Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Ground Zero

A businessman pauses to look at the rebuilding.

A viewing hole in the netting around the site.

A man peers through the netting surrounding the site.

People pause to reflect on the rebuilding.

We're back now from NYC, Kingston and Toronto; we had a ball.

It was good to be in New York. As a young NYU psychology student, I lived on W. 85th, park block, and the street is unchanged except that the sapling trees once zealousy watched over by a photographer named George, who used to blow a shrill whistle anytime my dog, a whippet named Clint, peed anywhere near them, are towering now. I was surprised to find Johnny's, a used book seller and neighbourhood institution, still still exactly mid-block on Columbus. Same awning, even.

On a sobering note, it was particularly painful to visit Ground Zero, the site of the destroyed World Trade Centre. One reflects on good, on evil, on hope and dreams shattered, on terrorism, on the scope of the overwhelming destruction. One thinks about the vast numbers of people lost on 9/11, and in such pain, and wonders in what ways some of them might have changed the world had they lived. Would a mother's influence on her young daughter have prompted her to go to medical school? Would a dad have encouraged a son to go play another ballgame after losing? Our footprint in the world is always larger than we realize, our influence subtle but full of impact. Losing all of these people, these moms and dads and brothers and sisters, is the loss not only of them as sisters, as aunties, as husbands, as sons, but of so much potential. I think of the babies soon to be born and consider how their lives were irrevocably altered.

I want to say to everyone: Have your family photographs made, because you never know when it will be too late.

My then-husband, Gary, and I used to work in the Towers. He was up on the 50-somethingth floor of Tower 2 working in international finance, while I toiled selling luggage in the basement. It's nearly impossible to connect the scar in the earth and the machinery crawling across it with that hub of industry and finance.

The small espiscopal St. Paul's Chapel is open again across the street. This was the sanctuary for the workers--where they came to find food and water and solace--where they came to have their feet rubbed. There are displays mounted of some of the memorabilia generated.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Run off our feet!








Oh my goodness, we've been run off our feet lately!

Our last session before going away was David and Brad's scrumptious wedding on Vancouver's Pride! It's a little strange to be working on Pride instead of revelling, but these two hubbies carried us right along in the bob and sway of their infectious joie de vivre. They looked fabulous in sharp linen suits, their wedding decor was to die for (think red accents, and oh such great good gay taste), they laughed constantly, and they had 100 of the sweetest southern guests I've ever met.

On that note, I just got one of my beautiful Graphi Studios books back from Italy. Totally yummy custom-design. The couple ordered leatherette, and there was no way on earth I could tell it wasn't leather when I unwrapped it. I even contacted Italy to insist that it was--but I was wrong.

I just wanted to post to let everyone know the studio is now closed for two weeks while we jet off to NYC and Ontario. Not a big trip for us, but hopefully a fun one.

Sorry the studio got so backed up there in July and the first bit of August, too, before we cut it off... I know there were several of you hoping to get in and see us that I just couldn't accommodate.

I wish I could say it will be better for September, but it's not looking all that free at this point. If you need an autumn session, drop an email. I'll have my calendar with me in NY and I can try to find you a slot. Anyone needing holiday images needs to get in before the end of October to have cards by December 1, remember!

Also, keep in mind that we'll be having another Fine Art Mini Session September 22 from 9-1 by appointment only. It's already half booked, so let me know on that one as well asap. Fyi, we're info@janephoto.ca.