STEPHEN SILLER Tunnel to Tower Run

On Sept. 12, 2001, I knew I had to be there. At 5:30 am, I sneaked in undercover with the Police/Fireman/ Emergency personnel. (which worked until I took out my cameras) I was escorted and removed from Ground Zero 3 times, forcible & threatened with the destruction of my equipment the last time by officers caught up in the moment & without a clear understanding of the importance of photography.

On Sept. 11, many others answered the call with much nobler reasons, Stephen Siller had just finished his shift at Squad 1, Brooklyn and was heading home when he heard the attack on his scanner. He turned his truck around. The tunnel was already closed, so he strapped his gear onto his back and began to run through the tunnel to the towers where he helped save lives but ultimately lost his own!

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation please mail to : Stephen Siller, FDNY "Let Us Do Good" Children's Foundation 2361 Hylan Boulevard Staten Island, NY 10306

Alice Austen House

Alice Austen was introduced to photography when she was 10 years old by her Uncle Oswald, who brought home an early-model dry plate camera from one of his many trips abroad. Alice showed immediate and natural ability. Through experimentation she taught herself how to operate the complex camera mechanism, judge exposure, develop the heavy glass plates, and make prints. By the time she was 18 in 1884, she was not only technically skilled but artistically accomplished as well.
Alice was active, social, and well traveled. Everywhere she went, she took her camera equipment, which sometimes weighed as much as fifty pounds and often filled a steamer trunk. As a result of her desire to photograph so much of her life and the world around her, her range of subjects was extensive. In her lifetime, she created images on approximately 8,000 glass plates, of which more than 3,000 survive.
Alice remained an amateur photographer at heart, though she sold some of her work. She took pictures for the love of it-and so she had more freedom to express herself than professional Victorian women photographers. Her straightforward style anticipated documentary photography. At the same time, she used composition, pose, costuming, and satire to convey her point of view.

The Alice Austen House was built in 1690. Clear Comfort's most famous resident, Alice Austen (1866-1952) would become one of America's earliest and most accomplished women photographers. ) After she died the house fell into disrepair until a group of concerned citizens saved it from demolition in the 1960's.
Restoration was begun in January 1984 and completed in April 1985. Because of its historic significance, the Alice Austen House was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, was designated a New York City Landmark in 1971, and a National Historic Landmark in 1993.
Today, the Alice Austen House serves as a museum of Alice Austen's life and times. Located at the entrance to New York Harbor, the Alice Austen House is a reminder of the picturesque suburban "cottages" that dotted the shore and hills of 19th century Staten Island. The house and grounds recall the home as Alice knew it and a way of life that has passed into history.

I am proud to work for the Museum and pleased that I teach photography to the next generation of shutterbugs!

www.AliceAusten.org

LEST WE FORGET!

We will never forget, it's not in our nature. Yes you can say the world has changed, truth is that we are now more aware of what has been happening around the world all along!

STILL HAVING FUN!!

Today's model didn't show up, kinda disappointing since I spend much time setting up the two backdrops to form a V so no light would shine thur. But things aren't dull around here- a fellow musician walked in the door and I recruited him! We did a few shots and then he went out to get something from his car and came back with this girl! For me it's the beginnings of things again, the last time I did LIGHT PAINTING was at least 5 years ago and I was still working with film, now it's the digital age so if I get the right motivation, I sure things will be happening!!

The Grand Rabbis Celebrate

"Rare Meeting of the Grand Rabbies of the Satmar and Bobov Sects" Rabbi Teitelbaum celebrating with Rabbi Halberstam the marriage of his grand daughter. Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York in a "No Camera Zone". What first attacted me to photography was the ability to witness and capture images of different cultures. Here, by following the crowd, I was able to come upon a scene which was very alien and yet so interesting to me.

THE LOOK OF LOVE...

It is so touching to see the love that people have for each other, the wedding day truly is about ROMANCE and COMMITMENT! I am aware that the memories I capture will keep alive these feelings forever and I feel honored to be allowed to share this special and private occasion!

A WALK IN THE PARK...

A walk in the park all right, except that the walk was DOWN THE AISLE! They got married in CENTRAL PARK and had the ceremony on the BOW BRIDGE!