when ships filled to capacity with people whose hearts and minds were awash with dreams of a new life in the land of opportunity.
I think the Empire State Building or a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, maybe The New York Aquarium or…..ah, decisions, decisions the life of a tourist is so hard isn’t it? Enjoy the photos and get the heck off your heinies and tour your own home town or come visit NYC. You’ll dig it trust me.
Stay in Focus,
Cate
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