story20545.xml
Title
story20545.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2006-09-11
911DA Story: Story
Greetings from New York CitySeptember 2001
Nan and I are okay. Thank you for all who tried to call, and those that e-mailed your concerns. We had a rough day Tuesday because Nans brother Bill works a couple of blocks from the World Trade Center. Hes a financial counselor. His building was evacuated safely and a tugboat took him back to his family in New Jersey. We couldnt contact him or his family by phone until 9 pm because of communications damage at the WTC. Nan has no other surviving close relatives and the thought of her as the lone Ezzo was frightening.
I heard a low flying plane as I exited my building at a little before 9 am. We live on Second Avenue at St. Marks in the East Village of Manhattan, about 1 mile as the pigeon flies from Ground Zero. The noise was odd but I probably didnt hear it as loud as I might because I listen to NPR every morning on my commute, and had headphones on. I was on my way to vote in the mayoral primary before catching the N or R train to Times Square, nearest my work.
NPR reported the crash, I looked downtown, and sure enough smoke was billowing out of WTC1. I cant remember whether I voted before or after learning of the initial crash. The voting took minutes and the train to work was normal except for the news related to the crash, which was hard to maintain in the tunnels. There was one girl across from me, and it looked like she had been crying. I thought only that she had a fight with her boyfriend, or something like that. I called Nan from my cellphone and told her to put on the newsa plane crashed into the World Trade Center.
I came to work and those who were there early, like me, gathered by a small TV and watched the live pictures. We were all really dumbfounded and shocked, but somewhat detached. No one was screaming or crying, yet. Our boss, Bill, gathered us at together and said we could go if we needed to get home to loved ones, or stay at his place if we could not get home (many folks live in Jersey, Brooklyn or Queens). I call Nan and tell her Im coming home. I ask her to close the windows, put the air on, and slip a tape into the VCR. I wish I had thought of that earlier when I called to alert her of the disaster.
Just then, Moshe, an intern and photography grad student, comes in with 35mm professional film shot from a Nikon 200mm lens on his rooftop in Williamsburg, a section of Brooklyn that overlooks Manhattan across the East River. It contained shots of the second aircraft, frame by frame, crashing into WTC2. Immediately, my reaction was, You have to get this to AP! He asked if he should get it developed right away at a place near our building. I said, No way! Its too valuable. They might lose it, or it could become damaged. Dont trust anyone with that film.
I called 411 (you can still use 411 here in NYC) and asked for the phone number of the Associated Press. I had information immediately connect my call by pressing 1. I spoke to someone in photography that said to get down there ASAP50 Rockefeller Center on the 5th Floor. Christie, our photo editor, then arrives at work after witnessing the tragedy on her commute across the Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn. She comes with us and we take the fire stairs 15 floors to avoid waiting for the elevator.
Its sidewalk rage kicked up a notch navigating the 20 or so blocks to Rock Center. I try calling Nan the whole way, but cell calls just arent going through. Traffic is snarled and barricades were going up. We get there just in time before the building closes to anyone without an AP ID. Moshe says it will take 12 minutes to develop the film; and they separate us and allow only him in the photo editing room. I am still listening to NPRfrom the walk uptown and in the AP building. The guard lets me call Nan to say Ill be late.
Moshe comes back out and asks us for advice on how much to charge. They like at least one shot; we see it on the screen, already scanned. My only concern is that he get on page credit in any deal he strikes. I thought a green photog like Moshe might get $500 for a good shot. Christies experience says he should get $2,000 per image for exclusive rights. This means he cannot sell it again to another agency, or use it commercially. He may, however, use it for personal artwork. After these discussions, I thought he might take $1,500; but I warned him not to be greedy because his first objective is to get them to use it and give him credit. We all agreed, and he went back in with the executive photo editor at the New York News Bureau of the Associated Press. We felt like we were at ground zero of the news; watching monitors and listening to reporters bark soundbytes across the room. Keep the line opendo not hang up was often heard.
Moshe comes out with a sheet of paper. Its a handwritten invoice totaling $10,000 for exclusive rights to the entire roll. He made a good contact for future work. He may check out the negs to print at school for his own use, and will receive a high-res CD of the roll. We were stunned.
