Here is New York: A Democracy of Photographs
A few months ago, I went to the local Half Price Books used bookstore to look at photography books and photo monographs. I had already collected a small stack of books, when I stumbled on Here is New York: A Democracy of Photographs. After removing the 8.82 lb book from its slipcover, I flipped through some of the photos, read some of the prologue, put all the other books back on the shelf, and checked out, prize in hand.
This book caught me by surprise. I had never heard of it, or the project from which it was based (I would provide a link to the website, but sadly it no longer serves its original purpose). This book is 864 pages, 2.75 inches thick, 8.75 inches wide, and 12 inches long. It is a large photobook containing nearly a thousand of the more than five thousand photos taken by over three thousand photographers (p. 9).
The reason the subtitle for this book is “a democracy of photographs” is because the photos contained in this book are photos submitted not by “just photojournalists and other professional photographers, but by bankers, rescue workers, artists and children-amateurs of every stripe. (p. 7). The goal was to be “as broad and included as possible” (p. 7).
I spent several evenings working my way through this tome, slowly turning each page only after studying each photo. These photos pull no punches and brought back memories that I had forgotten. I won’t show the more graphic photos here.
Everyone of a certain age remembers exactly where they were when 9/11/2001 became a tragic part of American history. I know I do. Twenty-two years ago today, I was working for a Christian not-for-profit, The Church Initiative, an organization which produces video and written support-group materials for Churches. At that time, I was their web developer, and in the next office was the audio and video team, who often had various news stations playing on small video monitors. A few minutes after the first plane struck the first tower, we had video recording, and in another minute, everyone was glued to the screen watching in shock, horror, and disbelief.
Looking at these photos, brought back a flood of memories and brought tears to my eyes.
No matter how you think about 9/11, it was a horrible day in American history. So many lives were lost, so many loved one left behind wondering “Why?”
In addition to cataloging this particular event, these photos also reflect the important place photography has in our society and emphasizes the fact that photos don’t have to be “perfect” to be impactful or important. The photos in this collection were “captured with every conceivable kind of apparatus, from Leicas and digital Nikons to homemade pinhole cameras, little plastic gizmos that schoolchildren wear on their wrists” (p. 9). Not all of these photos are in focus, most of them have less than ideal composition, some of them are abstract in nature, and some are horrifying, but they are all appropriate for the time. So, grab your photo apparatus of choice, smartphone, mirrorless, DSLR, film, point-and-shoot, it doesn’t matter, and go take photos. You never know when that spur of the moment snapshot may capture a piece of history or a special moment in someone’s life.
Oh, and one more thing. Another reason this particular book is special is because inside of it were a total of seven note cards, hand-colored flags, and handwritten notes from children thanking those who sacrificed their lives for their freedom. So, while you’re out taking photos, don’t forget to do things for others and make a difference in someone else’s life.
