RE: devil photo controversy/I am photographer

RE: devil photo controversy/I am photographer

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-09-18

Mark,<br><br>I hope in the time it's taken me to respond you've found some satisfaction. I certainly think someone should have talked to you in the process of discussing your photo, the image in the smoke and any question of manipulation. It is a pretty poor example of journalism to have done otherwise.<br><br>That said, I notice the story and photo are no longer on the Poynter web site. I'm not sure this qualifies as a suitable solution. I doubt I'll be any help getting to talk to Vin Alabiso. I would be glad to post a letter from you to the NPPA's discussion list. That would at least get your voice heard by a couple thousand photojournalists. <br><br>I'm open to any other ideas you might have. <br><br>Sean<br><br><------><br>Sean D. Elliot<br>The Day<br>s.elliot@theday.com<br><------><br>Director<br>National Press Photographers Association Region One<br><------><br><br>>----------<br>>From: Mark D. Phillips<br>>Sent: Monday, September 17, 2001 8:33 PM To: s.elliot@theday.com<br>>Cc: melsean@ctol.net<br>>Subject: devil photo controversy/I am photographer <br><br>>Sean,<br><br>>I have not been a member of the NPPA since 1994(?) but I feel I must contact you. I was a member of the organization for over 15 years. I shot the photograph of the World Trade Center burning that people are saying or implying was digitally manipulated to include the face of the devil. <br><br>>As the photographer at the forefront of a controversy, I find it amazing that NO ONE has bothered to talk to me about this image and give me the opportunity to defend my reputation. I would never "doctor" an image. The "face of the devil" occurred.<br><br>>I sold this image to the AP for one time use prior to knowing it contained anything beside the twin towers burning. I transmitted this photo only minutes after it was shot.<br><br>>As a photographer for three newspapers, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, I am amazed that anyone could call my reputation into question. I was inundated with email through my company website, http://www.stellarimages.com, to the point where I had to put up an open letter bringing everyone back to the fact that it is a photograph, not a religious or moral statement. Everyone has to look at this photograph and decide on their own what it shows.<br><br>>Vin Alabiso still has not returned my calls. He is making statements when he never talked to me. I stand by my reputation of 25 years. I am no longer in the "news" business, starting an Internet company in 1994, but everyone I have worked with in the news industry knows the high standards I maintain.<br><br>>I invite you to read my open letter on http://www.stellarimages.com or http://www.markdphillips.com and would hope that you could contact me to discuss this. It has left a very bad taste in my mouth. <br><br>>Sincerely,<br>>Mark D. Phillips<br>>President, StellarImages<br>>718-858-8980 (work)<br>>718-522-1341 (home - here now)<br><br><br>

Tue, 18 Sep 2001 13:28:53 -0400

RE: devil photo controversy/I am photographer