We walked home. I walked 60 blocks downtown (about 3 miles) and Moshe and Christie walked across the Williamsburg bridge back to Brooklyn (about 6 miles).
Nans isnt even home when I arrive around noon. A note says she couldnt wait any longer and had to get outside. Shed be back in a half-hour. I am glued to the set. Nan arrives and we hold each other, and she tells me of her brother Bill, and the uncertainty. We cant call out, but can receive some calls. I can call out on my cellphone, but maybe one in ten tries.
We go outside and get some pizza a few blocks away. Many businesses have TVs set up so passersby can tune in. I cant eat, and still have a nervous stomach today while writing this. Nan leaves a couple of messages at Bills house when we finally can call out.
The rest of the day was spent anxiously watching the news and cleaning the apartment. Local calls and e-mail worked fine, so I spent time staying in touch with some of you. Around 9 pm, we reached Bill and hear hes okay. Much relief.
I call into work to take the day off to spend with Nan, watch the news, and try to process this tragedy. Nan goes to the gym as usual, and I spend more time trading stories with friends and family.
Jill tells me of someone who saw $100 bills floating down from the sky. Some vault must have burst open and money flew with millions of other papers across the East River into Brooklyn. She picked up nine bills.
Colleagues Brian and Ron, stranded in Manhattan, rented bikes to pedal across the George Washington Bridge into Jersey where family met them.
My friend Barb used her brothers status as a NYPD cop to gain access to the rescue effort and took pictures.
I went out during the day to look for a New York Times. Again, I wish I had thought of that earlier too. The air was acrid, but I did wear a cheap painters mask. Since no deliveries were made below 14th Street, my neighborhood was empty of the first issue reporting the terrorism. I traveled north to 14th, but a cop assured me that all stores were sold out, since all downtowners had to travel uptown to get one. I called friends on Long Island and Brooklyn to pick one up, but all stores sold out quickly. Jill is saving hers for me.
At night I go out once more and the air is better. Reports of asbestos, PCB, lead, etc. are made because the WTC was built with lots of it during that time. I went to sleep with a bad headache.
On Thursday I go back to work. I spend the entire day training someone, and for the first time, the radio is not on. A major project Im art directing and designing is a 52-book series of state almanacs, including D.C. and Puerto Rico. New YorkThe Empire State was the prototype, and will be among the first ten books printed. I spoke with the editorial director about needing a conference call with the client to discuss how well incorporate these events into the series, which is aimed at fifth graders. Questions such as how well show the skyline; how well tell the U.S. and state timelines; what detail in pictures will we show. We have an unique opportunity to communicate this to children; how will we do that? I am reminded of when I worked at Holt, Rinehart and Wilson (a large textbook publisher) and they had to rewrite the social studies books before printing to include the impeachment of President Clinton. You can imagine its not easy to tell to six graders. When I get back home, we watch more news, and have a relatively quite night. I read the Times I picked up near work.
Streets below 14th are reopened to Canal Street today. I bought a Times on the corner. Subways are running in my neighborhood, and I took a normal commute to work. Yesterday, I walked a couple of miles to work. Boss Bill gathered everyone together to give thanks, have a moment of silence during a group hug, and sign a card to deliver to our neighborhood firefighters, along with sandwiches and fruit. Dozens of NYCs bravest died from our station house here in the Garment District.
Our boss encouraged us to answer e-mails, phone calls, and take our time processing the tragedy. Our clients have also understood, and offered support and extended deadlines. I am coming in this weekend to make up some of the work lost.
Nan and I have home improvements planned for the weekend, and well probably take Peanut to the park, as usual. Ive got over 24 hours of news from about 9:45 am Tuesday. I may look at some of the first few hours missed while at AP.
Love and peace, Jeff
30 January 2003: P.S. I havent watched the videotapes I made of 11 September 2001 to date, but have seen several documentaries on the subject.
9 September 2006: P.P.S. I still haven't watch the videotapes, but have had many experiences relating to the tragedy, such as volunteering for the gallery Here Is New York: A Democracy of Photographs and exhibiting many photographs in anonymous group shows throughout the city.
Nan and I are okay. Thank you for all who tried to call, and those that e-mailed your concerns. We had a rough day Tuesday because Nans brother Bill works a couple of blocks from the World Trade Center. Hes a financial counselor. His building was evacuated safely and a tugboat took him back to his family in New Jersey. We couldnt contact him or his family by phone until 9 pm because of communications damage at the WTC. Nan has no other surviving close relatives and the thought of her as the lone Ezzo was frightening.
I heard a low flying plane as I exited my building at a little before 9 am. We live on Second Avenue at St. Marks in the East Village of Manhattan, about 1 mile as the pigeon flies from Ground Zero. The noise was odd but I probably didnt hear it as loud as I might because I listen to NPR every morning on my commute, and had headphones on. I was on my way to vote in the mayoral primary before catching the N or R train to Times Square, nearest my work.
NPR reported the crash, I looked downtown, and sure enough smoke was billowing out of WTC1. I cant remember whether I voted before or after learning of the initial crash. The voting took minutes and the train to work was normal except for the news related to the crash, which was hard to maintain in the tunnels. There was one girl across from me, and it looked like she had been crying. I thought only that she had a fight with her boyfriend, or something like that. I called Nan from my cellphone and told her to put on the newsa plane crashed into the World Trade Center.
I came to work and those who were there early, like me, gathered by a small TV and watched the live pictures. We were all really dumbfounded and shocked, but somewhat detached. No one was screaming or crying, yet. Our boss, Bill, gathered us at together and said we could go if we needed to get home to loved ones, or stay at his place if we could not get home (many folks live in Jersey, Brooklyn or Queens). I call Nan and tell her Im coming home. I ask her to close the windows, put the air on, and slip a tape into the VCR. I wish I had thought of that earlier when I called to alert her of the disaster.
Just then, Moshe, an intern and photography grad student, comes in with 35mm professional film shot from a Nikon 200mm lens on his rooftop in Williamsburg, a section of Brooklyn that overlooks Manhattan across the East River. It contained shots of the second aircraft, frame by frame, crashing into WTC2. Immediately, my reaction was, You have to get this to AP! He asked if he should get it developed right away at a place near our building. I said, No way! Its too valuable. They might lose it, or it could become damaged. Dont trust anyone with that film.
I called 411 (you can still use 411 here in NYC) and asked for the phone number of the Associated Press. I had information immediately connect my call by pressing 1. I spoke to someone in photography that said to get down there ASAP50 Rockefeller Center on the 5th Floor. Christie, our photo editor, then arrives at work after witnessing the tragedy on her commute across the Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn. She comes with us and we take the fire stairs 15 floors to avoid waiting for the elevator.
Its sidewalk rage kicked up a notch navigating the 20 or so blocks to Rock Center. I try calling Nan the whole way, but cell calls just arent going through. Traffic is snarled and barricades were going up. We get there just in time before the building closes to anyone without an AP ID. Moshe says it will take 12 minutes to develop the film; and they separate us and allow only him in the photo editing room. I am still listening to NPRfrom the walk uptown and in the AP building. The guard lets me call Nan to say Ill be late.
Moshe comes back out and asks us for advice on how much to charge. They like at least one shot; we see it on the screen, already scanned. My only concern is that he get on page credit in any deal he strikes. I thought a green photog like Moshe might get $500 for a good shot. Christies experience says he should get $2,000 per image for exclusive rights. This means he cannot sell it again to another agency, or use it commercially. He may, however, use it for personal artwork. After these discussions, I thought he might take $1,500; but I warned him not to be greedy because his first objective is to get them to use it and give him credit. We all agreed, and he went back in with the executive photo editor at the New York News Bureau of the Associated Press. We felt like we were at ground zero of the news; watching monitors and listening to reporters bark soundbytes across the room. Keep the line opendo not hang up was often heard.
Moshe comes out with a sheet of paper. Its a handwritten invoice totaling $10,000 for exclusive rights to the entire roll. He made a good contact for future work. He may check out the negs to print at school for his own use, and will receive a high-res CD of the roll. We were stunned.
We walked home. I walked 60 blocks downtown (about 3 miles) and Moshe and Christie walked across the Williamsburg bridge back to Brooklyn (about 6 miles).
Nans isnt even home when I arrive around noon. A note says she couldnt wait any longer and had to get outside. Shed be back in a half-hour. I am glued to the set. Nan arrives and we hold each other, and she tells me of her brother Bill, and the uncertainty. We cant call out, but can receive some calls. I can call out on my cellphone, but maybe one in ten tries.
We go outside and get some pizza a few blocks away. Many businesses have TVs set up so passersby can tune in. I cant eat, and still have a nervous stomach today while writing this. Nan leaves a couple of messages at Bills house when we finally can call out.
The rest of the day was spent anxiously watching the news and cleaning the apartment. Local calls and e-mail worked fine, so I spent time staying in touch with some of you. Around 9 pm, we reached Bill and hear hes okay. Much relief.
I call into work to take the day off to spend with Nan, watch the news, and try to process this tragedy. Nan goes to the gym as usual, and I spend more time trading stories with friends and family.
Jill tells me of someone who saw $100 bills floating down from the sky. Some vault must have burst open and money flew with millions of other papers across the East River into Brooklyn. She picked up nine bills.
Colleagues Brian and Ron, stranded in Manhattan, rented bikes to pedal across the George Washington Bridge into Jersey where family met them.
My friend Barb used her brothers status as a NYPD cop to gain access to the rescue effort and took pictures.
I went out during the day to look for a New York Times. Again, I wish I had thought of that earlier too. The air was acrid, but I did wear a cheap painters mask. Since no deliveries were made below 14th Street, my neighborhood was empty of the first issue reporting the terrorism. I traveled north to 14th, but a cop assured me that all stores were sold out, since all downtowners had to travel uptown to get one. I called friends on Long Island and Brooklyn to pick one up, but all stores sold out quickly. Jill is saving hers for me.
At night I go out once more and the air is better. Reports of asbestos, PCB, lead, etc. are made because the WTC was built with lots of it during that time. I went to sleep with a bad headache.
On Thursday I go back to work. I spend the entire day training someone, and for the first time, the radio is not on. A major project Im art directing and designing is a 52-book series of state almanacs, including D.C. and Puerto Rico. New YorkThe Empire State was the prototype, and will be among the first ten books printed. I spoke with the editorial director about needing a conference call with the client to discuss how well incorporate these events into the series, which is aimed at fifth graders. Questions such as how well show the skyline; how well tell the U.S. and state timelines; what detail in pictures will we show. We have an unique opportunity to communicate this to children; how will we do that? I am reminded of when I worked at Holt, Rinehart and Wilson (a large textbook publisher) and they had to rewrite the social studies books before printing to include the impeachment of President Clinton. You can imagine its not easy to tell to six graders. When I get back home, we watch more news, and have a relatively quite night. I read the Times I picked up near work.
Streets below 14th are reopened to Canal Street today. I bought a Times on the corner. Subways are running in my neighborhood, and I took a normal commute to work. Yesterday, I walked a couple of miles to work. Boss Bill gathered everyone together to give thanks, have a moment of silence during a group hug, and sign a card to deliver to our neighborhood firefighters, along with sandwiches and fruit. Dozens of NYCs bravest died from our station house here in the Garment District.
Our boss encouraged us to answer e-mails, phone calls, and take our time processing the tragedy. Our clients have also understood, and offered support and extended deadlines. I am coming in this weekend to make up some of the work lost.
Nan and I have home improvements planned for the weekend, and well probably take Peanut to the park, as usual. Ive got over 24 hours of news from about 9:45 am Tuesday. I may look at some of the first few hours missed while at AP.
Love and peace, Jeff
30 January 2003: P.S. I havent watched the videotapes I made of 11 September 2001 to date, but have seen several documentaries on the subject.
9 September 2006: P.P.S. I still haven't watch the videotapes, but have had many experiences relating to the tragedy, such as volunteering for the gallery Here Is New York: A Democracy of Photographs and exhibiting many photographs in anonymous group shows throughout the city.
Collection
Citation
“story20545.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 19, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/10314.